So far, some homeowners have viewed the long-term repair plan as a formality or as a document better avoided, due to the common belief that it is a work order, which people naturally avoid unless necessary. However, in such a case, one may have to take on maximum obligations to save so that when an unavoidable repair or maintenance need arises, there will be funds to cover the work.
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However, a long-term repair plan is not an automatic work order. It is a “map” of the building’s technical condition, future work, and the need for savings.
“Residents often fear not the plan itself, but what they imagine lies behind it: sudden work and large bills. In reality, a well-prepared plan works the opposite way: it allows scheduling work over time, clearly seeing priorities and avoiding situations where repairs hit when waiting is no longer possible,” emphasizes Andrius Soikinas, head of development projects at the building maintenance, engineering, and technological solutions group “Civinity.”
First step – order a building condition assessment
The basis for preparing a long-term repair plan is an assessment of the building’s technical condition. Therefore, the first question residents should ask the administrator, community, or authorized person under a joint activity agreement should be very specific: does the building have the latest technical condition assessment?
The assessment should show which parts of the building are most worn or damaged: roof, facade, balconies, staircases, pipelines, heating or other engineering systems, common areas, or other elements. Residents do not need to decide themselves whether a defect is dangerous, but they have the right to understand what has been identified in the building and what impact it may have on its condition.
It is important for residents to find out:
- when the last technical inspection was carried out;
- what defects were recorded;
- whether they are classified as urgent, planned, or to be monitored;
- which works are recommended first;
- how this information will be used in preparing the long-term repair plan.
Second step – distinguish the long-term plan from a work order
Preconceptions are a common reason why decisions stall. If residents think that approving the plan means automatically approving all works, they tend to vote against it or not participate at all. However, the purpose of the long-term repair plan is to arrange the sequence of work and financing logic for several years ahead.
The plan must clearly state which works are necessary in the near future, which can be planned later, their approximate cost, and what savings would be needed so that the building does not face unexpected and large payments. Specific works, their scope, and deadlines must still be organized later according to the established procedure, and residents must be informed and involved in decisions on significant matters.
“The plan can be compared to the building’s financial calendar. It does not define that everyone must pay for everything tomorrow. It shows what awaits, in what order, and for what purpose the building is saving money,” explains A. Soikinas.
Third step – order the plan preparation
If the administrator or community says the plan “will be prepared,” it is worth asking for a deadline. By July 1, it is important to have not only a good intention but also a real draft document that residents can evaluate.
The draft plan should include at least a few clear elements:
- a summary of the building condition assessment;
- a list of works by priority;
- the approximate value of each work;
- the proposed implementation period;
- the proposed savings rate;
- an explanation of why the works are arranged in that particular order.
If the plan only contains a list of works without logic, it is difficult for residents to trust it. If there are only technical terms without explanation, it becomes not a decision-making tool but another incomprehensible document. Therefore, it is very important that the plan is not only prepared but also explained in understandable language.
Fourth step – participate in the vote
Even the best plan will change nothing if residents do not participate in the decision-making. The decision on the long-term repair plan is made by the owners of apartments and other premises – at a meeting or by written vote. Therefore, passivity in this case is not neutral. If the decision is not made and the building’s condition is not good, from July residents may have to pay higher savings contributions.
Residents should check in advance whether they receive information about votes, whether their contacts are updated, and whether they understand what is being voted on. If there are doubts, it is better to ask before the vote, not after the decision has already been rejected or not made.
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Fifth step – agree on how the plan will be reviewed
The long-term repair plan should not become a document that is approved once and put in a drawer. The building’s condition changes, prices change, some works may be done earlier, some postponed. Therefore, residents should immediately agree on how often the plan will be reviewed, how information about completed works will be communicated, and how it will be assessed whether the savings are sufficient.
This is especially important for older buildings, which usually have more technical problems. The situation is generally more favorable for new or renovated apartment buildings because the need for urgent works is lower. However, planning is also necessary for such buildings – only the content and pace of savings may be different.
What residents should do this week
If the building does not yet have an approved long-term repair plan, it is not worth waiting until July. First, you should contact the administrator or community and ask for three things: the latest technical condition assessment, the deadline for preparing the long-term repair plan draft, and information on when the plan will be submitted for voting.
“Usually, it is the delay that costs the most. When residents see the building’s condition, understand the sequence of works, and participate in voting, decisions become more measured, understandable to everyone, and easier to accept. When all this is postponed, the bill shows not planning but consequences,” emphasizes Andrius Soikinas, head of development projects at Civinity.
By July 1, the most important thing for apartment buildings is not to argue whether a long-term repair plan is needed. The most important thing is to ensure that the building’s condition has been assessed, a plan has been prepared based on it, and residents have made a decision on it. This is not a guarantee that the building will not need expenses. But it is a way to manage those expenses, rather than waiting for defects, deadlines, and higher rates to dictate them.
Reminder: how the size of savings contributions changes
From January 1, 2026, for some buildings, savings contributions will be recalculated to a new mandatory minimum – 0.1025 Eur per sq. m (instead of the previously applied, for example, 0.0923 Eur per sq. m).
Important: if the building already saves more than the set minimum, there may be no change in the bill – the minimum rate is the “lower limit.”
Savings contributions are calculated as follows: monthly payment = rate (Eur/sq. m) × apartment area (sq. m). So, for example, for a 40 sq. m apartment, the monthly payment due to the increased minimum rose by 0.41 Eur, for a 50 sq. m apartment – about 0.51 Eur, 60 sq. m – about 0.62 Eur, 80 sq. m – 0.82 Eur.
From July 1, 2026, savings contributions may increase additionally: coefficients may be applied to the state-set minimum rate depending on the building’s condition:
- Good condition – the rate remains the base;
- Average condition – the rate may increase 2 times;
- Poor condition – the rate may increase 3 times;
- Very poor condition – the rate may increase 4 times.
Practically, if the base rate is 0.1025 Eur/sq. m, depending on the building’s condition, the monthly payment for a 50 sq. m apartment would be about 5.13 Eur, 10.25 Eur, 15.38 Eur, or 20.50 Eur.
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