This is what you have to pay attention to with attachments
Whether it’s a balcony, a conservatory or an additional room – if you want to enlarge your four walls, you have to consider a few things.
Whether you want to finally enjoy the warm season on your own balcony, catch the rare rays of sunshine in winter in a winter garden or erect a carport – there are many reasons for extending or supplementing your own home with an extension.
But before going into action, interested parties should know one thing: “Any construction that is connected to the ground is subject to building law,” explains real estate lawyer Valentina Philadelphy-Steiner. This distinguishes between minor construction projects, those requiring notification and those requiring a permit. However, there are no uniform rules on what is actually meant by this. This is because each federal state has its own building regulations – plus the regulations of the individual municipalities. “Generally, however, additions and extensions require either notification or a permit,” Philadelphy-Steiner says.
The former, moreover, means that a written construction notification must be made to the municipality, including documents. In the case of building projects requiring a permit, a building permit procedure is also on the agenda. The lawyer advises therefore to inquire in each case with the respective municipality or a building contractor about the legal defaults. If an addition or extension is built without a permit, this can result in penalties. “In the worst-case scenario, the structure will have to be demolished,” Philadelphy-Steiner says.
Consideration for others
If, for example, a balcony is added to an apartment building, there are other things to consider. For example, the co-owners need to be brought on board. If this does not succeed, the owner who wishes to erect a balcony may apply to the competent district court for permission from the judge. “In order for the request to be granted, the balcony addition must be consistent with the practice of the trade, serve an important interest of the owner, and it must not cause damage to the house or interfere with the protectable interests of the other co-owners,” Philadelphy-Steiner explains. One issue in this context is the incidence of light in the apartments below. “In addition, the balcony must not detract from the external appearance of the building, and it must not pose a threat to the safety of people or the building,” says the real estate law expert.
The topic of security
However, safety is an important factor in yet another respect – namely in technical terms. After all, a subsequent balcony extension is an intervention in an existing building, so a static calculation is indispensable. The balcony creates enormous loads that have to be distributed or carried. If the balcony is hung on the facade, all loads are transferred to it. If necessary, in this case, even strengthen the foundations of the house. The best option, especially for old buildings, is therefore curtain balconies or cantilever balconies, where the load is entirely transferred to the ground via supports. Also important to consider are the tightness and the avoidance of thermal bridges. Of course, this also applies to all other attachments. “Proper planning and execution of the work is therefore important,” advises the lawyer.
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