Bay Area

[chubbolo]

san francisco 94110. what are liabilities in selling a 2 unit, 2 level building as an unwarranted duplex conversion to a single family home? the property is from 1905 and has historically been a duplex.  each floor is 1000sf. some of the work would be permitted (upper level bathroom, and lower level kitchen remodels) and some would be unpermitted (connection of the two levels by partial removal of wall at base of stair, and removal of upper kitchen and lower bathroom and capping the utilities). if an eventual purchaser would like to continue living in the property as a sfh with two addresses, what liabilities would they be inheriting? would there be a red flag when the appraiser noted that the lack of second kitchen, etc? would the bank be unwilling to grant a loan due to the illegal conversion? would it be more prudent to convert back to duplex (replacing wall, adding upper kitchen and lower bathroom) before placing on the market? thank you!

[norcalnative]

Get a lawyer that knows SF land lord/Tenant laws and knows the conversion application process!

If you have tenants in the unit now if the sale is not handled in a specific manner the tenant has rights to a % of the sale price! If empt then you need to research the whole SF condo conversion and building permit process which would be required to change the property back into a single family home.

Having said all that you can't sell a two unit building as a single family home but a buyer could purchase it with that in mind.

[chubbolo]

Thank you for the response.   Could the home be listed as "a two unit building being currently used as a sfh?"