Blog

Management of the apartment building renovation project. Riga’s experience Signe Kajaka, SIA “Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks”

On 16 February, more than twenty residents of Krāslava gathered at the Krāslava Cultural Centre to participate in a seminar on implementing energy efficiency measures in apartment buildings and state support opportunities. The seminar was organised by the Ministry of Economics and the Development Financial Institution “Altum” as part of the “Live Warmer” information campaign.

For many years, we have been accustomed to the idea that property management is like a monster to which apartment owners give money but receive nothing in return, and that anyone who knows how to argue with dissatisfied residents can work there. Now the situation is gradually changing. Professionals with specialised education are beginning to work in property management. It only remains to adjust the attitude of apartment owners towards their own property.

Cracks in the walls, low energy efficiency, and outdated equipment in heating units — this is how our building appears to foreign guests. On 23 September, German experts and the Zemgale region working group arrived in Bauska during the “Mājas draugs” initiative to get acquainted with the buildings that SIA “Bauskas namsaimnieks” has submitted for energy efficiency projects.

Besides two passions - mathematics and singing - Signe Kajaka (31) has a third: leading seminars for residents about home insulation, even though she often has to answer questions about what pains people more at the moment - why such a government, and so on. “I like feeling that I can lead and engage the crowd,” she says with a smile - if there aren’t 100 people at the seminar, she feels she “has no one to talk to.”