Inherited apartment renovation

What an inherited apartment can mean for a renovation

In an inherited apartment the renovation history may not be known: what was changed and when, where the wires run, whether the partition walls are original. In many homes the wiring was built in the Soviet era, and the wires are 30–50 years old and worn out. The electrical installation is inspected every 10 years and the result is recorded in a report; if there is no report, an inspection is a good place to start.

In an old building, demolition may turn up materials that can contain asbestos, for example old vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive. Asbestos cannot be reliably identified by appearance; it is determined in a laboratory. Asbestos removal may be carried out only with the permission of the State Labour Inspectorate. More on the page asbestos in an apartment.

Cosmetic or full renovation of an inherited apartment

If you will sell the apartment, cosmetic renovation may be enough, and bigger decisions can be left to the buyer; see renovating an apartment before selling. If you will live in it yourself or rent it out for a long time, consider replacing the old wiring and pipes while the apartment is empty. A full renovation means demolition down to the structure, new wiring and pipes, screed, plastering and all the finishing.

If the electrical wiring is rebuilt, it must be fitted with residual current protection. Installation is directed by a construction specialist and the checks are carried out by an electrical specialist; they can be verified in the register of construction specialists in BIS. For the work, see electrical wiring replacement.

If there are several owners or the layout has been changed

If several people inherited the apartment, before the renovation agree who orders the work and who approves the estimate. In the request write who to contact. It is worth putting the list of work and the price in writing, because with an oral agreement the customer has to prove the contract and the payment.

If the previous owners replanned the apartment without documents, the owner of the building is responsible for removing the consequences of unauthorised construction. The Construction Law allows any co-owner to remove the consequences of unauthorised construction without the consent of the others. The next steps start with the building board's decision; see replanning without approval.

Renovating an inherited apartment in the usual order

1. Clearing the apartment Furniture and belongings are taken out before the work. For removal of construction waste, see buvgruzuizvesanariga.lv.
2. What to decide before the work What to change: wiring, pipes up to the riser, floor base, walls, windows. If asbestos is suspected, a sample is sent to a laboratory before demolition.
3. Demolition Old wallpaper, tiles, floor covering and, if needed, plaster.
4. Utilities New wiring and pipes up to the riser. Risers and radiators that depend on the building's heating are common property: work on them needs the association's consent and is organised by the building manager.
5. Base preparation Screed or floor levelling, wall plastering and skimming.
6. Finishing Bathroom, painting, floor covering, doors and skirting boards.

How much does renovating an inherited apartment cost?

Full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area. Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of apartment area. Demolition of walls, floors and finishes: from €6/m². Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.

Example: a 2-room apartment of 50 m², full renovation: 50 × €280 = from €14,000 (labour). The same apartment with cosmetic renovation: 50 × €100 = from €5,000 (labour).

The price is affected by the area and the number of rooms, the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings, whether the wiring, pipes and risers are replaced, and the chosen finish. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment. All prices: prices.

What this work includes