Lately my inspection plate seems to contain a never ending helping of renovated properties or flips. The mere mention of the word "flip" has begun to produce a puckering reaction in parts of my body that shall go unnamed. I believe this is an ancient defense mechanism. So it was with usual trepidation I took on another inspection on an "updated" property.
The house was a Cape Cod style where the second floor had been made into a large master suite. Anyone familiar with this type of house knows that besides having numerous variations on the theme, the second floor is many times without heat. No heat is certainly expected when, which is again common in this style, the second floor is not finished, however bedrooms should have a heat source. In fact heat is required for all habitable spaces.
I have in the past been informed that bedrooms such as this one, without heat are considered habitable space.
Technically no, they are not.
In fact since the house was just renovated, there certainly should be a heat source on the second floor. Not to mention a few other missing items.
According to the International Residential Code (IRC), which Connecticut uses as the building standard;
R303.8 Required heating. When the winter design temperature in Table R301.2(1) is below 60°F (16°C), every dwelling unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68°F (20°C) at a point 3 feet (914 mm) above the floor and 2 feet (610 mm) from exterior walls in all habitable rooms at the design temperature. The installation of one or more portable space heaters shall not be used to achieve compliance with this section.
Simply put, heat is required.
Now whether this room actually meets the requirements for a habitable space is another story. The ceiling height and slope would almost certainly disqualify it as a habitable room.
This begs the question, was this work permitted and inspected by the local building department.
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