Heat pump on balcony too loud for neighbors: refusal justified
A court has upheld a homeowners association's decision to ban an apartment owner from installing a heat pump on their balcony. The judge ruled that the device would cause excessive noise for nearby neighbors, justifying the refusal despite the owner's need to improve the property's energy efficiency.
An apartment owner has been denied permission by their homeowners association (VvE) to install a heat pump on their balcony. The owner, who moved to Spain, intended to install the device to improve the property's energy rating to meet mortgage requirements for renting out the unit. While the owner argued that the installation was necessary for energy efficiency, the VvE opposed the move due to concerns over noise, aesthetics, and potential future requests from other residents.
A court judge reviewed the case and ruled in favor of the VvE. Although the judge disagreed that the pump would be visually unappealing, they concluded that the noise levels were unacceptable given the unit's proximity to neighboring balconies and windows, which were less than three meters away. Because the owner declined to use a sound-dampening enclosure, the court found the refusal reasonable. The owner has been ordered to pay 720 euros in legal costs.
Based on reporting by rss. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
