Replacing risers in an apartment building: who should replace them, replacement standards, possible conflicts and their resolution

Home/Water supply and sanitation/Replacement of risers in apartment buildings

Despite the fact that most residents are the owners of their apartments and pay for general building needs on a monthly basis, direct replacement of risers and other water supply elements is carried out by representatives of the management company (MC). Their actions are based on the regulatory framework of the laws of the Russian Federation. However, not many apartment owners know their rights if it is necessary to replace common communication elements located in their apartments.

The solution to replacing risers in an apartment building, the identification of responsible persons and the rules of behavior in conflict situations will be given below.

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Normative base

The regulatory framework for the replacement and repair of the water supply system is regulated by:

general information

In old houses, sewer risers and pipes in bathrooms are made of cast iron - a reliable, but not the most durable material.

Sooner or later, such pipes begin to fail, after which there is a danger of leakage, pipe splitting, property damage and financial liability.

In order to prevent sad consequences, the riser and sewer branches should be replaced. In such a situation, owners often make do on their own and change the riser in the apartment themselves.

Not everyone knows that sewer and other risers can be replaced at the expense of the management company.

Sooner or later, such pipes begin to fail, after which there is a danger of leakage, pipe splitting, property damage and financial liability.

In order to prevent sad consequences, the riser and sewer branches should be replaced. In such a situation, owners often make do on their own and change the riser in the apartment themselves.

Replacement and repair of sewer, water and heating pipes are regulated by:

rules for maintaining common property in apartment buildings;
rules and regulations for the technical operation of housing stock;
methodological manual for the maintenance and repair of housing stock MDK 2-04.2004.

According to the rules, the responsibility for maintaining and repairing communications lies with the owners.
Water pipes that are branches from riser pipes are maintained, repaired and replaced by the owners independently and at their own expense.
Riser pipes that are used by several apartments are common property in accordance with the rules for maintaining common property in apartment buildings.
The common property also includes branches from the riser to the first connecting connection.

Who should change?

Repairs to common property are carried out by a management company to which residents have delegated the right to manage common property.

Replacement of sewer and water risers is carried out by the Housing and Communal Services Management Company, Homeowners' Association or other companies. The decision on repairs is made by the management company upon the application of the homeowners.

At whose expense?

By law, homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of common property.
If the sewer riser is out of order and needs to be repaired or replaced, then the management company must carry out and pay for this work from funds contributed by the owners.
Homeowners pay these expenses in their utility bills under the heading “housing maintenance and repairs.”
If a major replacement of risers is carried out on all floors, then funds can be taken from payments for major repairs.
A completely different situation arises when the homeowner wants to replace a working riser for some personal reasons, for example, when remodeling a bathroom.
In this case, all costs for replacing the riser are borne by the owner, and the work is also carried out independently.
Replacement of risers in municipal housing is carried out at the expense of the landlord, that is, the municipal authorities.
In this case, replacement is made free of charge upon the application of the tenant to the municipal authorities responsible for city-wide housing and communal services.

Who should change risers in an apartment building?

It is a mistake to believe that if the common water risers are used by the residents of the apartments of an apartment building, then the responsibility for replacing them rests entirely with them. Ignorance of the regulatory framework of the Housing Code leads to unnecessary waste of money from the pockets of owners.

Attention

Decree of the Russian Federation No. 354, Article 149 (dated May 6, 2011) and Article 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation state that repairs, as well as complete replacement of risers in an apartment building, are the responsibility of the Management Company assigned to a specific building.

Every month, each apartment owner receives a receipt for utility bills, which contains the column “maintenance and repairs.” For those funds that come from residents from paying receipts, in particular for maintenance and repairs, all preventive and repair work must be carried out.

Consequently, in the event of a pipe break or other damage to the riser, the housing office is obliged to carry out repair work without charging residents (the reverse action is illegal).

Who changes risers in an apartment building, procedure

Link: Article 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation There have been situations when housing companies told residents that “there is no money” and offered the option of “chips in” for repairs - under no circumstances start collecting money, but go complain to the housing inspectorate! In some cases, you can seek help from the Housing and Communal Services Reform Assistance Fund. One of the effective methods to force the management company to fulfill its obligations is to file a claim in court, in which to set out your demands. The fact that there are debtors cannot be a basis for the management company to refuse to perform its direct duties! To perform plumbing work, special knowledge and skills are required. If you live in a private house, then all responsibility for its maintenance and timely repairs lies entirely with you.

Replacement standards

According to the standards for replacing risers in an apartment building, they must be replaced in two cases:

Expiration of the operational life of the metal structure.
Complete renovation of the apartment's bathroom.

