Block in Real Estate: Features, Types and Legal Status
A block in the context of real estate is an independent part of a building, which is a residential or non-residential space separated by a common wall from other blocks. In block houses, such as townhouses, quadhouses, and others, each block has a separate entrance and usually a separate plot of land. These blocks are often used in low-rise residential buildings, where each of them is designed for a single family.
The main characteristics of the block:
- Autonomy and independence. Each block acts as an independent residential or commercial space with its own entrance and, most often, individual communications, including electricity and water supply. This distinguishes the block from an apartment in an apartment building, where communications and common areas are collectively owned.
- Features of the legal status. Blocks in blockaded houses are registered as separate properties. This means that the owner can dispose of it, including for sale or lease, without the need for coordination with neighbors. Thus, the ownership rights to a block are similar to the rights to a separate house, but with a number of restrictions due to the common infrastructure.
- Types of blockaded houses. Among the most common types of blocks are:
- Townhouses. Elongated buildings with several blocks, arranged in a row, each of which has a separate entrance and an adjacent territory.
- Quadhouses. The blocks are located at the corners of the building, usually include four sections, and are typical for more spacious buildings since they occupy a significant area of land.
The legislation requires that blockaded houses comply with certain standards, such as limiting the number of floors to three levels and having no more than ten blocks in one structure. The land under such houses is also regulated by certain norms, and the construction of this type of housing requires compliance with specific rules, including the consolidation of land plots before the construction of a structure.