Author: Easy House / published: 28 February 2022
The possession of a balcony for the exclusive use of the apartment owner often determines the choice of one’s own flat. To what extent does the balcony, or more precisely its components, belong to the apartment owner, and what is taken care of by the community?
Who is responsible for renovating the balcony
Having a balcony is undoubtedly an added value for the apartment user. It serves to relax, organize green space, and sometimes as a place to store things. The question that arises most frequently is: who is responsible for its renovation – the apartment owner or the community? It is difficult to find an answer to this question in the legal regulations themselves, but court judgments and interpretations of the law come to the rescue. According to these laws, the housing community is responsible for the balcony slab and its insulation, as common parts of the building, while the owner of the apartment is responsible for the surface with which the balcony is tiled with (tiles, terrace boards). Balustrades and barriers are also classified as common parts of the real estate, unless the regulations and statutes of the community provide otherwise, and this issue is regulated internally.
How to enjoy one’s own balcony…
The use of a balcony and the space within it is a very individual matter. Some use it to relax after a hard day’s work: they enjoy tending to the greenery, decorating it with pots of flowering plants, setting up deckchairs. Others use their balcony for more functional purposes, enlarging the living space and drying their laundry or storing items that get in their way in the apartment. Everyone makes use of the balcony in accordance with individual needs and expectations.
…and not disturb the neighbours
The most important thing, however, is not to make it difficult for others to use their space when using our balcony in a way that is convenient for us. It’s worth anticipating such scenarios as the one when, during excessive watering of potted plants, we inadvertently make the downstairs neighbor’s drying underwear dirty, or when, while firing up the barbecue, we accidentally smoke in the neighbor’s child’s bedroom. Although the balcony is an external part of the property, it should be used like any other common space. Mounting pergolas or satellite dishes can be a nuisance for the owners of neighboring balconies, because, for example, they take away daylight or obstruct the view from the window. Therefore, out of concern for good relations with the neighbors, it’s worth asking whether the changes we plan to make to the balcony will not be problematic for them.
What to agree with the community manager
It is also worth mentioning a few issues that require consultation with the community manager. For example, installation of an external air-conditioning unit may interfere with common parts (damage to the insulation of a balcony slab or a wall by drilling a hole for the installation). The same applies to the installation of awnings, roofings or partitions. So this type of change is better to discuss first with the person responsible for the technical condition of the building.
The balcony in a community living space is an important social element and has a positive impact on the well-being of people: it allows them to talk to their closest neighbors without leaving the apartment, its lucky owners can sip coffee outdoors and enjoy the nice weather or provide themselves with an intimate space to read a book and relax with good music. In many cities, this space has been appreciated by the municipal offices, which hold annual competitions for the most beautiful balcony.
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Author: Easy House / published: 04 february 2022
The approaching spring mobilizes lovers of bikes to dust them off, oil them and generally prepare for the season. Lucky are those who have a place to "hibernate" their bikes. But what about the residents, who dream of owning a bike, but have nowhere to store it?
Where to keep the bike in the apartment?
No one probably needs convincing that physical activity is very important for our health – cycling is one of its most popular forms. But storing a bike in a small apartment or on a balcony can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, and not everyone has a storage room or a public baby carriage room at their disposal. There are, however, many options for solving this problem. In a housing community much depends on its members and board, and of course on the spatial and technical possibilities to separate a zone or room from a part of the property or install bicycle racks or hangers.
Bike storage ideas
The choice offered by manufacturers in this area is wide. In the offer of many companies we can find, for example:
Such an extensive range of products will meet the various expectations and needs of residents of housing estates. Contrary to appearances, in most multi-family buildings there are possibilities of arranging space for mounting of e.g. bicycle hangers, where you can leave your bike without disturbing others from the property.
Keeping bikes in the common area – limitations and opportunities
In situations where the common area that could be used for bicycle storage has been used differently so far, a resolution is needed from the unit owners agreeing to change the use of that part of the property. It is also possible to consider renting the space, or even leasing a single hanger or stand, whereby the community would benefit financially and the bicycle owner would have a place for exclusive use.
Advantages of external bicycle racks
It is also worth considering putting up outdoor bike racks or garages, if there is enough space. Their presence makes it easier for cyclists to enter the apartment without having to carry their favourite bike through the staircase and risk rubbing tires on the walls.
Additional bike racks can also increase the chances that some residents will switch from four-wheelers to two-wheelers – to the benefit of both the environment and the community itself, which will benefit from the attractiveness of the estate and the health and satisfaction of the residents.