Living conditions provide for 2 modes of pipe replacement:

planned - when the time for replacement has approached;
emergency - when the integrity of the pipe has been damaged and a leak has formed.

IMPORTANT
The warranty period for pipes in apartment buildings is at least 25 years. Even if after this period the structure is intact without leaks, the riser still needs to be replaced.

Increasingly, cast iron pipes are being replaced with polypropylene ones. This is due to a number of advantages of the material:

efficiency;
ease;
strength;
environmental safety;
resistance to deformation from thermal effects;
resistance to corrosion and other influences;
sliding structure of the internal walls, which prevents plaque formation;
long service life: from 50 to 100 years.

What is included in replacing risers in an apartment building?

The process of replacing a riser in an apartment building is the direct removal of the old structure for a new one. However, this is not all that is included in the concept of “replacing a riser in an apartment building.”

Attention

First, you need to contact the management company and write an application to replace the pipe. The applicant will receive a satisfactory answer if the document is drawn up correctly and the facts supporting it do not raise doubts.

On the appointed day, representatives of the management company turn off the water in the risers and drain the remaining water. After this, craftsmen come from the management company or organization with which the management company has entered into an agreement. They carry out all the necessary procedures for replacing a faulty riser pipe in an apartment building.

The master uses a grinder to cut out old pipes.
Makes markings for new branches.
New pipeline structures are being installed.
They run water to check the tightness of all joints of the new riser.

By law, all necessary elements of the communication system that need to be replaced are delivered to the owner’s apartment. However, situations are not uncommon when the tenant himself, in whose apartment the installation is to be carried out, pays for all consumables and the element of the new pipe itself. By law, all expenses of the owner must be included in the payment of the receipt for the maintenance of common property for the next month.

Replacing a heating riser in an apartment in an apartment building

Replacing a heating system riser while the heating is on is a complex undertaking that is unlikely to be carried out on your own. A rational solution would be to contact, whose specialists will perform the work professionally and quickly, and the cost of their services will not damage your family budget.

To replace the riser, you will need to turn off the central heating system for a short time, since it is necessary to drain the water from the dismantled pipe and install a new one of the required diameter in its place.

The minimum order value is 6,000 rubles!

You can find out more about our prices in the price list section.

Advantages of using polypropylene pipes

Today, polypropylene pipes are often used to install risers, the installation of which is simpler, and the structures themselves take up less space compared to their steel counterparts.

The advantages also include:

The material does not require welding, therefore, the finishing of walls, floors, and ceilings is not damaged;
The pipes are flexible and can be given any desired angle;
The service life of polypropylene pipes is not inferior to steel or cast iron;
High mobility during installation;
Possibility of fragmentary replacement;
If aluminum radiators are installed in the room, then polypropylene pipes can be easily connected to them, resulting in an attractive aesthetic appearance.

In addition, please remember that:

Work on replacing risers can be carried out regardless of the time of year, but it is better to schedule them for a period when the heating is not working. In this case, there is no need to turn off the heat and drain hot water from the system.
It is somewhat difficult to connect polypropylene pipes to cast iron heating radiators, but our specialists will carry out the work with high precision and aesthetics.
Work on replacing risers should be carried out by professionals who will cope with the task more reliably and quickly.

In what cases is it necessary to replace heating risers?

There are several main reasons why it is necessary to replace heating risers:

The placement of heating devices is changing. For example, you decide to move a heating radiator, or install an additional one in a new location;
Wear of riser pipes. As a result of corrosion processes, steel pipes gradually lose their performance characteristics, collapse, and deposits and rust form. You can expect a planned replacement of risers by housing and communal services workers, or you can do it yourself by contacting our specialists.

Replacing a heating riser in an apartment

Replacement of heating risers in apartments is carried out quite rarely; usually it is part of the planned repair of heating pipes and is included in the overhaul of the premises or apartment building. In the process of replacing heating risers in an apartment, it usually becomes necessary to replace heating radiators.

The cast iron radiators installed in many apartments have a significant service life, therefore, if they “fit” into the environment, they do not need to be replaced, just wash them. However, if they do not look attractive, or have simply “served up” their service life, you can replace the radiators with modern ones made from various materials.

Replacement of risers is carried out using pipes made of various materials; the most common today are polypropylene pipes, which have good characteristics and an affordable price.

Specialists of the OtdelRemontstroy company will perform all the required measurements, draw up an estimate for the work, purchase all materials, if necessary, and perform the work with high quality. Contacting us allows you to get work done efficiently, reliably, and at an affordable price. Our specialists have the necessary knowledge, skills and qualifications, all work is carried out in accordance with current standards, so the heating system will serve you reliably for many years.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing risers in an apartment building

A break in the water riser in one apartment requires its immediate replacement. Before carrying out repair work, the owner of an “emergency” apartment must discuss this action with the neighbors of the upper and lower floors. The fact is that the pipes are in a worn state along their entire length, despite the fact that the breakthrough occurred in a certain place. And for reliability, they should be replaced completely, in all apartments. If the neighbors disagree, the installation of a common water supply channel will be carried out only in one apartment.

