Tenant alterations in a flat from a developer - what can and cannot be done? Interior designer's advice

What are tenant changes?

Changes to your home are modifications made to the design of your home before construction is completed. You can make them yourself or through an architect you employ, who will prepare a project of tenant's changes and agree everything with the developer. It is best to do this at the stage of signing the developer's agreement - then you have the greatest room for manoeuvre.

Making tenant alterations allows you to change the layout of partition walls, plan electrical sockets or move internal doors to suit your individual needs. This is the stage when you can influence how your property will look.

What can you change and what won't you move?

You can make a number of modifications as part of your tenant changes. These include, but are not limited to:

• moving partition walls to enlarge the living room or create an extra room,
• removing partition walls and opening up the space,
• Moving electrical sockets, adding new light points,
• plumbing modifications, so you can set up the kitchen or bathroom to your liking,
• adjustment of heating systems, e.g. different placement of radiators.

What won't you change? There are certain parts that cannot be moved - these are above all the building's load-bearing structure and the sewer risers. Such parts are fixed and must remain unchanged. The developer will also not accept a plan that does not comply with the building regulations or the building permit. Therefore, you must remember that the extent of the changes is always determined by the technical possibilities and the applicable regulations.

Why does making tenant changes pay off?

Making changes to your home allows you to better plan the layout of your flat. This avoids the situation where you have to forge walls to move electrical sockets or internal doors after you have accepted the flat.

You gain ergonomics - the kitchen will be positioned according to your habits, the bathroom will accommodate an extra cupboard and there is space in the bedroom for a larger wardrobe. The planned changes make everyday life easier and make the flat look the way you want it to look right away.

Read also:

• How much does it cost to finish a development flat?
• What to look for when buying a flat?

How to report tenant changes?

You submit an application for tenant changes directly to the developer. It is best to do this as early as possible, even at the construction stage, before the installation work begins. The timing of the changes depends on the timetable of the development, so the sooner you decide on the modifications, the better the chance that they will be taken into account.

The cost of tenant alterations can vary greatly. Moving partition walls is usually a small expense, whereas interfering with plumbing or work on sanitary installations already involves higher costs.

Why use an architect for tenant changes?

Reading floor plans and planning tenant alterations on your own can be difficult - it's easy to overlook details that can cause problems later on. An architect will prepare for you a draft of tenant alterations, point out viable options for modifications and suggest how best to adapt the flat to your needs.

You can count on professional proposals from interior architects, including the layout of furniture, kitchen fittings or the arrangement of electrical sockets. This is a huge advantage, as the plumbing and electrical installations will be prepared right away in accordance with the target design, without the need for costly alterations after acceptance of the flat.

Tenant changes - a decision that pays off

Tenant alterations are an opportunity to make your flat functional from the very beginning. This is the stage when you can take care of the practical layout of the rooms, the proper arrangement of electrical sockets or better positioning of interior doors. In this way, the interior becomes tailored to your daily needs and the finishing work goes more smoothly and without additional alterations.

Deciding to make tenant alterations at an early stage avoids costly post-acceptance improvements. It also saves time in real terms and guarantees greater comfort for years to come.