Re: Moving to Chicago frn dubai and v confused
^ Firstly, I want to let you know that in the U.S., working 8:30-5:30 OR 9:00-6:00 are normal working hours for people who work full-time. So if you’re looking for a full-time job, this is not a horrible timing. People who have small children either find some type of childcare or after-school programs for their kids if the kids get out of school early.
In the U.S., saying that you/your family is ok with people sleeping in the drawing room and can manage does not matter. There are strict occupancy requirements in each state the landlords follow. How old are your 2 kids? Their age matters in this case.
Also, your sister staying with you for 1 week won’t be a problem BUT your parents living with you for 1-2 months will be an issue. Are your parents going to move in with you in your 1-bedroom apartment for 1-2 months…so there are FIVE people living in a 1-bedroom apartment? Law makes concession for parents with young children because it makes sense that a infant/toddler/elementary school age children can share a bedroom with their parents. But it’s not going to be ok with ANY landlord that you, an adult woman, will share a bedroom with your elderly parents AND your 2 small children. And I will repeat, it’s not legally ok in these situations to suggest that someone is going to sleep in the drawing room.
I googled and found the two regulations I’m copying below. As you will see, they’re complicated. The ages of your children and the size of the apartment makes difference. Bottom line is that none of us can give you a definite answer to this. You will need to ask the specific landlords when you’re searching for apartment whether you and your 2 children can live in a 1-bedroom apartment. I will say that if they find out later on that your parents are living with you…then that could get you in trouble if they’re not on the lease. Again, someone visiting for 1-week is fine…someone moving in with you for 1-2 MONTHS is a very different scenario.
First, many municipalities have their own occupancy standards. The standards set in Chicago by the building code are quite high. Section 12-196-480 sets forth the space requirements for residential buildings stating:Every family unit shall contain at least 125 square feet of floor area for each of the first two occupants, and at least 100 square feet of each of the next two occupants, and at least 75 square feet for each additional occupant. For the purpose of this section, floor area is the area within the perimeter of the space or building occupied by the family unit, not including elevators, stairs, or other shaft enclosures.
The code, in Section 13-196-490 providing rules for sleeping rooms in residential buildings goes on to say:In every family unit and every rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, or if of original configuration need only comply with the regulations in effect at the time of its construction. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant 12 years of age and over and at least 35 square feet of floor area for each occupant under 12 years of age. For the purpose of this section a person under two years of age shall not be counted as an occupant.