Combining the bathroom and toilet is a change to the room layout, and it must be approved by the building authority before the work starts, because without documents it is unauthorised construction. If only the non-load-bearing partition is removed and the fixtures stay above the same kind of rooms on the floor below, the process is simpler. If the bathroom is moved elsewhere, above a neighbour's living room, the requirements are stricter. The plumbing work starts after approval, and the risers remain the building's common property.
Yes. An LV portāls explanation about an apartment where the previous owner combined the toilet and bathroom without documents states: if rooms have been combined or divided in the layout, you need documents prepared by an architect, which must be approved by the building authority. After that, the cadastral data must be updated with the State Land Service.
Unapproved work is unauthorised construction under the Construction Law (Būvniecības likums). For a private individual the fine can be up to 400 fine units. Unregistered changes may also affect home insurance and later the sale of the apartment or a loan.
Under the Building Regulations (Ēku būvnoteikumi), the document depends on the scope of the work:
Whether the partition between the toilet and bathroom is load-bearing and which document applies to your apartment is decided by an architect based on the building design or a survey. The documents are submitted through the construction information system, and they are reviewed by the institution acting as the building authority. An interior design without alteration or renovation work does not need documents.
The building code on general requirements for structures, LBN 200-21, states that in an apartment building sanitary rooms are placed above rooms of a similar purpose on the floor below. They are permitted above the living rooms of the apartment below if the requirements for sound insulation, waterproofing, thermal insulation, fire safety, ventilation and safe use are met.
In 2020 a specialist at the Riga building authority explained that when a bathroom is placed above the living rooms of the apartment below, the documentation must be agreed with the owner of the apartment below, and that owner often does not agree. If the bathroom is enlarged at the expense of the hallway or another utility room, the co-owners' consent is not needed, but the work must be approved by the building authority. At that time the previous building code was in force, so check the specific requirement with the building authority.
If the work affects common property (risers, load-bearing walls or the ventilation shaft), you need the consent of the owners' meeting.
The pipes up to the common risers belong to the apartment, but the risers belong to the whole building. They are usually left where they are, and the new fixtures are connected to them. Moving the risers is a matter for the owners' meeting, not for one owner.
If the pipes are hidden in boxing or behind tiles, access hatches must be left opposite the cleanouts: this is required by the building code LBN 221-15. Shutting off the riser during the work is organised by the house manager, and it is often a paid service according to the house manager's price list. If the risers are old cast iron or steel, consider riser replacement before tiling.
Fixture plan
Draw where the toilet, sink, bath or shower and washing machine will be, and how far each fixture is from the sewer riser. The toilet is usually placed closest to the riser, because it has the largest pipe.
Waste outlets and fall
Waste pipe runs are built straight, and changing the pipe gradient between connections is prohibited. The further a fixture is from the riser, the higher the pipe has to start, so a shower placed far away may need a raised floor. Fixtures from two different apartments must not be connected to one shared waste pipe.
Shower without a tray
The floor in the shower area must slope at 10–20 ‰ towards the floor drain or channel. A floor drain is not mandatory in an apartment bathroom.
Water supply
The new pipes are run in the wall or in boxing, with a shut-off valve for each branch. Before closing up, the system is pressure tested and the pipe layout is photographed.
Waterproofing and ventilation
Before tiling, the floor and shower area are waterproofed. The ventilation shaft is common property and must not be built over.
This stage, before the tiler starts work, is called plumbing rough-in. Once the tiles are done, the fixtures are installed: this is described on the page about bathroom plumbing.
A bathroom plumbing package costs from €200, toilet replacement from €60, a wall-hung toilet with a concealed frame from €150, and a riser section replacement from €100. We give the price of the rough-in based on the plan: it depends on the number of fixtures, the distance to the riser, wall chasing and whether the toilet has to be moved. Architect's documents, tiling and the house manager's riser shutdown are not included. We agree the price before the work starts.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom plumbing | from €200 | installing and connecting fixtures; materials extra |
| Wall-hung toilet installation with frame | from €150 | frame, toilet and flush button extra |
| Plumbing rough-in | based on the plan | number of fixtures, distance to the riser, wall chasing |
Sources
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