Basement Apartment PROS & CONS (Basement vs. regular)

Basement Apartment PROS & CONS (Basement vs. regular) | Living in Canada

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Күн бұрын

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@flofeee Жыл бұрын

I moved to a basement apartment (not by choice) and I legit cried in the first morning after I moved there, the lack of sunlight really hit me harder than I could've ever expected. You literally wake up in the morning and it doesn't feel like morning, it's horrible.

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

I hope you found something better!

@flofeee Жыл бұрын

@@LivinginCanada Thank you! currently we're still looking

@eddwardmusic Жыл бұрын

Same here, cuz of extremly high rent prices I moved into an basement apartment and as you mentioned lack of sunlight, small windows, so everything you see is grass, in summer is cold, way too cold, outside is +27°C and in the apartment not higher as +9°C (so I need to wear a winter sweater in the summer lol) and one of the most annoying thing is mold and humidity, if you left any food (vegetables or fruits) on the table for more than 2 days, you can throw them in the trash, some shower brushes molded just after a mouth of moving there, so I use dehumifier, but damn, is working a few times a day till humidity goes down to 50% but after a few hours again to 70-80%. Windows if opened, it's even more humidity.

@poppiesmalls7996 2 жыл бұрын

I lived in a basement when I was in BC. It was a walkout. Huge windows. High ceiling. Loved it. Then I moved to Ontario, tiny basement window, dark as hell. Hated it. Was so depressed. Got out of my lease in 6 months.

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, I guess it really depends on the particulars of the basement. Hope you found something better!

@niecybaby1960 4 ай бұрын

Oh don’t forget about the noise. I’m in a basement apartment and the pipes are noisy, banging and clinging all the time. When I first moved in I’d be startled all the time. I’d hear water swooshing in the pipes. sounds of balls bouncing. I complain and of course they tried to normalize it but I kept complaining and soon they had to send someone out. It got better but still needs some adjustments. We’ll see this winter.

@freddymack6518 Жыл бұрын

Girl, is like this video was expecting me. Because just 45 minutes ago from writing this comment, I visited a basement apartment and considering moving in. Every pro and cons is on point with what i saw there. Mostly the larger space part. I saw a room i think was a game room which could be use as living room. That room alone i was sold. Very large that you can't have in a regular apartment in an apartment building. But the cons about sun light is the part that gets me cold right now. Specially because i consider moving in with my daughter.

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@ejidaniel4326 2 жыл бұрын

Girl, you rock. Spot on with your subjective opinion about basement. I even feel trapped in buildings painted certain colours. Thanks 😊

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I hope it helps people to consider this option!

@Timc394 2 жыл бұрын

I lived in a basement for 6 years and it really made me depressed. It was a main factor in the downfall of one my relationships, I don’t recommend it if you like sunlight and fresh air.

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing that, yes, I never really enjoyed the basement life either. I prefer something much smaller but above the ground. I hope things have turned around for you since then!

@Timc394 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you and yes they have. I’m now living in an apartment/condominium and it’s definitely raised my spirits!

@LivinginCanada 3 жыл бұрын

Are you thinking of moving to a basement apartment? Or have you lived in a basement apartment before? In that case, feel free to share your experience with that!

@Robck27 Жыл бұрын

Back at your videos again, finally I am on the stage in which now I only need to buy my plane tickrts for Canada. Now im busy viewing condos and appartments

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

Good luck with everything!

@bobrogers1322 2 жыл бұрын

Never get a basement apartment, especially in Toronto. ALL of them are extremely humid and eventually smell like mildew. It's highly unlikely a basement apartment has air con. The lack of sunlight will eventually take its toll on even the most optimistic person. I was so f-ing broke when I lived in TO, I was forced to take a real dive. The rent was cheap but everything went wrong. It was infested with massive centipedes. I could hear them crawling on the floors at night. They even got in my clothes. It was so damp down there my space heater caked with dust and blew up along with my computer too. It rained hard one day and water leaked in the tiny window I had, into my closest. I didn't notice what had happened for a week or so but by then all my good shirts had gone moldy from moisture. My shower was a raw concrete stall, impossible to paint. The floor was never dry. I tried to put some pressure treated boards on the floor to at least make it more comfortable but they quickly rotted. That basement apartment represented the lowest point in my life.

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

That gives anyone who's considering living in a basement something to consider, thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you found something better now!

@bobrogers1322 2 жыл бұрын

@@ariesaraya1822 Older apartments, that's pretty much all of Toronto. A basement easier to heat in the winter? No it's not. I routinely had to have a couple heaters going in the basement while it was nice an toasty upstairs. Heat rises, it's cold in the basement in winter. Every basement apartment in Toronto gets musty. It's extremely humid in TO.

@jessejameslatimer8686 2 жыл бұрын

I hope you love Canada. We are happy to have you 🇨🇦 🍁

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

I do, it's a beautiful country and I'm glad and feel blessed to be here! :)

@injaz- 10 ай бұрын

شكرا على الفيديوهات المفيدة جدا بخصوص المعيشة في كندا 🌹🌹🌹🌹

@eddykingdomsbrandson1827 Жыл бұрын

I live in a basement and it's awsome, so much space, winters are warm, almost don't need heating system, čouse the cold dosn't get to you through the ground. Ceiling is almost 3 meters high. And I don't like my sunlight inside, 'couse it's ruining my TV screen. Pros: Very good sound isolation and you can party with loud music all night long and nobody will call the cops. :D Cons: Of all the sand behind the walls underground and thick concrate ceiling there is no telephone connection. :D

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

Interesting. Of course there are basements that are good, it just requires more care when choosing them. And everyone's got they're preference! Thanks for sharing that, hope that info will help someone else who's considering to live in a basement. Cost wise it's definitely a plus in these times...

