A Moscow resident has been fined after carrying out an illegal apartment renovation that threatened the structural integrity of a residential building in the capital, municipal housing inspectors reported.
The owner demolished interior partition walls, removed plumbing and gas equipment, and stripped flooring without securing required approval for the 1956 apartment block on Svobody Street in Moscow's Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo district.
Neighbours raised concerns after enduring prolonged renovation noise in the building, prompting an unannounced inspection by the Moscow Housing Inspectorate, known as Moszhilinspektsiya.
Inspectors who entered the property discovered that the owner had dismantled all original interior partition walls, sanitary fixtures, gas stove, and floor coverings. Moszhilinspektsiya noted that residential buildings constructed with wooden floor structures are subject to significantly stricter regulations regarding building procedures and material selection.
The inspectorate explained that removing even a non-load-bearing partition wall in such buildings can cause upper floors to sag, as aging timber structures may rely on lower walls to absorb structural loads from the apartment above.
Missing technical evaluation
Under municipal housing regulations, the property owner was required to obtain an official technical evaluation from the original building designer prior to starting work. That assessment must verify the condition of the building's load-bearing structures and confirm whether planned modifications can be safely executed. Authorities confirmed that the flat owner failed to seek or obtain the required technical report before commencing demolition.
Following the inspection, housing officials fined the homeowner and issued a binding order requiring the flat to be fully restored to its original layout. Officials warned that if the owner refuses to comply with the restoration order, municipal authorities may initiate legal proceedings to strip the individual of property ownership rights.
Soviet-era timber floor construction
Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo, located in the North-Western Administrative Okrug of Moscow along Svobody Street, contains numerous mid-20th century residential blocks. Apartment buildings constructed in 1956 represent a transitional period in Soviet housing, often built with internal timber floor joists rather than reinforced concrete slabs. Because timber framing settles over time, partition walls frequently absorb structural weight, making unapproved alterations especially hazardous to neighbouring units.
Moszhilinspektsiya is the municipal executive body responsible for monitoring Moscow's housing stock, inspecting residential properties, and approving structural redevelopments. Russian property and legal experts have previously warned homeowners that unauthorized remodeling can also lead insurance providers to deny coverage for apartment damages, as unapproved alterations violate standard property insurance contracts.
