Fact Check

Based on currently available numbers, there are about 31 vacant housing units for every homeless person in the U.S.

  • fpslem@lemmy.world
    143·
    4 months ago

    No one is stopping Grandma Susan from renting out her basement to pay bills.

    I regret to report that plenty of people are stopping Grandma Susan from doing just that. Many municipalities in the U.S. forbid unrelated people from living in the same household to prevent roommate arrangements, and they also outlaw accessory dwelling units like basement apartments. American zoning laws are a nightmare.

    • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      4 months ago

      Many municipalities in the U.S. forbid unrelated people from living in the same household to prevent roommate arrangements

      citation requested.

        • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          4 months ago

          from the article you posted:

          In more than a third of the city, the existing zoning restrictions prohibited any more than two unrelated tenants from living together in homes not occupied by the owner.

          so two unrelated people can live together fine. And this only applies to that third of the city, the remaining 2/3rds do not have this restriction.

          I know it’s less than the ideal, which would be them minding their own fucking business, but the statement I replied to is inaccurate - in your case, grandma could rent out her basement, she just can’t rent out the guest room, basement and MIL shack out back, IF she’s in that one third of Madison covered by that reg.

          IF__*

          • frezik@midwest.social
            1·
            4 months ago

            Like I said, there’s plenty of variations on this theme across different cities. No matter if the original comment was correct in every detail or not, the general principle was correct.

            • mojofrododojo@lemmy.worldEnglish
              11·
              4 months ago

              so you assert, but I’m not actually finding a lot to support the thesis.

              a few cities, or parts of cities, have some form of restriction, but it appears that most do not and even the cities that do, do not have a universal ban themselves.

              I suspect Madison has this restriction on residences primarily nearby the Uni to prevent kids from crowding in over-occupancy to be honest.