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Post by zagzag on Jun 16, 2008 12:00:22 GMT 1
Does anyone know the Zagreb regulation/law on closing balconies. I have a large-ish balcony that I wish to "close", I see a lot of people have done it in with their apartment balconies.
Heard through the grapevine that I would need permission from neighbours to do that?
Our balcony has no privacy, so I'm thinking I may as well close it off and make some useful space out of it.
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Post by Ribaric on Jun 16, 2008 18:54:14 GMT 1
Indeed, a lot of balconies are now closed off. I've asked myself if the owners actually know if the balcony can support the weight of the new walls and window. I can imagine a column of closed balconies tumbling down the side of a building.
I closed off two on the front of my house but it did require a new base and reinforced concrete lintals to support the increased weight.
In answer to your question, I don't think anyone actually asks about permission.
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Post by Carol on Jun 16, 2008 19:37:47 GMT 1
Something similar happened in Edinburgh in the old tenement buildings. When they were built, there was a little room at the back of the kitchen where the parents used to sleep. In the late 20th century, no one would use it for that anymore so there was a fashion to knock through. In one block every resident knocked through and then the building collapsed. So now there are properly enforced building regs. Sounds like Zagreb needs the same thing.
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Post by zagzag on Jun 18, 2008 9:45:53 GMT 1
Indeed, a lot of balconies are now closed off. I've asked myself if the owners actually know if the balcony can support the weight of the new walls and window. I can imagine a column of closed balconies tumbling down the side of a building. I closed off two on the front of my house but it did require a new base and reinforced concrete lintals to support the increased weight. In answer to your question, I don't think anyone actually asks about permission. Thanks Ribaric...Hmmm, I know that we are meant to apply for permission and I wouldn't want to risk the balcony falling off, I hope they would come out and have a look at the balcony before giving permission. I was wondering how much the process would take for permission and how much it would cost. I guess I better just suck it up and line up at the local authority for a few hours ... |
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Post by Carol on Jun 18, 2008 9:52:40 GMT 1
or hire a structural engineer to advise you on what to do??
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Post by Ribaric on Jun 18, 2008 10:02:22 GMT 1
I agree with Carol (which is becoming a habit). I wouldn't ask about permission from the city, particularly if the footprint of the building will not be increased. Get a builder who knows about this stuff - I mean REALLY knows - and make your decisions from his/her advice.
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Post by zagzag on Jun 18, 2008 10:16:50 GMT 1
Thanks for the advice. Actually we do know one...I didn't even think about it. I'll get onto him and ask him to come out and do some calculations and go from there.
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Post by Valleycat on Jul 17, 2008 13:55:36 GMT 1
Have you started the work yet?
I just read your post. . . and i was wondering . . . what about your neighbors? What are they going to think? I was told . . . of course by the village. . . that if I did this. . . your neighbor is going to turn you in and you will have to take it down and will be fined. . . ""THEY"" said I had to have their permission? I don't know if this is true. . . but I'd sure ask an attorney.
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Post by Carol on Jul 18, 2008 15:43:03 GMT 1
they mean that the neighbours have to sign their consent before you can get building permission. I think its just a quorum of adjoining properties not all of them.
Personally I like the Uk system better where the nieghbours have to go out of their way to complain rather than make an effort to approve.
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Post by Madgolfer on Jul 21, 2008 8:06:05 GMT 1
Is there also a tax issue to consider ?
If your property taxes are based on the "usable" floor space, you would be increasing this.
I believe that outside balconies come into a different tax bracket, internal ones (raised mezzanine platforms) certainly do .
Maybe completely wrong here as my info is based on obtaining new planning permissions.
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Post by zagzag on Jul 21, 2008 10:00:41 GMT 1
Interesting. I talked to a lawyer that I know and he said that you can apply for permission to close the balcony but he has no experience as he doesnt know anyone who has actually done that! Usually people just close it off.
A friend I know has just done her balcony with no approval, and she said he neighbours were all good about it (she didnt ask their permission). She lives in an older building in Zagreb.
Our engineer friend has been to have a look and said that it's possible to close it off.
We will take a trip down to the local authorities and see what further information we can dig up. Hubby went there not long ago but the queues were too long and he needed to get back to work, so we will give it another shot and update the info here.
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