ᐅ Conversion of a split-level house into two separate apartments
Created on: 11 Aug 2024 13:35
P
Problemchen
Looking for some help, we need a little (or more) input.
Shortly before retirement, we are facing a familiar problem. The children have left the house, which is now too large in its current form. Our son would like to come back and live in the upper part of the house, if a separate apartment can be arranged somehow. We can’t use the secondary apartment because it is occupied by the grandparents. So, in addition to the secondary apartment, we somehow need two separate apartments. We have thought about it back and forth but can’t really make progress because of the split-level design.
We understand this won’t be solved with just 10,000 € (around $11,000) – better to bite the bullet now and then enjoy the house and surroundings in retirement.
Selling is actually not an option, although it would be the easiest: we feel very comfortable here, the infrastructure still suits us as we age, the location is unique, protected from future development directly in nature, and the building quality is great. Our construction company used more reinforcement than required and did excellent work.
Here are the additional details:
Plot size: 650 sqm (7000 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Bordering development: Our garage is built on the property boundary, and on the entrance side we could theoretically extend onto the neighbor’s terrace in the same style. This was also recorded in the land register at the time.
Number of people: Secondary apartment 2, 1st floor 2, 2nd floor currently 2, later with children
Space requirements:
1st floor: separate kitchen with small dining area, space for a large dining table in dining/living room, bedroom, bathroom, possibly guest toilet, reasonable wardrobe area (we have a lot of dirty clothes because we spend a lot of time outdoors in nature). Nice to have would be a backup kitchen and dressing room, but I’m realistic – probably not possible given the square meters. ... Would an elevator make sense for old age???
Home office: About twice a week for the next 8-10 years or so. We will have to figure something out…
No overnight guests
Fireplace: yes! We have one and since we manage our own woodland, it’s easy to run.
We currently have a double garage. If it has to make way for living space, then so be it.
2nd floor: cooking, dining, living, sleeping, bathroom, children’s room, permanent home office space, wardrobe, guest toilet?
Preferably living rooms facing north with views of nature. On one level without many stairs for old age. (Tear down the rear gable and level it out?) Unfortunately, this was not considered in the original house planning. So far, we have lived very well and generously for our needs – is there even THE SOLUTION so that everyone here will be happy?
We thank you in advance for all input and ideas.
Shortly before retirement, we are facing a familiar problem. The children have left the house, which is now too large in its current form. Our son would like to come back and live in the upper part of the house, if a separate apartment can be arranged somehow. We can’t use the secondary apartment because it is occupied by the grandparents. So, in addition to the secondary apartment, we somehow need two separate apartments. We have thought about it back and forth but can’t really make progress because of the split-level design.
We understand this won’t be solved with just 10,000 € (around $11,000) – better to bite the bullet now and then enjoy the house and surroundings in retirement.
Selling is actually not an option, although it would be the easiest: we feel very comfortable here, the infrastructure still suits us as we age, the location is unique, protected from future development directly in nature, and the building quality is great. Our construction company used more reinforcement than required and did excellent work.
Here are the additional details:
Plot size: 650 sqm (7000 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Bordering development: Our garage is built on the property boundary, and on the entrance side we could theoretically extend onto the neighbor’s terrace in the same style. This was also recorded in the land register at the time.
Number of people: Secondary apartment 2, 1st floor 2, 2nd floor currently 2, later with children
Space requirements:
1st floor: separate kitchen with small dining area, space for a large dining table in dining/living room, bedroom, bathroom, possibly guest toilet, reasonable wardrobe area (we have a lot of dirty clothes because we spend a lot of time outdoors in nature). Nice to have would be a backup kitchen and dressing room, but I’m realistic – probably not possible given the square meters. ... Would an elevator make sense for old age???
Home office: About twice a week for the next 8-10 years or so. We will have to figure something out…
No overnight guests
Fireplace: yes! We have one and since we manage our own woodland, it’s easy to run.
We currently have a double garage. If it has to make way for living space, then so be it.
2nd floor: cooking, dining, living, sleeping, bathroom, children’s room, permanent home office space, wardrobe, guest toilet?
Preferably living rooms facing north with views of nature. On one level without many stairs for old age. (Tear down the rear gable and level it out?) Unfortunately, this was not considered in the original house planning. So far, we have lived very well and generously for our needs – is there even THE SOLUTION so that everyone here will be happy?
We thank you in advance for all input and ideas.
P
Problemchen12 Aug 2024 11:09nordanney schrieb:
Just a tip:
3 apartments = multi-family house. Is that even allowed in your area? Can the required parking spaces be provided?
You wouldn’t want to make plans randomly (I’d rather stay out of that) and later find out that, according to the zoning plan, only 2 residential units per building are permitted. Across the street from us, there are houses with three apartments, but they probably aren’t officially classified as multi-family houses... We hadn’t considered that. We need to first find out exactly what that would mean and what requirements must be met. Please excuse our hasty decision—there’s obviously more involved than we initially thought.