The next step is to contact the Criminal Code. Their powers include shutting off the riser and draining the water. Next, complete or partial (in a separate apartment) installation of pipes takes place.

According to VSN 58-88 (r) “On the organization and implementation of reconstruction, repair and maintenance of buildings, public utility and social-cultural facilities,” planned replacement of water supply systems should be carried out every 25-30 years. Repair work is carried out inside privatized and non-privatized apartments, as well as in basements and entrances.

Replacing a sewer riser

The sewer riser belongs to the common property of the house, even though it passes through a private apartment (according to Article 290 of the Civil Code). Also, the RF PP No. 491 clause 5 dated 08/13/2006 states: “... the common property includes the drainage system, that is, the sewerage system...”.

Consequently, the management company is responsible for the installation and repair work of the sewer riser in an apartment building. For all the necessary consumables that will be required during the replacement process, as well as for the repair itself, apartment residents pay for it, paying monthly sums of money for receipts with the column “maintenance and repair of housing.”

IMPORTANT

On the day the sewer riser is replaced, the apartment owner does not have to pay anything.

But, if previously the owner of the apartment independently replaced the sewer pipe, and this fact is proven, then the owner is obliged to fully pay for the subsequent installation of this element of the communication system.

Before starting repairs to the sewer riser of an apartment building, a resident must:

Visit the management company and leave an application for replacement of the emergency element.
Draw up a report with a representative of the service organization, which will describe the condition of the sewer riser and (recommended) attach a photo.
Specify the date and time of the work to be carried out, and notify neighbors about it in a timely manner.
Determine the material of the structure that will be installed in place of the old one, as well as some nuances.

At the appointed time, repairmen come and carry out all the necessary actions to replace the sewer riser.

For your information

Upon completion, a “Certificate of Work Completed” is drawn up between the management company and the repair organization. The owner of the apartment should also keep a copy of this act.

Payment for replacement

The answer to the question regarding payment for replacing a riser in an apartment building is contained in Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 491 dated August 13, 2006. The document determines what is common property, who is responsible for its maintenance and accordingly pays for its repair and replacement.

According to PP No. 491 and its section “Rules for maintaining the property of an apartment building,” each apartment owner pays for the maintenance and repair of all communications in the building. The same information is contained in Article 158 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation “Expenses of owners of premises in an apartment building”: all owners of apartments in apartment buildings are involved in the costs of maintaining and repairing common property.

Thus, all costs for replacing the water supply riser in an apartment building are paid by the housing and communal services from the funds that all apartment owners contribute monthly, depositing money for receipts for the maintenance of common property.

Replacing a heating pipe in an apartment at whose expense

— As a general rule, if there is no shut-off device at the outlet from the riser that allows the coolant to be transported along the riser when the radiator is turned off (this is a jumper connecting the incoming and outgoing heating pipes. The so-called vorovayka), the radiator in the residential premises should be classified as a common house one. property. In this case, replacing the radiator, as well as draining and filling the heating system with water, is carried out without additional payment by residents. It should be taken into account that the owners of premises in the house may collectively decide that radiators in apartments must be replaced only for an additional fee, which must be reflected in the management agreement.

For many of us, the next most expensive item after purchasing food is undoubtedly paying for housing and communal services. Legislation in this area is not regulated, like all legislation in our country. That is why management companies twist the law in a way that benefits only them, and we, ordinary people, can only constantly pay for what we owe and for what we don’t have to. And for that uncle too.

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What documents are issued to the property owner?

Upon completion of the installation of the MKD water riser pipe, a “Certificate of Work Completed” must be drawn up, which will state the following:

date of drawing up the contract;
serial number of the agreement according to which the act is issued;
the volume of work performed and all actions taken;
cost of work;
name of the person performing the repair work;
signatures of the contractor and the customer.

This document is made in 2 copies, one of which is given to the contractor, and the second remains with the customer. The contractor is the organization that replaces the damaged element. The customer can be the management company (in which case one copy remains with them and is not given to the owner of the apartment) or directly the owner of the property.

Even if the agreement was drawn up by a representative of the management company and the repair company, the apartment owner should make himself a copy of this act.

Is it possible to refuse to replace risers in an apartment building?

“Is it possible to refuse to replace the riser?” - a pressing question for those residents who have undergone a major renovation of the apartment, because the proposed general house procedure implies some damage to the owner’s property in the bathroom. Is it possible to write a refusal?

