Many of the homes I have inspected over the past year have living areas in basements or attics. In older homes, the basements and attics have been converted from basic storage areas into finished bedrooms. In real estate terms, these rooms may be defined as "non-conforming bedrooms;" that is, rooms that do not fit the legal description of a bedroom. A room with no a closet space, without a safe means of exit in case of an emergency, or lacking heating or ventilation can be classified as a non-conforming bedroom. Typically, such a room was added without the benefit of a city or county building permit.
Safety is my first and foremost concern when doing a home inspection. As a father of two young children, it is my responsibility to ensure their safety and that carries over into my work.
If you have a bedroom or living area that could be classified as non-conforming, please read the following article on the safety concerns associated with these areas. In an emergency, you don't want to find out an area of your home lacked the access emergency personal needed to get to someone in your home.
The following article reviews the minimum requirements, if you suspect an area of your home does not meet these requirements, I urge you to meet with a qualified licensed contractor to bring you home to code and more specifically, to the level of safety you want for you family.
