Lethbridge homes that have secondary suites could cause you headaches down the road

There is increased pressure across the country to provide affordable housing. The danger comes when properties are advertised as having secondary suites. These can be particularly tempting when they say that they're offering $1,000 or more per month in revenue! In the Lethbridge real estate market, there are lots of opportunities like this!

Typically speaking, there has been little pressure on owners of Lethbridge real estate secondary suites to do anything about them because they generally address a demand. However, there is also a lack of administration and monitering of these suites which can mean liability for home owners and the municipality of Lethbridge. However, it is standard practice for these suites to only be discovered and shut down if they are reported by unhappy neighbours.

Right now there are several legal cases per year hitting the Supreme Court of Canada with respect to illegal suites, associated liabilities, and even sometimes death due to unfit conditions and design. To avoid finding oneself in such a position in the Lethbridge real estate market, whether buying or selling a home, the general rule is to disclose everything you know about the suite. But what about if you're buying a property in Lethbridge with a suite in it, can you trust the seller to be honest with you?

The matter can be complex and owners may think they're being compliant when they're not. That's why, as a potential owner of that property in Lethbridge, you must take the responsibility on yourself to determine whether or not the suite is legal. At this point you're probably asking yourself about your Realtor and how they can help. Good for you! Any Realtor worth their salt can check with municipal authorities to determine the validity of any such property.

Once a suite is determined to be unlicensed or illegal, there are other questions that emerge. Was it properly built and were the proper inspections carried out for the work completed? Stories abound of homeowners who had to remove an in-law suite when a neighbour in a single-family development complained. This could happen to your right after you've taken possession of your property if you or your Realtor haven't done your homework.

So what's the moral of the story? Hire a professional Realtor that comes with good referrals,

There is a lot of property for sale in Lethbridge and having a real estate professional on your team can help you to navigate the difficult process of buying or selling a home in Lethbridge. Call me at 403.795.7777 or email me at info@lethbridgehomeshop.ca to discuss Lethbridge real estate or Lethbridge land for sale and I will be more than happy to answer all your questions. Or, if you would like instant access to information about buying, selling, or building a home in Lethbridge, including Lethbridge real estate values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Lethbridge real estate at http://www.lethbridgehomeshop.ca.