Iveta Puķīte

Rental and Management Policy of Municipal Residential Buildings: Housing Policy. Case Study of Riga (Part One)

Abstract The present scientific article is the first part of two publications, where the authors obtain results from the scientific research for municipal residential property legal aspects and housing policy, as well as risks in the maintenance of the housing stock. To ensure the fulfillment of the functions prescribed by law in relation to the provision of living space, each municipality owns a number of rental apartments. Some municipalities even build special dwellings aimed to fulfil this function. Housing management involves the implementation of a specific process prescribed by both the law and the principles of good governance. However, all management processes are subject to risks that can endanger the implementation of the entire management process. To ensure efficient and high-quality maintenance of the management process, risk assessment is required. In order to successfully implement all these activities, first of all, there is a need for a legal framework that will stipulate the obligations, responsibilities, rights of the persons involved, as well as a series of measures that determine the actions to be taken to ensure the successful maintenance of the housing stock. The aim of the article is to investigate and analyse the regulation of the rent of the legal relations of the municipal property that is used as rental apartments, the management processes of municipal residential property and their compliance with regulatory enactments, as well as to define risks that prevent the efficient and high-quality maintenance of the housing stock.

Capacity of Professional Specialists in Residential Housing Management in Latvia

Abstract The issue of residential housing management, depending on the chosen form of the residential housing administration, is topical both from the perspective of residential building apartment owners, if apartment owners have chosen to manage the building themselves, and from the residential house manager’s point of view, if the management of the residential building has been entrusted to a professional manager. This is justified by the fact that the process of residential housing maintenance and management is based on knowledge, experience and financial resources; besides, it should be carried out by meeting the existing legislative requirements of the European Union and the Republic of Latvia, as well as the interests of the apartment owners. In Latvia, in order to manage a residential building, the administrator is required to have appropriate professional education, which, according to the Law of Residential Housing Management, should be at least the 4th level of Professional Qualification accepted in Latvia (the 5th level of European Qualifications Framework, EQK, and Latvian Qualifications Framework, LQK). The topicality of the study is related to the fact that in Latvia the law stipulates that a residential housing manager should have vocational education, which can be obtained at a number of public educational institutions. In the management process owners can choose their preferred management model, but right now the Register of the Ministry of Economics does not provide full information about the professionalism of an administrator. The goal of the study is determined by the topicality of the theme - to explore the existing models of residential housing management in the Latvian market and professional capacity of specialists involved in management. Within the framework of the study, statistical, qualitative and analytical methods have been used. As at present in Latvia there is no unified system for the accounting of housing management education in the market, the research results will contribute to its development and creation.

Rental and Management Policy of Municipal Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Riga (Part Two)

Abstract The scientific publication aims to identify risks in the maintenance of the rental housing stock. Access to housing is an essential precondition for the development and integration of the personality of each individual into society. Despite the rapid development of the state in certain sectors of the economy, the issue of inadequate accessibility and quality of housing for low-income groups of the population is becoming more and more acute. Therefore, one of the state policies is to create an adequate and rational space for all categories of Latvia’s population. The aim of the article is to identify and evaluate the risks of management of rental houses owned by the municipality, their impact on efficient and high-quality maintenance and high-quality maintenance of the housing stock.

Determining Customer Satisfaction in the Real Estate Management Sector in Riga

Abstract This article discusses the need to determine customer satisfaction and how to use it in non-mortgage asset management companies. The aim of the article is to discover the essential elements necessary for ensuring customer satisfaction in real estate management companies. A customer satisfaction survey, which enables the management company to gain information about customer needs and control the quality of provided services, is essential for successful operation of the companies in order to maintain a high standard in one of the fundamental values - quality of customer service. The present article analyses the results of the research obtained by interviewing the clients of the real estate management company. In the conclusion, proposals are made for methods in order to continue improving customer satisfaction.

Limiting the Program of Temporary Residence Permits for Foreigners Based on Real Property Investment in Latvia

Abstract There exists sharp competition amongst nations regarding the increasing foreign investments; therefore, nations are willing to offer foreign investors and their families some type of political bonus, such as temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, or even citizenship. The simplest way to entice investors is to offer them and their family members temporary residence permits in exchange for investments - simply by purchasing real property (via the so-called “Golden Visa” program). Such a program was launched in Latvia in 2010; however, significant limitations were placed on it in 2014. This research (1) compares the “Golden Visa” programs in different countries in the world, (2) determines the impact of the program on the real property market of Latvia, and (3) searches for the main reason why limitations were applied to the temporary residence permit program in 2014, which resulted in a significant decrease in the international investments in Latvia (this part of the paper is based on the results of the following research: Viesturs, J., Auziņš, A., & Štaube, T. (2017). Arguments Used for Restricting International Real Property Transactions: Case Study of Latvia).

Residential Building Management System Features and Underlying Factors

Abstract For the implementation of real estate management, in accordance with the legislative framework of good practice and quality management, a system is required that helps the processes to be arranged according to their fundamental values, criteria and functions. The study sets residential property management elements and factors influencing them. The significance of the topic is set by the developing industry and the requirement for quality and sustainable management model that includes all interested parties - owners, lessees, tenants, users on the one side, housing managers on the other and the state, local government and non-governmental organisations on the third side. The development of this sector as a whole depends on the quality of residential housing management process.