Ed forgot to mention in my previous post about changing your floor plan and electrics etc. that although all the work is simple enough to do, if you intend to sell the appartment on again then your "appartment passport" should be updated by the local authority there to take into account the structural changes you have made.
Thats interesting 'apartment passports' for structural changes - I assume thats only if your adding or taking
out a wall and other adaptations to the floor plan - but you also mention 'electrics, etc'
Returning to our barebones carcus of an apartment without the everyday amenities of bath, toilet, electrics etc to
make it habitable. Would adding these essential amenities mean that - yes the seller would have to get an 'apartment
passport' before he can put it on the market ? Incurring surveyers costs, solicitors fees, etc, etc.
Whereas our lazy old Ukrainian who bought an apartment to just sit on it - wouldn't need a passport ( its
begining to sound like the new UK HIPs ) and will never require one - so long as he left it in its original condition.
PS - Glad you like my Nap Wars, hope to keep it updated with any local - eg Eastern european events.
PPS - No never got round to touring the catacombs during my stay in Odessa - always been meaning too
as it would be interesting. But if you hear of any old buildings in Odessa with the afforementioned passages
to the catacombs in Odessa centre. Let us know, must be some somewhere.
The electrics do not form part of the passport Camps - just structural details walls etc. Even if you buy a bare bones appartment from the likes of Ctikon or Berega for example, they should provide you with an appartment passport even though the appartment is brand spanking new, regardless of any other guarantees they may offer you. Without one you will never be able to sell it on (or at least you should not be able to sell it on
). I would caution anyone against buying either new or second hand appartments without this document as you will never be able to sell it on afterwards unless you get one. This document also forms part of the ownership documentation, he/she that holds the document stands much more chance of keeping the building (or appartment) in the case of disputed ownership. It is called a technical passport or tehnicheskiy passport (sorry no cyrillics on my laptop). It consists of a covering page showing the address, stating the fact that it is the technical passport and the name of the owner. There is a space undernath for subsequent owners details during the selling process and places for offical stamps regarding the sale and the fact that no changes structural changes have been made to the building during that period of ownership. It should also show the name of the indivual who made the technical passport and bare the stamp of the council of the region in which the building (or appartment) is in with supporting signatures from the author of the document that all is correct and the building is structurally sound. The second page is a small outline of the building (or appartment) in the grounds (if applicable) in which it is situated. Basically it shows the buildings exterior dimensions inside the plot of land. This to is "stamped" and "signatured". The next page (or pages) depending on how many levels the premises consist of is a detailed drawing showing all measurements, position and thickness of walls and locations of windows doors etc. etc. It will include any partitioned (ie. plasterboard or "Gyps") walls which can be knocked down with a lump hammer in 2 minutes
There is a page for each level of the dwelling. This to is "stamped, signatured and dated" etc. on each page. The next section of the document is a detailed spreadsheet naming the purpose of each room, the size in metre squared. This also is stamped but not always signatured or dated to be fair....dunno why. The last section of the document is stamped and signed and on offical embossed paper saying who carried out the survey, the full address and the owner of the property at the time of the survey, ie company or private individual. On the reverse of this document is another stamp stating it has been registered with the local council. The last document relates to the registration number of the house (or appartment) and it's appropriate registration number which is given after the survey and acts as a form of receipt on sale for those who update the computer showing who owns what (to avoid dispute4d ownership). This also is stamped and signed on embossed paper.
The system is there for a number of reasons - one to stop unsafe modifications by people who either pretend to know what they are doing (god knows there are many here) and to protect the legitimate buyer as only those with the technical passort (and their details thereon) will win in the case of disputed ownership as to have the document your ownership is registered with the local council.
Hope this helps........if not I will try and help you. Needless to say all of you who OWN your house or appartment should have this document or you may risk disputed ownership in the future and will definately have problems selling it on in the future.
Clear as mud??
PS. If you are buying "off the plan" ie. the building is not built yet in the contract with the builder, whoever it may be, ie Alience, you should insist that within it the technical passport will be with you within a certain time ie. 3 or 6 months of putting up your walls and should they fail to do so then they will breach the contract between you and will return all monies paid by way of deposite/full payment.
A note to all of you who buy second hand appartments, it is aso worth getting a document stating that all those REGISTERED at the address you are buying are aware of the sale (that means they do not necessarily have to be living there) or again there maybe some form of disputed ownership in the future. If you are registered at an address even if you dont live at it, you do have a legal say in what happens to it. It would therefore suggest a document signed by all registered at the address and notorised be in your hands before you hand over money...again it will avoid any possibility of disputed ownership.
As an afterthought - those of you who bother with buildings insurance (ie. the structure not the contents) may struggle to claim should you need to if something structural goes wrong without this document as it is the only document you will have whereby someone in authority actually stated it was structurally sound. Without someone saying it is structurally sound an insurance company may not pay out if you have a subsequent problem.
