Purchased a property as a 3/3. Rented as a 3/3. Pay taxes on a 3/3. Property Card says 3/3. Town is now saying they can't find any permits/plans that show 3rd bedroom as anything but open space. This is a condo and is coming to light due to short term rental inspections. A similar unit was inspected and ordered to remove all beds immediately (just locking it for rental purposes and using it personally doesn't seem to be an option). I believe they are requiring outside egress which may not be possible. We will look into possible fire suppression. This is a significant drop in resale value if we have to sell as a 2BR. We will consult with legal, but any thoughts on how you fight this, work around or places to start researching?

I run into your situation all of the time. As a owner, investor, manager, contractor and builder. I know the codes, trades and procedures but still sometimes things go wrong somewhere over the years. Permits get lost. Plans disappear. Codes and ordinances change so the "City" changes their minds after the fact and make "the new owner" deal with their "mistakes".

Case in point, I have landlord friends with million dollar problems -- such as a 6 unit that was permitted as a duplex over 30 years ago. The owner wanted my help in getting thing straightened out. I know the City's records are now kept behind closed and locked doors. If I ask for the documents, they will vanish before I can place my eyes upon them. So I recommend as associate, who pay's a fee and have unlimited access to "records". For a fee, he would investigate, pull all plans, permits and certificate of occupancy. He wanted around $1,700 for his time to do the leg work and produce a comprehensive report needed to obtain a new ruling to get the duplex back as a 6 unit. The client thought that was too high of a price and through they could do the work themselves. It's now 2 years later and the property is vacant -- loosing around $460,000 in rental income.

I am disgusted on what you citizens have allowed your govt to do to you

In Newbury NH they had 2 people in town hall -1 window....now 6 windows 12+ people - I sold out of that town

In Sunapee NH we had ZERO building inspectors - now they have 1.5 and share an assessor with 3 towns - I sold out of there

Most great NH villages now have more Real Estate Offices and Country Stores have become few and far between

Nirvana is shrinking and I am selling out my rentals - my home is safely in resort town with a lake , skiing, golf, scuba etc and no medaling Govt............ by our choice

Govt is only in the business of providing those goods and services that the private sector finds either unprofitable or undesirable. for instance - Towns should not be in the garbage pick up business - there are plenty of companies that do it

How long have you owned this and rented it?

Why the sudden change? Now, all of the sudden, they can't find a permit.

Have you checked to see if they recently changed the codes or zoning and are using the permit as an excuse to to get you to change?

I would ask them why they have been excepting it as a 6 unit the whole time and taking my tax money as such and let me buy it as such and now they want to change it. If they did just change the codes then you should be able to grandfather in.

I have seen a specially designed window that looks like a picture window but the glass is clipped into the square to increase the size of the egress area.