Old apartment renovation

What to check first in an old apartment

Electrical wiring. An explanation in LV portāls says that in many homes the wiring was installed in Soviet times and is 30–50 years old and worn out. The Fire Safety Regulations currently in force require a test of the electrical wiring every 10 years, with an inspection report. If there is no report, that is the first question to clear up.

Pipes and risers. The pipes in the apartment up to the risers belong to the apartment, but the risers are common property. According to publicly available surveys (nopo.lv), for 464 series buildings worn risers and wiring are mentioned, and for the 467 series worn water pipes and wiring. In your own apartment, check this on site.

Floors and walls. In pre-war masonry buildings the floors between storeys are mostly wooden (apollo.lv), so the floor base can be quite different from that in a panel building with reinforced concrete slabs.

Asbestos under the old finish

In the European Union the use of asbestos has been banned since 01.01.2005. Asbestos is dangerous if it is sawn, drilled or otherwise damaged, because the fine fibres get into the airways. Vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive may contain asbestos, and so may asbestos-cement sheets and pipes.

Asbestos cannot be reliably identified by appearance; it is determined in a laboratory. Before demolition in buildings built before the ban, the employer must find out whether materials containing asbestos may be present. If there are old floor tiles under the linoleum, mention it in your request. Asbestos demolition may be carried out only with the permission of the State Labour Inspectorate.

Order of work in an old apartment

1. Building series and wiring The building series or year and the condition of the wiring, pipes, floors and walls.
2. Checking suspect materials If there are old tiles or asbestos-cement sheets, they can be tested in a laboratory before demolition.
3. Demolition The old finish is removed. For construction waste removal, see buvgruzuizvesanariga.lv.
4. Refining the estimate After demolition it can be seen what condition the base and the walls are in, and the list of work can be added to.
5. Services New electrical wiring with residual current protection, which has been mandatory in a reconstruction since 01.07.2025, and pipes up to the risers.
6. Levelling and finishing Plastering, floor levelling or screed, then the finish.

Pre-war and wooden buildings

Pre-war masonry buildings have thick walls and high ceilings (apollo.lv), and the windows may be non-standard. For buildings in the historic centre and its protection zone, Cabinet Regulation No. 127 protects the original windows and external doors in facades facing the public outdoor space. Windows in the external structures of a building are common property, and they are replaced in agreement with the building manager.

If the building is a cultural monument, the solution is agreed with the National Heritage Board (Nacionālā kultūras mantojuma pārvalde) or the City Development Department. More on the pages renovating an apartment in a pre-war building and renovating an apartment in a wooden building; for Soviet buildings, apartment renovation by building series.

How much does it cost?

For an old apartment renovation the price is drawn up as an estimate. If everything is replaced, the nearest line is full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area; if the wiring and pipes stay, cosmetic renovation: from €100/m². Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.

An example: a 1-room apartment of 33 m², full renovation: 33 × €280 = from €9,240 for labour.

The price is affected by:

• the apartment area in m² and the number of rooms
• whether it is a cosmetic or a full renovation
• the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings
• whether the wiring, pipes and risers are changed
• the chosen finish (tiles, floor covering, doors)

An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment.

What is included in the price