Household Change, Accessory Apartments, and Low Income Housing in Suburbs∗

This paper describes the characteristics of accessory apartments (rented housing units within owner-occupied single family homes) and the circumstances which give rise to them. Survey data from a New York suburb indicate that these apartments provide inexpensive housing for entry level workers, many of whom are related to the home owners. Analyses suggest that “empty nest’ households who anticipate a decline in income and live in a house whose structure facilitates a conversion are likely to create accessory apartments in their homes. Some implications of these findings for residential succession in suburban areas are explored.