Can a room be considered a bedroom if it does not have a window? I had a real estate agent ask me this question recently, and here is my response.
Question: We are selling a 3BR home, the third bedroom does not have a window. I am pretty sure code says that all bedrooms should have windows. Can we accept FHA financing? Can we call the third bedroom a den?
Answer: If the “bedroom” does not have a window, it cannot be considered a bedroom. Well, technically a bedroom should have at least two methods of egress, which means in addition to the interior door it must have either a properly-sized window or a second door to the exterior. According to the International Residential Code, a bedroom window can be no more than 44 inches from the floor, it needs at least 5.7 square feet for the opening, and it must measure no less than 24 inches high and 20 inches wide. If a room does not have a window (and no second door), it’s not a bedroom and is best considered something else. Financing shouldn’t be an issue since this is not a bedroom. The real issue is marketability. Will buyers pay less for this set-up compared to a traditional 3-bedroom unit that has windows in each bedroom? That’s the real question. It’s probably best to call this third area whatever the market would call it – maybe a den or potential bedroom, etc…
Any further thoughts or insight? I’d love to hear your take.
If you liked this post, subscribe by email (or RSS). Thanks for being here.