@abroadstateofmind5571 2 жыл бұрын

I did this for 2 years and i promised myself I'll leave Canada before ever living in a basement again. Its depressing and if the landlord is intrusive you'll suffer mentally and emotionally...lesson learnt

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

I also prefer a much smaller space above ground than a larger one underground. :)

@eddaxel4672 Жыл бұрын

Thank you sooo much for all the good info you shared in this video ❤ ,I’m a newcomer and this will help me a lot as I’m looking for rent

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that, welcome to Canada!

@Angultra 10 ай бұрын

I haven't lived in a basement but stayed in a couple Airbnb ones shared with a family above. The main issue was hearing everything going on in the house above; unless they took steps to noiseproof it (unlikely), privacy is definitely an issue. Turned me off renting one in the future.

@LivinginCanada 10 ай бұрын

Right... I couldn't live in a basement long term. Short term of course it is a reasonable option considering rent prices these days!

@kohlasa6909 Жыл бұрын

the big factor in a basement specially when no electric power and its winter like in Nova Scotia is pretty a big deal to consider, isn't it? Btw...how about flooding in basement during a storm or hurricane?

@Rosa-cs5ce 3 жыл бұрын

You are like a movie star :) so pretty! Thank you so much for the valuable information about Toronto.

@LivinginCanada 3 жыл бұрын

Glad if it was useful, thank you! :)

@yushikuang7877 2 жыл бұрын

Basement apartments are more common in Toronto area and probably Vancouver. Those cities housing prices are so expensive that a lot of owner turn their basement into rental apartment to support their mortgage. For most people, this is the only way to access property. With the time when kids get older and they need more space, they will reconvert the basement in family room . The problem is most of those house are not build with the rental standard so: it’s not sounds isolated, neither for humidity, cold and doesn’t have the proper light. Montreal city has a large amount of duplex, triplex and quadruplex. You have much more rental apartment option above the ground. Usually the owner live in the street level and keep the backyard for personal use and they rent the upper level. Montreal has other problems. Because the provincial government regulate the rent, owner can’t increase the rent as they went. Is good? Yes and no. Because of the housing market increase so much, almost double in the last 10 years, rental become more affordable than be a owner. Resulting that no more duplex, triplex are build as it’s not profitable. So the existing appartment are not even renovated and are in very bad shape. Owner can’t recover the reno cost base on the provincial government laws that limit rent increase. What they call affordable appartment is usually a 1970’s that never been refreshed. People still fight to get those appartments. As there are no new construction, the demand are higher than the offering and owners has no problem to find a client. So owners are very picky. Montreal and the suburbs are now building those new condominiums rental appartment which are very expensive and are not what most immigrants can not afford as the rent is almost the same or more than a mortgage. In the past, a lot of immigrants start with condominiums as a first owner but since 2-3 years, the provincial government change the condominiums administration rules as a lot of condo was badly manage and doesn’t has the fonds when comes major reparation. It was pretty like the farwest, each condominiums building can determine their monthly fees as they wont. Since then, some building managing fees increased so much as they haven’t done their homework and keep the monthly fees way to low. Now, owning a condo almost equal and sometimes more expensive than a single house ( price per square feets) ...which i personally think it make no sense. Immigrants are mostly located in the Montreal island in the past but now i see more and more families moving to the second and third suburbs regions in order to afford a single house with a yard.

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

That’s very interesting, thanks for sharing that!

@KevinMcFlying 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks a lot for making this.

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad if it was useful!

@giuseppemartino9783 Ай бұрын

I'm looking for a basement apartment with a walk in basement. Maybe in Woodbridge or near Martin Grove and hwy 27 or 7

@phantomslayer8590 2 жыл бұрын

Im enjoying living on basement apartment…

@LivinginCanada 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience!

@co_dy_be_st 2 ай бұрын

It is in the law that bedrooms have to have an egress window large enough for a person to escape if they do not technically that is illegal and someone could get badly sued

@farhia711 Жыл бұрын

reading so many of these comments turned me off from basement living ... i would rather live with roommates .... also why are the tax's so high in Ontario? they have more holes in the streets than human beings...

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

Basement living is my last choice. But it can make sense for a limited time and depending on your preferences and budget.

@farhia711 Жыл бұрын

@@LivinginCanada I seen a unit being rented for $2000? Affordable? 😂 You can get a 3 bedroom with that type of money in Japan

@cfyfe7168 Жыл бұрын

For me basement suites are generally dark, cold in winter and very depressing…. The lack of daylight drains my energy, and I tend to get very sedentary. I am only in one now due to ridiculous costs in my city, and several smokers (and non responsive landlord) in previous apartment. I am in a converted garage. Floors are cement. I already have foot fatigue. have no bedroom, no closet space. I feel miserable here. I will need to pay to store most of my belongings now. I would not recommend a basement unless you find a gem , and / or you can still thrive with very little sunlight. I cannot. Not sure how I will manage. My previous home was a sunny bright apartment with closets, storage, a great location,free heat and hot water, and a feeling of independence ( not having my every movement seen). If you find a quiet apartment with respectful neighbours and landlord or an above ground suite that could be a more positive living space. It’s not easy out there for anyone on a limited budget. The house/rental prices in Vancouver for example are ridiculous in my opinion. Thinking of anyone trying to find a supportive living space. Best wishes to you.

@LivinginCanada Жыл бұрын

I also don't like living in basements, I'd only live there for a limited time if at all necessary. I hope you can find something better too in the future!

@Pulpswo Жыл бұрын

Is $1500 for a basement unit worth the price? They usually don't include utilities though...

@willalvarez6773 Жыл бұрын

My basement apartment costs me $1100 a month and everything included. Even internet. If you stay busy and search, a gem will appear. Just have a lot of patience and it will come.