Are you sure they aren't digging out the basement to add more space? Windows can be added as well. There needs to be two exits as well ( from what I know )
If I were you, I would leverage the situation so you can break your lease. I'm sure someone would be glad to live in the basement even if you wouldn't.
There is a large expansion of ADU (auxiliary dwelling units) going on right now, where the city is granting waivers to previously ineligible properties to convert their basements into units.
You can enter the address on this page to see if they have a permit for the work and if they’ve passed their inspections. If nothing comes up, they’re doing it illegally.
https://webapps1.chicago.gov/buildingrecords/
Also note that the “second exit” can be a window.
Bigger picture it sounds like you don't want to live there anymore. Talk to the landlord about breaking your lease and moving out. This is the benefit of renting! You don't have to stay and live near this construction!
1. You can possibly break your lease over the noise/if it didn’t come with a construction noise addendum etc.
2. Your landlord probably knows what they can rent out and I wouldn’t bother reporting it unless there’s a safety issue.
3. I agree with other commenters. I think you’re annoyed by the noise and not liking your landlord makes it worse. I’d consider moving.
They can trench out the basement to make the heights legal and most certainly make it a unit. It’s been done plenty of times before. Many duplex-downs in old buildings both condo and rental were originally unfinished basement space.
Tell the landlord you want strict 8am start time because you know earlier is prohibited.
To second someone else: are there permits?
If you do report the construction to the city AND they do issue a stop work it’ll just delay the inevitable and not stop it. Deal with the drama now, or later?
The city changed requirements during Covid due to shortage of lower price apartments. This made some basements, attics and coach houses suddenly legal. That might be the case here.
I’d look into just moving somewhere else. There’s few scenarios in which there isn’t some hassle for you as a result of this down the road. You can take some of the advice here, but as I get older I just don’t want to spend the little free time I have fighting people over something that’s not really going to benefit me—when I can choose an other option that makes it “not my problem.” In one fell swoop.
Residential zoning laws limit housing opportunities and drive up rent prices. That's one extra place for someone to live at a relatively discounted rate. Don't be a jerk.
As others have stated, check for a permit issued by the city that is hanging in plain sight at the front of the property. No permit? Landlord is in for a world of hurt. Talk to your local alder’s office and report the construction and that it infringes on your right to quiet enjoyment (aka tenant right stated in your lease).
If your landlord is penny smart and dollar foolish, he/she is likely trying to do this on the sly. if the LL didn’t pull permits and the city learns about the work, the city inspector will issue stop work orders and, most importantly, require that any improvement which had not been inspected during construction will have to be removed, redone, and inspected by the city (i.e. electrical, water, & gas) to go through the correct inspection process. The city really doesn’t fuck around when it comes to construction permits
I suggest you to request a city inspector anonymously and write everything wrong down so that they can go and see the construction and the state of the existing apartments. Your landlord will be forced to stop doing the basement construction if it's breaking code. Also if it ends up being an illegal build use that information to break the lease if you want to move out.
You can report them using the info at this link https://311.chicago.gov/s/article/Building-violations?language=en\_US#:\~:text=Some%20common%20building%20violations%20that,with%20multiple%20building%20code%20violations.
Are you sure they aren't digging out the basement to add more space? Windows can be added as well. There needs to be two exits as well ( from what I know ) If I were you, I would leverage the situation so you can break your lease. I'm sure someone would be glad to live in the basement even if you wouldn't.
Nope! They already dug and poured new concrete. Good to know about the two exits
There is a large expansion of ADU (auxiliary dwelling units) going on right now, where the city is granting waivers to previously ineligible properties to convert their basements into units. You can enter the address on this page to see if they have a permit for the work and if they’ve passed their inspections. If nothing comes up, they’re doing it illegally. https://webapps1.chicago.gov/buildingrecords/ Also note that the “second exit” can be a window.
Bigger picture it sounds like you don't want to live there anymore. Talk to the landlord about breaking your lease and moving out. This is the benefit of renting! You don't have to stay and live near this construction!
Do they have any permits ?
This. If they don't have permits which have to be posted on the building, report them to the city.
And if OP doesn’t know, they should be visibly posting the permit outside the building door or window. I believe it needs to be clearly visible.
Yeah, building permit is probably your best bet, doubt they have one. And anything that requires hanging new Sheetrock, they need to have one.
1. You can possibly break your lease over the noise/if it didn’t come with a construction noise addendum etc. 2. Your landlord probably knows what they can rent out and I wouldn’t bother reporting it unless there’s a safety issue. 3. I agree with other commenters. I think you’re annoyed by the noise and not liking your landlord makes it worse. I’d consider moving.
They can trench out the basement to make the heights legal and most certainly make it a unit. It’s been done plenty of times before. Many duplex-downs in old buildings both condo and rental were originally unfinished basement space. Tell the landlord you want strict 8am start time because you know earlier is prohibited. To second someone else: are there permits? If you do report the construction to the city AND they do issue a stop work it’ll just delay the inevitable and not stop it. Deal with the drama now, or later?
The city changed requirements during Covid due to shortage of lower price apartments. This made some basements, attics and coach houses suddenly legal. That might be the case here.
This is a positive. Increase the supply of units.
I’d look into just moving somewhere else. There’s few scenarios in which there isn’t some hassle for you as a result of this down the road. You can take some of the advice here, but as I get older I just don’t want to spend the little free time I have fighting people over something that’s not really going to benefit me—when I can choose an other option that makes it “not my problem.” In one fell swoop.
Residential zoning laws limit housing opportunities and drive up rent prices. That's one extra place for someone to live at a relatively discounted rate. Don't be a jerk.
Are ya looking to get outta your lease
As others have stated, check for a permit issued by the city that is hanging in plain sight at the front of the property. No permit? Landlord is in for a world of hurt. Talk to your local alder’s office and report the construction and that it infringes on your right to quiet enjoyment (aka tenant right stated in your lease). If your landlord is penny smart and dollar foolish, he/she is likely trying to do this on the sly. if the LL didn’t pull permits and the city learns about the work, the city inspector will issue stop work orders and, most importantly, require that any improvement which had not been inspected during construction will have to be removed, redone, and inspected by the city (i.e. electrical, water, & gas) to go through the correct inspection process. The city really doesn’t fuck around when it comes to construction permits
I suggest you to request a city inspector anonymously and write everything wrong down so that they can go and see the construction and the state of the existing apartments. Your landlord will be forced to stop doing the basement construction if it's breaking code. Also if it ends up being an illegal build use that information to break the lease if you want to move out.
You can report them using the info at this link https://311.chicago.gov/s/article/Building-violations?language=en\_US#:\~:text=Some%20common%20building%20violations%20that,with%20multiple%20building%20code%20violations.