Anyone can contribute to the successful renovation of an apartment building
This year, specialists of the Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA) conducted nine inspections of the renovated apartment buildings in response to reports of residents. They contain mainly minor damage – inadequate storage of construction products, missing information booth, uninstalled construction debris, scattered work tools or temporary power cables left on the aisles. Most of these disadvantages have been eliminated immediately.
« The technical supervisor is responsible for the quality of work performed. However, as the population monitors the course of the renovation every day, the contribution of each of them is very important. Residents can notice even the smallest flaws, make photos, record dates, circumstances and details. Expert of the Modernization Project Division Edvardas Petrauskas.
The project administrator is first informed
The first step that residents should take when noticed by problems or possible violations should be informed of the situation of the renovation project administrator, which is the connecting link between apartment residents and renovation operators. If the project administrator is not performing his duties properly, residents should apply to the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate (VTPSI) or APVA. Since the beginning of this year, APVA has received about 30 inquiries of potential violations.
Residents usually apply for work in the living quarters – prolonged glazing of balconies, replacement of windows and radiators, accounting devices, water supply and sewerage pipelines, as these works disrupt their normal life and cause inconvenience. The other part of the complaints is related to alleged work or defects observed, the quality of the materials used or the inadequate choice of technology.
End – only for residents without reproaching for quality
Once the renovation works are completed, the project administrator shall apply to the VTPSI to complete the construction. VTPSI form a commission that carries out a building inspection. Once the defects or the need to perform additional steps, the work of the commission is suspended until all defects are remedied. If the deficiencies are not substantial, they are granted up to six months to eliminate them.
The renovation work is considered to be completed only when the building has been checked and the defects are remedied – then the construction completion act is issued, which allows residents to apply for state support. Prior to it, APVA specialists make sure that all measures provided for in the investment plan of the house are implemented and assess their quality.
E. Petrauskas emphasizes that if after the renovation it turns out that the work has been of poor quality or made errors, the responsibility for the structure designer, the contractor or the technical supervisor of the construction is responsible. The Construction Act provides that visible works are subject to a warranty term for at least five years, for hidden structures for ten years, and for intentional defects for 20 years. Even if the contractor goes bankrupt or becomes insolvent, the guarantee for residents is valid for the first three years after the renovation.
The project « Promotion of Apartment Houses » is funded by the Cohesion Fund.
