Gentville on the collapse of an apartment building in the capital: we will seek liability and compensation from the designer

“We would like to strengthen the responsibility of designers and construction experts so that they do not sign without going to the place, designed in the best possible way. There really should be no defects in the new construction in Lithuania, well, ”the minister said at a press conference next to the cracked building in Vilnius.

According to him, sometimes the neighbors themselves are to blame for the state of emergency in buildings, which is why more changes are needed. As an example, he gave a fallen balcony in Lazdynai.

“If for two consecutive years the administrator determines that it is necessary to eliminate the state of emergency, and the neighbors do not dare to do so, we would give the municipalities the right to decide for themselves,” said the minister.

When asked who should take responsibility for the apartment building in the Pašilaičiai district, S. Gentvilas stated that a thorough assessment was needed.

“It will be initiated by the Municipality of Vilnius through the apartment building managers to do a detailed examination of the building. After that, it will be clear if there are significant violations, if there is a possibility of an accident or if they are just cosmetic violations, ”said the Minister.

“In terms of damages, the contractor is liable for hidden and invisible defects and defects for 20 years. There are building bans and frozen funds to make up for these things. (…) Once the work is finished, 5 percent of the construction project funds are frozen and that guarantee is required, “he added.

However, he stressed that “the defect is evident, the population has already suffered damage, especially emotional damage.”

Vytautas Ambrazas, acting head of the State Inspection for Spatial Planning and Construction, said that the inspection of the building could take from a month to three, but stressed that the municipality is responsible for it.

Cracks were reported in the apartment building Monday night, residents were temporarily evacuated from it. On Tuesday, the Vilnius Municipality reported that the house is safe to operate and people can return to their apartments.