baltimorecalling t1_it797tj wrote on October 21, 2022 at 1:20 PM

It really depends on the basement. Certain foundations are more prone to flooding. Certain foundations may have mitigation methods installed (French drain systems, etc).

If you're buying a house, a competent home inspector should be able to evaluate for previous water incursion. If you're renting, I'd reach out to the landlord and ask.

Now, certain weather events can cause area-wide flooding. However, the FEMA flood map seems to have Boston Street out of the flood range. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search?AddressQuery=baltimore%20maryland#searchresultsanchor

earthsfriend OP t1_it7dlys wrote on October 21, 2022 at 1:54 PM

The basement is weird. On the sidewalk there is 5 stairs up to the front door but underneath the stairs there is another front door to the basement that you can’t really access from the street bc it’s under the stairs and partially below the sidewalk but it seems like all the water on the sidewalk would flow under the stairs and leak through the basement front door. The basement has a back door to a concrete patio as well

MispellledIt t1_it7v4ff wrote on October 21, 2022 at 3:53 PM

The bottom of those steps should have a drain. Ideally that drain would connect to a French drain system and a sump pump. You need an inspection and you need to ask these questions.