What Are The Building Rules?

There are certain rules to be followed in public living areas such as communities and buildings. Building rules are put in place to properly maintain the general functioning of public living areas and to ensure a smooth living for the residents. Building rules regarding noise, hygiene, and common areas are valid for all residents. Continue reading for further information about these rules and what to do if the rules are not followed.

Building Rules

Building rules aim to ensure the safety and hygiene of the building, as well as to provide residents with a smooth living. Building rules on noise, hygiene, and safety must be followed by all residents and they may be arranged according to the use of each main immovable. In addition to the rules stipulated in relevant laws, there may be building-specific rules included in the building management plan registered in the land register or determined by the board of residents or the building management board. Actors such as residents, managers, or the building management board who are involved in the management of the main building take part in the determination and enforcement of these rules. 
 
The rules below are provided by Apsiyon are example rules. The rules in this list should not be regarded as a template or a legal document. In assessing these rules, the residents should first consult the management plan in the land register, and, for the matters not included in the management plan, the decisions taken by the board of residents or the building management board in line with the relevant laws and regulations, should be taken as the basis.

The general rules to be followed in buildings are as follows

- No loud and disturbing activity must be done in the building early in the morning and late at night, as well as on weekends, general holidays, and public holidays.
- Food scraps must not be thrown out from the balcony or windows for reasons such as feeding stray animals. 
- All garbage must be disposed of in designated areas. No garbage must be thrown into the drain or toilet in the unit.
- Attention must be paid to ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of common areas such as elevators, stairs, building entrances, corridors, and yards, as well as annexes such as warehouses and basements that are allocated for personal use. 
- Belongings such as shoes must not be left in front of the unit doors as they hinder walking, cleaning, and emergency evacuation. 
- The doors of the units and the cellar or garden door must always be kept closed to prevent unpermitted entry by strangers. 
- Personal belongings must not be left in the common areas of the building.
- Renovation and painting works that will potentially damage the structure of the building and impair its integrity and aesthetics must not be carried out.
- The announcements and notifications made by the management for payments such as dues and invoices that concern the entire building must be closely followed.

Rules Regarding Noise 

- Noise refers to “any kind of undesirable, disturbing sound that comes out in an abrasive, irregular manner”.
- Although it is subject to change depending on the life style the building, making disturbing noises is forbidden in the period between 22:00 and 06:00, which is referred to as resting hours, as well as early in the morning and late at night on working days. Noisy activities must be avoided on Sundays, as well as on public and general holidays.
- Residents must not listen to music, watch television, and play instruments loudly in the building. Loud music is only allowed in special cases, with the permission of the nearest neighbors or each unit where the sound may reach.  
- Maintenance works carried out using loud tools such as drill must not be done early in the morning and late at night, on public and general holidays, and on the weekends. Alterations can only be made on days and at times to be determined by the management.

Hygiene Rules 

- In cases where the management has not agreed with a cleaning company, the common areas of the building must be cleaned by residents. Hygiene rules for the staircases in the building are valid for all residents.
- Waste such as food leftovers, crumbs, and bottles must not be thrown out from balconies and windows. Garbage must be thrown in the garbage containers, at specific times.
- Items that may cause undesirable odor, as well as flammable, explosive, and combustible objects that may create the risk of fire, must not be stored in annexes allocated to units such as basement or cellars.
- Items that will prevent cleaning must not be placed in front of the unit door.

Rules regarding Common Areas

The areas of the building other than units that are used by all residents are called common areas. Elevator, corridor, stairs, yard, garden, heating room, coal burner, garage, laundry, parts where electricity and water meters are located, and the common walls, beams, ceiling and floors, and gates of the building are examples of common areas. The rules regarding the common use areas of the building aim to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the entire building. All residents are obligated to abide by the rules regarding common areas.

Which Law is the Basis of Building Rules?

The building bylaws and rules are determined based on the management plan in the land register and the rules on matters not included in the management plan are determined on the basis of the decisions of the board of residents or the building management board. Building rules address sound, hygiene, and common area use.

What are the Unwritten Building Rules?

The rules to be followed in the building can be outlined in the relevant laws and regulations or determined by the management.  Unwritten rules may be set to address specific needs or complaints of the building and residents. These rules may emerge to provide a smooth communal living. 

What Happens If Building Rules are not Followed?

Although building rules benefit all residents, sometimes people may not abide by these rules. In such cases, depending on the disobeyed rule, it is possible to contact law enforcement agencies, municipal police, and the district governorship, as well as to apply to the magistrates' court for those who do not fall under the jurisdiction of these authorities. Complaints are documented and proven as per the relevant the law and article, depending on the rule disobeyed.

How can Residents Complain?

Depending on the rule that is not followed, an application can be made to the prosecutor's office or a lawsuit can be filed to the Civil Court against those who do not comply with the rules determined. In such cases, within the scope of building rules, a petition mentioning the damage caused by the complainee must be written. In addition to the petition, the management plan of the building, different types of evidence, photographs, witness statements, and videos can also be submitted to the prosecutor's office and the court.