Renovation Planning in a Condominium

In this article, we want to highlight a few common modifications that can cause headaches during renovation planning. There is plenty of information online about the division of responsibilities between the condominium and its shareholders, so we won’t go into detail on that here.

As a general principle, maintenance responsibilities are defined by the Finnish Limited Liability Housing Companies Act and the condominium’s Articles of Association. Typically, the condominium is responsible for external surfaces and structural elements, while the shareholder is responsible for the apartment’s interior and surface materials. A shareholder has the right to carry out modifications in their apartment, provided that these changes do not cause harm to the condominium or other shareholders. Conversely, it can be said that the condominium essentially has no right to forbid a shareholder’s modifications when these conditions are met.

Over the years, three main issues have repeatedly emerged from the renovations we have undertaken:

1. Footstep Sound Insulation

When a renovation involves changing the flooring material, the condominium usually requires footstep sound insulation to prevent noise disturbance to neighbors. This typically applies, for example, when changing from plastic or cork flooring to parquet or from any material to tile. Before making your final interior design decisions, you should find out what the specific requirements are in your condominium.

2. Vesikalusteet

Faucets, mixers, and sink traps are generally the responsibility of the condominium. In practice, however, these are often replaced during renovations carried out by shareholders. The condominium may impose certain requirements to maintain its maintenance responsibility, or if these requirements are not met, the responsibility shifts to the shareholder. Note that the shareholder’s maintenance responsibility also transfers to the next owner when the apartment is sold.

Usually, renovations must use water fixtures, such as faucets and showers, that have an STF certificate.

A type approval certificate is the manufacturer’s way of proving that the product meets the required technical specifications. In addition, condominiums often require a certain sound classification, which is also demonstrated via certification.

3. Moving the Kitchen or Bathroom

In larger renovation projects—especially in older apartments—there’s often a desire to move or expand the kitchen, bathroom, or utility room. While solutions for changes to water and drainage systems are generally easier to find, ventilation can pose a challenge, particularly when the building relies on natural (gravity-based) ventilation. For these types of renovations, HVAC (LVI) design is always required as part of the shareholder’s renovation notification. Planning will go more smoothly if you already have previous HVAC plans and, for example, a chimney or duct survey on hand. It’s also wise to allocate sufficient time and budget for the planning phase.

As a Designurakka customer, you gain access to our expertise and experience in applying for the condominium’s renovation permit and commissioning the necessary specialized plans.

(Source: www.kiinteistöliitto.fi site)

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