Jul 10
13
Tel Aviv Landlords now Required to Renovate Buildings Every 15 Years
Tel Aviv passed a bylaw yesterday obligating all homeowners to renovate the facades of their buildings every 15 years.
Balkers would have their buildings renovated by the city, which would then sue to recover the costs.
Renovating an average four-story building costs tens of thousands of shekels, which means thousands of shekels for each home owner.
The city passed a similar bylaw three years ago, but it did not receive the approval of the Interior Ministry.
“This bylaw… maintains the city’s appearance not only in terms of the public space, but also in terms of every building,” said deputy mayor Meital Lehavi. The new bylaw is less harsh than its predecessor, which also applied to renters. It also contains provisions for helping financially strapped homeowners.
The city architect would be responsible for determining what renovation work is needed at each building.
Renovation may include painting, plastering, sealing, concealing pipes and wires, repairing pavement, gardening and setting up enclosures for trash cans. Also on the list are protection from rust, improving or adding window boxes and repairing entrances.
In cases where the requested renovations are not carried out, homeowners will be sent a warning demanding they do so within 15 days. If the renovations are still not carried out, the municipality will do them itself and will then charge the homeowners.
Homeowners who believe their homes do not need to be renovated can appeal the city’s decision.
One of the many buildings in the city that happens to need renovation is City Hall itself. The matter has been under discussion for several years. “The municipality should serve as an example for the public,” Lehavi said. “If we’re seeking to have this law instated, we should also look into the facades of municipal buildings.
Source: Haaretz
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