Renovation of an apartment building through the eyes of three associations

From May, LHV Pank, with the support of the European Investment Fund (EIF), has been offering apartment associations much more favourable loans than before for the renovation of apartment buildings, thereby improving the energy class of the building and reduce energy consumption.

Over a period of half a year, 44 apartment buildings across Estonia have undertaken the renovation of an apartment building with the support of LHV. However, in the case of associations, planning larger work is often a challenge, because the topics related to money and expenses cause disagreements and often make people emotional. We asked a couple of apartment associations that undertook the renovation with the help of LHV how they managed this process.

Pikk 14, Viljandi

Thanks to LHV, we have been able to make a beautiful start with the restoration of a 200-year-old house in Viljandi Old Town with a special history. Other banks all told us NO because we are too tiny as an association. Despite the fact that there are not many such houses of the Old Town here, and despite the fact that from the castle hills can be seen from the garden.

With the loan money, we undertook the repair of the façade and foundation. In all this, it had to be taken into account that we are located in a strict heritage conservation area, and the works are somewhat more expensive than elsewhere.

All these windows, as well as the front door, which look back from the pre-renovation pictures, are exactly the same as the new ones. It is just that now they have been renovated. The frame of the house has been raised because it had sunk down. The windows and doors have been straightened. The foundation has been filled and beautifully plastered on top. We also repaired the water pipeline entering the house and the sewerage, which, along with the subsidence of the house, had broken from under the cobblestone street.

The entire old façade board, which could be cleaned of decades of layers of paint and covered with fresh layer, is also there. We considered it very important. Part of the façade board, which was too rotten, has been replaced by a similar profile. The entire Soviet-era rainwater system has been thrown away and replaced with a decent artisan zinc pipe. Also, all eaves boards and sheets are now as they should be. The flammable electrical cable that entered the house from the façade, as well as several electricity meters and fuses from different times, have also been thrown into the trash to the delight of the residents of the house. Now a new and safe electrical interface is coming into the house.

Jaanimäe KÜ in Metsküla, Põhja-Sakala Rural Municipality

First of all, many thanks to LHV Pank for the quick loan decision-making process and their helpful attitude. Our construction work went well. When part of the construction was done and the invoice was sent, the money was immediately transferred by the bank. Through the renovation, we got a new roof, new chimneys, and an updated electrical system. So to speak, we extinguished flammable places.

It would still be necessary to dig up the foundation, seal it, and insulate it. In addition, hallways are also in poor condition. These would be the next to be renovated when we are ready to borrow again.

Kotka 18, Tallinn

The story of the house at Kotka 18 dates back to the beginning of December 2021, when the three-storey house caught fire. After the extinguishing works, the house with 14 apartments became completely uninhabitable in the middle of a cold winter. Therefore, there has been a lot of construction work, and the renovation of the house is not yet complete. The earlier roof was not built correctly and made a very loud noise with a stronger wind. In addition, we had new chimneys made, which previously consisted of a metal pipe and wool.

The process has been more or less smooth, although the execution of the work has been delayed for various reasons. The stairwells and the façade of the house still need repairs, but we are very pleased with the new roof.