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6 summer sins in an apartment building
Summer in an apartment building: everyone wants to enjoy it, but no one wants to be the neighbor who ruins it for the rest. Yet it happens every year. The parasol that lands on the neighbor's car across the street, the barbecue smoke drifting through an open kitchen window three floors up, the inflatable pool that suddenly becomes a waterfall on the terrace below.
We have listed the six classics. Each with an honest answer: is it allowed, and how do you do it without your Property Manager knowing your number by heart by August?
Sin 1: The traveling parasol
A cheap parasol, a five-kilogram base, a gust of wind at six Beaufort. You know how the story ends. In the best case, it ends up in the garden below. In the worst case, on a parked car, a window, or worse.
What to do instead: choose a parasol with a base of at least 25 kilograms, or a model that you actually secure to the balustrade with an approved clamp. Do not drill holes in the facade or balustrade without permission, as that constitutes a change to the common areas. And when you leave: close the parasol and lay it flat. Always.
Good to know: damage caused by your own parasol is covered by your personal liability insurance, not the building's insurance. Check your policy before summer begins.
Sin 2: BBQ smoke that aromatizes the entire block
Your merguez smells fantastic. To you. The neighbor who just hung her freshly washed sheets outside might think otherwise.
Whether a barbecue is allowed on your terrace or balcony depends entirely on your building's co-ownership regulations. Some buildings prohibit it completely, others only allow electric grills, and some allow everything as long as there is no nuisance.
We previously wrote a full article on this: BBQ on your balcony or terrace: what is allowed and what is not.
The short version: check the regulations, choose electric or gas instead of charcoal if in doubt, and never place your BBQ against a facade or under a canopy.
Sin 3: The inflatable pool that becomes a waterfall
Thirty degrees, two children, a fifteen-euro inflatable pool from Action. What could go wrong? A lot, actually.
A filled children's pool two meters in diameter can easily weigh more than 500 kilograms. Not every terrace is designed for that, especially older balconies. And if it leaks or tips over, the water flows freely onto the terrace or facade below.
We also have a separate article about inflatable pools in apartments which covers everything in detail.
The essence: a small pool for the children on a large terrace: usually no problem. A three-meter family pool on a narrow balcony: asking for trouble. When in doubt: one email to your Property Manager and you will have clarity within the day.
Sin 4: The air conditioning you can still hear 5 buildings away at night
Mobile air conditioners with a hose through the window, split systems on the facade, fans on the balcony that hum like a tractor. Summer is the time when differences in noise tolerance between neighbors become painfully clear.
What you need to know:
- An indoor mobile air conditioner is always allowed, as long as the noise remains within your apartment.
- A fixed air conditioner or split unit on the facade or terrace is a change to the common areas. You need permission from the general assembly for that.
- Even if the unit is on your private terrace, the exterior facade is common property.
Do you still want a fixed installation? Request it in time, ideally before the following year's general assembly. With a clear file (technical specifications, noise level, placement, aesthetic impact), the chance of approval is much higher.
Read more about this topic.
Sin 5: The planter that soaks the neighbor
You water your geraniums generously. Naturally, it is thirty degrees. What you don't see: that excess water runs along your terrace edge or flower box directly onto the neighbor's terrace or facade.
The same applies to planters on the outside of the balustrade. They look great on Pinterest, but are prohibited in many regulations because they pose a safety risk and change the appearance of the facade.
How to do it right:
- For a large terrace: a drip system with a timer is a game changer.
- Planters on the inside of the balustrade, not the outside.
- Saucers under every pot, including the large ones.
- Water early in the morning or late in the evening, not in full sun (it evaporates anyway).
Sin 6: The wrong plants on a scorching terrace
You buy a beautiful hydrangea, a few ferns, and a Japanese maple in May. By mid-July, they look like someone pointed a hairdryer at them. No wonder: a south-facing terrace on the fourth floor is simply a different climate than a ground-floor garden. Stone tiles reflect the heat, there is hardly any shade, and the wind dries everything out further.
What does work on a sunny terrace:
- Mediterranean classics: lavender, rosemary, olive tree, oleander.
- Succulents and ornamental grasses: agapanthus, sedum, festuca.
- Summer bloomers that tolerate sun: geraniums, verbena, gaura.
What to avoid: hydrangeas, ferns, rhododendrons, and anything that normally grows in partial shade. Unless you have a corner where the sun no longer reaches after 2 PM.
A terrace full of plants also protects your facade and your apartment: a green zone is measurably cooler than a bare tiled surface. We previously wrote extensively about which plants work best on a terrace or balcony with tips per orientation.
Summary: what you should remember
Summer in an apartment is wonderful, provided everyone takes into account that you share facades, balconies, and terraces with dozens of other residents. Nine out of ten summer disputes in co-ownership can be perfectly avoided with one question at the right time: is this actually allowed?
Want to know exactly what applies to your building? Your Property Manager at Parte has the regulations at hand and will be happy to assist you. Find an office near you.
When to call your Property Manager
Not for every little thing, we can agree on that. But certainly if:
- You are unsure if something is allowed according to the regulations.
- You want to install a fixed fixture (air conditioning, sunshade, parasol attachment).
- There is damage to the common areas or to another private unit.
- A conflict arises with a neighbor that you cannot resolve mutually.
At Parte, our clients generally receive an answer to these types of questions within a day. This often saves a lot of annoyance later in the season.
A good neighbor is worth their weight in gold in the summer. So is a good parasol base, for that matter.
Work with Parte
Will you also choose Parte?
At Parte, you get the best of both worlds: the personal approach of a local team that knows your building, and the strength of a professional group. One dedicated contact person, pooled expertise, and modern technology that a solo Property Manager cannot match. Request a non-binding quote today.
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