Could in-law unit conversion help solve the East Bay's housing crisis?

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - With home prices and rents soaring, the Bay Area is suffering an affordable housing crisis. Many housing advocates and elected leaders are encouraging homeowners who can, to convert their garages or basements, into in-law units as a way of helping with the affordable housing shortage.
       
On Jayne Avenue, a residential street near Oakland's Lake Merritt, Leslie Smith is turning a dilapidated house into what she hopes will be her dream home.

"I needed a place to live that would be less expensive eventually then paying rent.," said Smith.
       
That's where another part of her house comes in.

Smith is converting the garage into a two bedroom two bath in-law unit to eventually help pay the mortgage, and for another reason.

"You are definitely easing the housing crisis. And quality of life providing more housing in Oakland," she said.

Bay Area housing advocates say in-law units are cheaper than building a new apartment building or home. The rents figure to be less than what apartment tenants might pay.

"There is a sharing factor and that results in a rent discount. So they tend to go for less than normal market rates and that becomes affordable housing," said Denise Pinkston of the Bay Area Council

State Senator Bob Wieckowski of Fremont authored legislation to make it easier for homeowners to build legal in-law units by streamlining the process and eliminating certain building fees.
 
The City of Oakland has a goal of creating 1,500 new in-law units over the next eight years.

But streets and neighborhoods getting additional tenants could have unintended consequences. Here in the Rockridge neighborhood, residents have concerns.

"If landlords are now no longer required to provide off-street parking for the in-law unit, we are going to get parked up massively as more people convert their garages and basements to in-law units," said Leonora Sea of the DMV Neighbors Association.

"As we move forward with these additional units we are committed to looking at what kinds of parking impacts these housing units are having. Because the way people are getting around in the city is always changing," said Oakland Deputy Planning Director Darin Ranelletti.

It appears to be an increasing trend: One person's former garage could become another person's new home.