Each of us likes to live in a clean and beautiful house. It is pleasant to enter not only a well-kept apartment with fresh repairs, but also a neat entrance hall, where the plaster does not fall from the walls, the windows do not gape with broken glass, and the tiles on the floor do not “dance” underfoot. Sometimes this is a question not only of aesthetics, but also of safety.

Who is responsible for repairs in the entrance?

If putting our own apartment in order depends only on us and our financial capabilities, then repairs in the entrance hall are the task of the management company.

Current repairs are carried out at the expense of the funds that the management company regularly collects from residents as part of the monthly fee under the item “maintenance of common areas/housing maintenance/fee for maintenance and repairs”. That is, the fee for current repairs of entrances should not be charged separately – you are already paying for it.

But sometimes it is difficult to get repairs done in the entrance. The obligation to carry out current repairs should be specified in the contract with the owners, and if there is no such clause, it is a violation.

According to the Resolution , the management company is obliged to carry out current repairs in the entrance once every 3-5 years depending on the classification of the building and the degree of wear. The presence of any separate agreements is not required.

But usually management companies stipulate in the contract the current repair of entrances, and the most frequent and banal excuse is the lack of money for repairs due to the debts of the owners. However, it should be remembered that if repairs have not been carried out for more than 3-5 years, the refusal of the management organization is unlawful.

What is included in the entrance hall renovation

Current repair work in the entrance includes:

• renovation of ceiling and wall coverings
• renovation of the floor covering, and replacement if necessary
• glass replacement, repair or replacement of window frames
• repair or installation of new mailboxes
• restoration of handrails and stairs
• repair of porch, entrance canopy and doors
• garbage chute repair
• replacement of light bulbs, repair of wires and electrical panels

This is an approximate list of works included in the current repair of entrances. The exact list of repair works for your house should be contained in the contract with the management company.

At the same time, a number of works on the restoration of the housing stock, such as repair of the basement, roof, in-house engineering systems, facade and foundation, repair and replacement of elevator equipment in accordance with the article of the Housing Code , are related to major repairs and are financed from funds allocated by owners to the Capital Repairs Fund.

Where to start if you want to get your entrance renovated

You can contact the management company with a request to repair the entrance by decision of the meeting of owners. First of all, you need to study the contract to find out what kind of current repair work your management company should perform.

Next, determine what needs to be done in your entrance – it may be necessary to carry out only part of the designated work. After this, you need to make a written application to the management company listing the necessary work and the deadlines for its completion (recommended by law – 22 days for every 1000 sq. m). This step must be approached very carefully and responsibly – if you forget to mention something, you will not be able to add to the list of works after submitting the application.

It is better if as many residents as possible sign the application. The document must be made in two copies. One will remain with the management company, and on the second, the employee who accepted the application must put the incoming number, signature with decryption and date. The management company is obliged to provide a response within 15 days, necessarily in writing.

Ideally, the management company sends its specialists, they inspect the entrance and draw up a report, after which the list of necessary works is approved together with the Council of the apartment building or at a general meeting of owners. However, in practice, this does not always happen, since the management company refuses to carry out repairs for some reason.

What to do if you are refused

If the management company refuses to make repairs in the entrance, you can file a complaint with the Housing Inspectorate, and at the same time it is better to send a copy of the document to Rospotrebnadzor. The complaint is made in the form of an application. Describe the entire situation, referring to the necessary points of the contract and the refusal of the management company. At the end, add a request to conduct an inspection of the activities of your management company and oblige it to make repairs in the entrance.

The following must be attached to the application:

• a copy of the agreement with the management organization
• your copy of the application to the management company with a request to carry out repairs
• a copy of the response containing the refusal
• list of repairs that need to be done in the entrance
• inspection report of the entrance (this document is mandatory)

If the appeal did not give the desired result, you can file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office or a lawsuit in court. Copies of all documents are also attached to the statement of claim. Usually, the courts side with the owners; a positive decision is a matter of time.

How to control the progress of repairs in the entrance

It doesn’t matter whether you managed to get the entrance repaired right away or had to go through different authorities, but one positive decision to carry out repairs is not enough. You need to control the entire progress of the work. To do this, the initiative group of residents requests a plan with the deadlines.

All work must be done qualitatively and without deviations from standards. If any hidden work is carried out, be sure to demand that reports be drawn up.

If you find any defects in the repairs performed, simply do not sign the acceptance documents. You should do the same if the management company has not completed some work, but assures that it will be completed as soon as possible. As practice shows, the management company “forgets” about its promises immediately after signing the acts, and you will wait for the next repair only in 3-5 years.

Also remember that workers must maintain cleanliness. For example, when whitewashing ceilings, they must cover the residents’ entrance doors with polyethylene film. In addition, they are required to take out construction waste – at least once a day, while storing it on lawns is unacceptable. If you find a violation, report it to the management company.

• Country: Canada