Searle Ave | 02 Unit Conversion

Toronto

Property Type: Existing Finished Basement within Single-Family Dwelling
Scope of Work: Interior Alteration to Create New 1-Bedroom Legal Basement Unit (Approx. 400 sq. ft.)

Project Overview:

At Searle Ave in Toronto, our goal was to create a compact, legal 1-bedroom basement unit within an existing finished 800 sq. ft. basement. The plan involved subdividing the space—half for the homeowner’s use and half as a fully self-contained rental unit. With only 400 sq. ft. to work with, this project required careful planning to maintain both code compliance and livability.

Early concerns surrounded the existing basement walkout, which we anticipated might require demolition and reconstruction. However, the City accepted it as-is, recognizing it as a long-standing feature—saving our investor time and money.

Scope & Strategy:

• Designed a compact 1-bedroom layout within ~400 sq. ft.

• Integrated a private in-suite laundry closet

• Preserved and fire-rated the existing basement walkout for      dedicated entry

• Verified all Ontario Building Code requirements for minimum      room sizes, natural light, and egress

• Strategically navigated design constraints to stay within the      investor’s budget

Challenges Solved:

• Maximized functionality in a small footprint without      compromising code compliance

• Avoided costly walkout reconstruction by demonstrating existing      condition suitability

• Despite limited space, ensured every required function      (kitchen, bath, laundry, etc.) was included

• Managed a less-than-ideal bathroom layout (accessible      only through the bedroom) while maintaining code compliance

Investor Benefits:

• Created an income-generating legal basement suite while      retaining partial basement use for the homeowner

• Achieved full permit approval and construction completion      without structural rework

• Designed a unit that, despite size and layout limitations,      meets Toronto rental demand

• Cost-effective solution that balances code, usability, and      ROI

Current Status:

Permits approved. Construction is completed. Searle Ave is now home to a fully legal, compact basement unit—adding long-term value for the investor.