It is no secret that in Latvia, building and tax requirements for the maintenance of apartment buildings are tightened almost annually. Increased attention is paid to the technical condition of buildings — facades, balconies, roofs, chimneys, elevators, etc.
According to current legislation, property owners whose properties are recognized as deteriorating or in critical condition are subject to an increased property tax rate — up to 3% instead of the standard 0.2–0.3%. This applies to all property owners in Latvia.
However, it is possible to avoid the tax increase.
A correspondent from the newspaper Today WEEK spoke with the CEO of REMOCEL, Doctor of Economics Kristina Galvine, to find out which buildings are considered deteriorating and what owners can do.
According to the new rules, buildings with physical wear exceeding 50% and clear visual signs of emergency condition are considered deteriorating. These include cracks in facades, crumbling balconies, old or damaged roofs (including those with asbestos), disrupted thermal insulation, sagging inter-panel seams, and faulty chimneys. Balconies pose a particular danger: over the past 10 years, four balconies have collapsed in Latvia, resulting in injuries.
After a technical inspection, a report is drawn up, and the commission may recognize the building as deteriorating — then the increased tax applies.
To avoid this, owners need to eliminate the identified defects: repair the facade, balconies, roof, and other problematic elements. After this, the status of the building changes, and the tax returns to the normal rate.
For apartment buildings, repairs are the collective responsibility of all owners. To understand which works are required first, REMOCEL offers free consultations for residents throughout Latvia. The consultation does not require prior registration or payment: specialists help determine the necessary works, their approximate cost, implementation stages, and possible sources of funding.
If the building already has a technical inspection report, specialists explain the next steps — design, approvals, timelines, estimates, and selection of a reliable contractor. If no inspection has been conducted, especially for buildings older than 40–50 years, it is recommended to order a technical survey. The cost of such an inspection starts at around 400 euros, and the report is entered into the state system BIS.gov.lv.
If there are insufficient funds for repairs, REMOCEL helps find solutions: using the building's reserve fund, co-financing programs (Altum, Atjauno Rīga, etc.), as well as bank and non-bank loans with possible payment deferral of up to 9–12 months. The company provides a warranty of 3 to 5 years for the completed works.
Consultations are conducted by phone, without time restrictions. As a result, the owner receives a clear understanding of the next steps, cost benchmarks, and protection from unscrupulous contractors.
Free consultations can be obtained at REMOCEL on weekdays - 20 47 28 47
Website: remocel.lv
