When I came across yet another real estate ad promoting a basement in-law suite, I had to speak up. While the term ‘in-law suite’ sounds like a cozy and practical solution for keeping aging parents nearby, the reality is that most basement apartments are far from ideal for aging parents or individuals with disabilities. Despite this, real estate listings continue to market them as viable options, potentially putting families in difficult situations.
Realtors are licensed professionals and I want to avoid painting them all with the same brush however the number of listings available when I search House Sigma using the keyword ‘in-law’ – 352 along Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe alone – tells me that lots of basement apartments are being promoted as in-law or potential in-law suites. Clicking into several listings showed me pictures of basement apartments that I could not support as an Aging in Place and Accessibility Strategist.
So why did I make a video? Because the vast majority of basements are not suitable for aging parents or anyone with a disability however home buyers don’t know what to look for. Basic home design has not changed since the 50’s so most basements are dug into the ground on all four sides. Let’s look at some basic issues with basement apartments being used and promoted for aging parents:
- The Accessibility Challenges of Basements – Basements nearly always require stairs to access the main level. By definition they are not level with the main floor. Stairs become increasingly challenging for older adults and nearly impossible for people who use mobility devices such as canes or walkers.
- Lighting: A Critical Consideration – Lighting in basements is hardly ever as good as lighting on main and other upper levels. The windows are not as large, window wells partially obstruct them and upgrading the lighting to mimic access to full daylight hardly ever happens. Aging eyes need more lighting to carry out the same tasks that would have required less lighting 20 or 30 years prior.
- Bathrooms Not Designed for Aging – Bathrooms are seldom renovated to be truly accessible. Lower toilets, shiny tile, tub/shower combos and poor lighting are typical for basement apartments and while they might satisfy the needs of a college student, these features are far from appropriate for an aging adult.
- Kitchen and Laundry Not Designed for Aging – The kitchen, cupboard and laundry areas are hardly ever appropriate for an adult with progressive aging. The counters tend to be too high to sit at for meal prep, the upper cupboard shelves are unreachable for people challenged by range of motion issues and laundry machines are challenging for people who can’t bend over to reach far back into front loading machines or down deep into top loading washers.
- The Social Isolation Risk – When climbing the stairs becomes too much trouble, social isolation becomes the side effect and we know that social isolation has been designated a serious health threat.
As I write this post, the video on Facebook has garnered over 31,000 plays, 858 likes, 159 comments and 74 shares and the numbers are climbing. Most of the comments are in agreement with my video. There are comments from people who can’t easily get to the front door of their adult children’s homes because of stairs, calls for greater respect for aging parents, concerns about emergency exit from a basement, several comments that suggest the parents should live on the main floor while the adult children live in the basement apartment and one from someone who lived in what they call a ‘cellar’ for 20 years and recalls it being dark, depressing and lonely.
There are a few who disagree – I suspect from former or retired realtors who insist that ads only push features that exist or that home owners agree to the wording promoting the apartment as an in-law suite. To be clear, I wouldn’t have a problem with it if the ads just said there is a basement apartment. It could be used for an adult child, a student or perhaps rented out for extra income.
Walkout Basements
While I do know that there are basements with walkouts – this was pointed out to me several times in the post comments – let’s acknowledge that while a backsplit may permit entrance and exit without stairs, there will still be stairs or a steeper than comfortable ramp to access the street/main level.
What a True Age-Friendly Basement Suite Looks Like
I have had the pleasure of touring bungalows that have been renovated by a company that understands the problems. These bungalows have been renovated to be fully accessible, the lighting in the basement units is spectacular and there is an elevator to assist residents in accessing the basement unit as well as the upper unit to avoid the four or five steps typically found leading to the front door.
Better Education Benefits Everyone
Let’s not just accept ‘in-law suite’ as a selling feature without questioning what that truly means. If you’re buying a home with aging parents in mind, take the time to assess whether the space is truly safe and accessible. Not just for now but for 10, 20 or more years down the road. Understanding their aging or disease progression will help buyers understand what best supports their independence, safety and dignify.
Realtors play a key role in helping families find suitable homes, but many may not realize how misleading ‘in-law suite’ can be when applied to inaccessible basement units. It’s time for more education and awareness on what truly makes a home aging-friendly so that buyers can make informed choices.
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