Based on the information contained in clause 5 of PP No. 491, risers in apartment buildings are common property. According to the law, none of the residents has the right to prevent representatives of the contractor (MC), as well as emergency services, State control and supervision authorities from inspecting the current condition of communication equipment and carrying out repair work. A control inspection should be carried out no more than once every 90 days, and in case of an emergency - at any time.

Thus, apartment owners do not have the opportunity to refuse to replace common communication systems in an apartment building. In response to the refusal, the management company or HOA has the right to sue.

At whose expense and who should replace risers in an apartment building

Who is responsible for replacing common property? To answer this question, it is necessary to distinguish between two concepts - current and major repairs. The first is carried out by the efforts and resources of apartment residents. Current repairs include the following types of work:

In practice, such organizations do not always fulfill their duties conscientiously and on time. Sometimes they refuse to carry out major repairs, explaining that there are debtors among the owners who have not made payments for their services. This basis is not a legal reason for failure to fulfill the duties of the Housing Office.

Possible conflicts and their resolution

When replacing a riser in an apartment, its owner may encounter situations that prevent repair work . Conflict cases may be as follows:

Refusal of the management company to replace faulty equipment.
Neighbors disagree with replacing the riser in an apartment building.

There is no point in delaying their decision, especially if replacement of the emergency element is required in the very near future.

When contacting the management company with an application to replace the riser in an apartment building, you may encounter a refusal to carry out the work. The reasons may be different, but most often the management organization refers to the serviceability of the communication system. In this case, the owner has every right to sue the management company, as well as to recover monetary compensation from them for the damage caused.

A common emergency pipeline often leaks not only in one apartment, but also in neighbors above or below. Or the riser is in unusable condition and requires a total replacement, and not just a separate “fragment”. Therefore, installation should be carried out in several apartments. But there are often cases when some of the owners refuse to carry out the necessary work.

It is possible to solve the problem through conversations, but they do not always lead to the desired result. In this situation, the best solution would be a trial. But it is not other apartment owners who must apply to the court, but the management company. In his application to the judicial authorities, the representative of the management company puts forward a demand to the court to force the owner to replace the riser.

For your information

Litigation is not a quick process, but it is effective. According to his decision, the owner obstructing the repair undertakes not only to allow repairmen to replace the pipe, but also to install the concealing box (if there is one). The judge can significantly speed up the process of the case by satisfying the plaintiff’s request in accordance with Art. 212 of the Civil Procedure Code.

Repair of risers in an apartment building

Required tools and materials

Materials

In order to decide what materials you will need to repair risers, it is better to seek advice from the management company to which your house belongs. You should not choose the material yourself, as this can lead not only to unnecessary expenses of your finances, but also to the occurrence of malfunctions in the system being repaired.

Tools

During the repair process you will need the following set of tools:

Bulgarian;
screwdriver;
chisel;
hammer;
perforator;
nail puller;
scrap;
polyethylene;
grinding machine;
protective equipment: gloves, goggles, mask;
building level.

Stages of work

Regardless of which engineering system the riser belongs to, its repair will consist of the following stages:

dismantling old equipment;
installation of a new one;
connection to the wiring.

Let us consider in more detail the processes of changing risers of different engineering systems.

Complaint about poor quality replacement of risers in an apartment building

If the emergency riser is replaced poorly, the apartment owner has the right to file a complaint against the organization responsible for this matter. The complaint is submitted in writing to the State Housing Inspectorate of a specific region of Russia. It indicates the name and address of the owner where the emergency water riser is located.

The complaint consists of a statement and a request. The application must refer to Art. 161 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation “General requirements for the management of an apartment building” and indicate that the repair work did not eliminate the emergency situation. The petition contains the applicant’s request to oblige the management company to correct the problems in accordance with the standards.

It would not be amiss to attach to the complaint photographic materials proving poor quality work, as well as an act drawn up between the tenant and the management company.

Who is responsible for risers in an apartment building

To answer questions related to replacing risers in an apartment building, it is necessary to determine the meaning of two concepts of repair - current and major. The first is carried out by the apartment residents themselves, on their own and at their own expense.

Current repairs include the following types of work:

painting doors, floors;
replacement of door and window openings;
repair of utility networks installed in the apartment;
other types of work.

The management organization provides services related to major repairs. In this case, the services are connected when it is necessary to bring the house into proper condition or when the risers in an apartment building are being replaced.

The legislation specifies: replacing the heating riser in an apartment is the responsibility of the housing and communal services. It is not excluded that another specialized company may be involved in the work, as previously agreed upon in the concluded contract.

When the housing office approaches residents with a proposal to raise money to organize major repairs, this is illegal. Apartment owners have the right to complain about such statements to law enforcement agencies.