Working with a buyer's agent in Abington? See Abington, MA real estate services with Brian McFarland at HFM Realty.
Abington has older houses that were built as, or later divided into, two units. A listing may describe a two-family, an in-law apartment or a converted single-family. Each description raises a different question about what the property is approved to be, and the answer affects financing, insurance and how you can use it.
Start with the approved use
Ask the building department what use and number of units the records show for the parcel, and compare that with the listing and the assessor’s record. If the documents and the house do not match, note the difference and ask how it can be resolved before you rely on the second unit.
Read the permit history for the conversion
Request permits for the work that created or changed the units: framing, plumbing, electrical, heating and any egress changes. Have your inspector look at the condition of that work independently. A permit shows what was approved; an inspection shows what is there now.
If a unit is occupied
Ask for the current leases or tenancy terms, deposit and last-month’s-rent records and any notices. Your attorney can explain what transfers to you at closing and what the law requires of a new owner. Do not plan around an occupancy change until counsel has reviewed it.
Separate costs and systems
Find out which utilities are metered separately, how heat and hot water are supplied to each unit and which costs the owner pays. Ask your lender how rental income would be treated and what documents it needs, and ask your insurer about coverage for a two-unit property.
Some background
Abington was incorporated in 1712 and became a shoemaking town in the 1800s, after Jesse Reed’s tack machine of around 1815. Housing built for factory workers, and houses divided later, are one reason the approved use of an older building deserves a check.
For more of Abington’s history, see the Abington town guide.
Official resources
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General educational information, not legal, tax, engineering, lending or insurance advice. Requirements and available records can change; consult the relevant authorities and qualified professionals for your property. Equal Housing Opportunity.