Every year we install more and more elevators in Spain. The park of elevators exceed 1.1 million, making it the European country with the highest number of installed equipment, according to the data handled by the Business Federation of Spanish Lifts (Feeda). There are many farms old of four or more floors in which they live older people who are placing elevators in working-class suburbs of the major cities.

But it is not enough. In December of 2017 finished the period so that the communities of owners meet the requirements of universal accessibility for people with reduced mobility or disability. However, “in Spain, there are five millions of buildings that are not accessible and 1.2 billion lack of lift”, calculated in Feeda. “Stairs, lack of ramps or lifts are some of the architectural barriers that 3.8 million of Spanish people with reduced mobility have to face daily,” indicated in the Foundation Mutual of Owners.

Put a lift is not a boat ride. Well you know the owners that have already gone through a similar journey. Works, noise, spill and conflicts neighborhood become the daily menu for a few months. But worth the effort, and not only because it gives quality of life to the most vulnerable and prevents their isolation between four walls. Also because the lift influences for good in the price of housing. "It is a basic equipment from the point of view of accessibility, hence the absence of a lift may penalize the value of the home. The percentage is variable and depends on the market and of the property. In the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona can be a price hike of 35% and in the periphery, for blocks of three and four heights, a 15%", points out César Escobar, co-director of control of valuations from Tinsa. "We talk about older people and those with special needs, but we all benefit from this type of works and the building appreciates in value," agrees Salvador Díez, president of the Council of Professional Associations of Administrators of Estates of Spain (CGCAFE).

Before you make castles in the air there that know if it is possible technically to this work, since "there are buildings that by their age and characteristics do not allow the removal of architectural barriers; may not be placed or ramp, or stair lift, or elevator," adds Diez. "The installation of this item can be viable on a farm and not in another for reasons of protection or for a lack of easements," says Elizabeth Bass, president of the College Professional of Administrators of Estates of Madrid (CAFMadrid).

If the technical report is positive, it must convene a meeting of owners and to record the installation of the elevator as the point of the order of the day. Is advisable to seek three or four budgets that detail every item of the work with its corresponding amount and funding possibilities. Important is to require a contract which states a fixed price.

The other great obstacles to make it accessible to a storey building are old acquaintances: the agreement neighborhood, and the lack of economic resources. For the approval of the elevator is necessary the agreement of the majority of the owners (one half plus one). The opinion links and force all the commoners to the payment, including the low-and business premises although it does not make use of the computer.

This is precisely one of the issues that causes more clashes between neighbors. Also the fact that some of them, the low, have to allow easements. "Sometimes it is necessary to occupy part of the proprietary elements of some owners because the building was designed without a specific space for the lift. This occupation obliged to compensate them for the damages and harm caused", it indicates Low.

But it may happen that the majority of neighbors voted against it. All is not lost. "If the owner is over 70 years of age or has a disability —or in the estate lives, works or provides services pro-bono or volunteer any person with these characteristics, the community shall be obliged to execute the works that are necessary to remove architectural barriers existing in the common elements," says Patricia Briones, a lawyer of the CAFMadrid.

12 monthly installments

yes, with a key requirement: that the amount charged annually to property owners for the installation of the elevator is not to exceed 12 monthly payments of ordinary share of common expenses. The average cost of a elevator is moving between 70,000 and 80,000 euros. If the bank or the company funding the work, for a year and the community has an annual budget of 48,000 euros, the neighbor who requested the lift you will need to pay 32,000 euros remaining. If you fund two or more years, the homeowners should bear all the cost.

In the event that the owner has requested that the elevator does not have resources or not be able to find funding, the estate will be without an elevator. If, on the contrary, goes forward, we must analyze the grants that are offered by different public Administrations —can only be ordered once we finish the work—. And "negotiate with the company that makes the work a payment system that can take all the owners," advises Diaz.

There are two issues. On the one hand, the amount of the contract of maintenance can vary between 1,500 and 2,000 euros per year per elevator. And, on the other, "the increasingly important consumer of electrical energy", she continues. And eye, because if there is a high number of deadbeats in the building, there can be problems. "If the odds of the neighbors who pay do not cover the monthly amount of the maintenance contract, the company could reach to seal the elevator," says Briones.

Before you buy a floor

At the time of purchasing a home, it is important to know if it will be possible to include this equipment in the future. There is a need for technical consultation if there is any difficulty structural of the building or enforcement of development regulations that can prevent it). And it is advisable to consult with the community of owners or the administrator of the estate.