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Author: Easy House / published: 21 february 2022
How to keep the sewage system clear and why
One does not necessarily need to prove the utility of a toilet, but what happens to the waste disposed of there and where does it actually go? Incorrect use of the sewage system can take its toll on users, causing considerable and, let's face it, bad-smelling damage.
What not to throw down the sewage system
For several years, water and sewage companies across the country have been conducting educational campaigns on proper use of this system. Blockages in the sewage system (both inside and outside the building) are most often caused by grease accumulation in the system, i.e. oily substances left after preparing a meal (e.g. oil from frying pork chops, oil from deep fryers or butter) which are often poured down household drains. Wet wipes also end up in the sewage system – often made of material that does not decompose in water as quickly as paper. Unfortunately, cotton balls, cotton buds, disposable diapers, kitchen waste and medicines are also thrown into the toilet bowl. The sewage system is not a good place for any of the above categories of waste. So how do you dispose of them safely? Find out more about waste sorting.
Effects of clogged sewage systems
The troublesome consequences of throwing waste that should not go in the toilets are mainly blockages and backflow of waste, and consequently even flooding of the apartment, basement or sidewalks. There is no need to mention the expense and stress associated with this type of situation. It is definitely better to prevent them.
How to unclog a sewage system
Unclogging of the sewage system is expensive and requires the use of appropriate equipment, and the work should be done in such a way as not to damage the sewage system. Sometimes the blockage is so big that it is not possible to crush or push it through and it is necessary to remove the floor, which additionally exposes the apartment owner or community to costs. The commonly available remedies for unblocking sewage drains often only make the situation worse – they petrify or the active substances they contain damage the PVC pipes from which the sewage system is made.
Co należy uzgodnić z zarządcą wspólnoty
Warto też wspomnieć o kilku kwestiach, które wymagają uzgodnienia z zarządcą wspólnoty. Przykładowo montaż jednostki zewnętrznej klimatyzatora może ingerować w części wspólne (uszkodzenie izolacji płyty balkonowej czy ściany poprzez dokonanie odwiertu na przeprowadzenie instalacji). To samo dotyczy montażu markiz, zadaszeń czy przegród. Tak więc tego typu zmiany lepiej omówić najpierw z osobą odpowiedzialną za stan techniczny budynku.
Common issue
Even seemingly small amounts of small waste from individual apartments accumulate over time in the municipal systems, creating blockages there and generating further difficulties. The sewage treatment plants collecting liquid waste also have limited capacities and it is better not to check how much they can handle at maximum. It is therefore in the common interest that we take care to use the toilets sensibly, so that in future we can avoid having to clean up the apartment after the sewage system has broken, and that access to the toilet is restricted until the plumber arrives.
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Author: Easy House / published: 01 february 2022
Sorting our waste is one of the easiest ways for us to reduce our negative impact on the environment surrounding us. In addition, this simple everyday action reduces the cost of waste collection, providing us with real savings. Is it worth it? It is!
Waste classification group
What is this waste sorting all about? Why should we make our lives so complicated and put several different containers instead of one waste container? Waste sorting is an important element of recycling and closed cycle economy – by reducing the amount of waste, we reduce the costs connected with its storage and the consumption of natural resources.
Multi-family buildings use common gazebos and waste garbage cans, which are divided into 5 different fractions:
When in doubt about …
Where should I put a burnt-out light bulb or a milk carton? Some of us face such dilemmas every day. Where can you find help? It is best to look for answers to specific questions on the website dedicated to the municipality, since the rules for waste sorting may vary in different administrative units. Prepared information leaflets and dedicated applications are also very helpful in this respect.
…waste sorting w Gdańsk
If you are a resident of Gdańsk, it is worth getting acquainted with the information available at www.czystemiasto.gdansk.pl, where you can also download a free application suggesting which garbage can to put product packaging or used disposable towels in.
… waste sorting in Gdynia
The residents of Gdynia, in turn, have been provided with a “Segregate it better” search engine at www.wyrzucam.to, which contains additional information on waste and its composition as well as hints on what is recycled.
…waste storting in Sopot, Rumia, Reda and Wejherowo
It is worthwhile for the residents of Sopot, Rumia, Reda or Wejherowo to look for information concerning waste sorting rules on the official websites of municipal offices or entities operating in the municipality in the field of waste collection. On those websites, there is also information about collection schedules or dates of large-size waste and Christmas trees collection, as well as tips on what to do with hazardous waste and where to return used electronic equipment.
Waste sorting pays off
Why is sorting important? Of course, the priority and noble assumption is environmental protection. However, we must admit that the economic aspect is also important for the residents – the lack of waste sorting results in increased costs of waste collection, which often finally convinces even the biggest skeptics.
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