Is A Finished Attic Considered Living Space
It will never be legal living space.
Is a finished attic considered living space. There s a chance you ll need to enlarge the system if your attic wasn t heated or cooled previously so call in a pro to make sure it s up to snuff. There are no special exceptions just because it s living space in the attic. Stairs and landing are included on each level. Spaces like garages three season porches and unfinished basements or attics are not included in the square footage of a house.
Your attic has a climate of its own. In most cases though the joists cannot support live loads and may not even be covered with boards. But if a basement or attic has been finished then the space may be included in the home s square footage if it also meets ceiling height requirements. Elgin advises that you offer what you think is reasonable based on the home s gross living area plus some fair amount for the unfinished or finished basement.
The finished space must be contiguous and directly accessible from the balance of the living area. Finished space that lack permanent stairs or direct access such as plant shelves are not considered living area. But you can finish it however you like and use as you like. Can i argue with the town that their assessment does not make sense when it is significantly higher than the marketing value.
Focus on the usable space and how. Finished spaces only accessed by ladders such as lofts are not considered living area. The correct word is living space. But it cannot be sold as living space without a proper.
Finishing an attic turns the finished parts into standard living spaces making them subject to all of the same rules that apply to other living areas of the home. Warmer in both summer and winter if it s well insulated. Square footage and the mls. Finished attic space as long as it also conforms to the original structure can t just add carpet and call it a bedroom and the ceilings are high enough and the space is conditioned space because at this point it isn t actually an attic anymore.