1.7.10
Renovating in a block of flats: what should I keep in mind?
In short Check the rules of your owners' association or housing cooperative, warn the neighbours and sort out the waste. For work on risers and load-bearing walls, ask the building manager first.
Start with the house rules of your owners’ association (wspólnota) or housing cooperative (spółdzielnia). That’s usually where you’ll find the quiet hours and the rules for noisy work. Every building has its own, so don’t assume yours works the same way as your friends’.
Neighbours
- Leave a note in the stairwell: what you’re doing, on which days and at what times, and how long it will take.
- Plan the noisiest work, such as chiselling or drilling into concrete, for the middle of the day.
- Protect the lift and stairwell if materials are being carried in or rubble carried out.
When to ask the building manager
- Changes to load-bearing walls, water and sewage risers, or ventilation.
- Cutting off water or power to more than one flat.
- Changes to the gas installation.
On safety: gas, electrics and water risers are handled by a professional with the required qualifications, and nobody should touch the installation on their own.
Whether you need to notify the authorities or get a permit depends on the scope of the work. Check with the local office or ask a specialist before the professional starts.
Waste
Rubble and renovation waste don’t go in the ordinary bins by the building. Ask the building manager how it’s handled where you live. Professionals usually charge separately for carrying out and removing waste, so agree on this before work starts.
