The birth of a new neighborhood also means the creation of a new community, and as homeowners, we play a major role in shaping that community. The better we understand our role as members of the community, the more certain we can be that our neighborhood will become the best place to live.
Based on our experience and the world’s best practices, Liven has put together some key principles so that the Iseära community can fully enjoy their homes and surroundings, and so the value of Iseära homes grows over time. This is, in short, the purpose of the community agreement.
If we want to be sure that there won’t be car drag races in front of our house or that the neighbor doesn’t start raising chickens in their backyard, it’s good to agree on this from the start.
Iseära homeowners have reviewed this agreement and agree that the principles presented are fair and reasonable. Of course, the contents can be changed in the future, because life goes on and what we know best today may become outdated tomorrow.
In addition to this agreement, housing associations can also establish more specific house rules that comply with standards and regulations.
To make the community thrive, wise decisions must be made. When the goal is shared, good decisions come more easily. When decisions need to be made, we respect others’ opinions, listen to viewpoints, present arguments without criticizing others, are ready to acknowledge good ideas, and jointly contribute to implementing the best solution. The better the culture of discussion within the community and the stronger the responsibility of its members, the stronger the community becomes.
Safety is a fundamental human need. We want everyone in Iseära to feel safe and secure. We value and recognize civic courage. If we notice dangerous behavior, we intervene to prevent harm. Parents are responsible for their children, pet owners for their animals, and homeowners for their guests. After moving in, we exchange contact information with neighbors so that when we are away from home, we can quickly share important information if needed. Lost items are found faster when the community group is involved in the search.
Each property and building will have a homeowners’ association. Together, a number of activities need to be organized, including: • cost sharing (waste collection, water and sewage, common electricity) • maintenance of the heating station • maintenance of common areas • upkeep of building facades • raising the national flag Liven has appointed a property management company for the area to assist the homeowners’ associations with organizing these matters. If you wish to order lawn mowing or terrace oiling, you can do so through the management company or choose a service provider yourself.
People’s needs change over time. If you want to make additions to your home, you must follow the building regulations, and more significant construction work needs to be approved by the local government. A satellite dish or awning may seem essential but can spoil the overall appearance of the buildings and block views from neighbors’ windows. It is good practice to discuss your construction plans with your neighbors beforehand.
We follow the golden rule: do not do to others what you wouldn’t want done to yourself. Noisy work is scheduled on weekdays during working hours so that neighbors can enjoy birdsong and conversation on weekends. If noisy work must be done on weekends, we make sure beforehand that it does not disturb any garden parties of neighbors. Open fires are prohibited in the yard areas. When grilling, we pay attention to the wind direction and place the grill so that the smoke does not enter the windows of nearby homes. The same rule applies to smoking. It’s nice to listen to music indoors and birdsong outdoors. When partying in the yard, we do so in a way that keeps neighbors comfortable too.
Gardening is an important part of our lifestyle. Your backyard is a place to relax and spend time.When designing your backyard, think about your neighbors as well. Low berry bushes, flowerbeds, or a well-maintained apple tree in the center of your garden plot bring joy to everyone. A row of arborvitae planted along the property line, if left untrimmed, may one day block your neighbor’s sunlight and damage relationships. A tree planted too close to the house may have roots that begin to damage the foundation. The street-side land belongs to the municipality; it contains utility networks and requires permission from the landowner for planting.
We use common areas the way responsible owners treat their own property. Whether it’s ball games, gatherings with friends, or other activities - we treat the shared spaces with care. Liven has created playgrounds, seating areas, a fire pit, and leaf collection spots in the communal areas. We keep these areas clean and tidy, and the equipment in good condition. To maintain the access roads between buildings, we can agree on a shared arrangement or leave the responsibility to the property management company. If something breaks, we notify the manager immediately. Just as we pick up a plastic bag blown onto our own plot, we do the same in the shared space. In Iseära, we’re basically doing a “Let’s Do It” campaign all the time. And we always make sure our actions don’t disturb others.
After moving in, allow the newly established lawn to sprout and water it as needed. It’s best to wait at least 6 weeks before using the lawn actively. Liven provides each townhouse with a small home maintenance starter kit, which includes a battery-powered lawnmower. The lawnmower is stored in the shared technical room of the houses and charges its battery there. You can access your backyard with the mower via the common area. For larger groups of houses, a lawn roller is also available. If you don’t have the time or desire to mow the lawn yourself, the service can be ordered from the property manager or another service provider. Each terrace has a power outlet where a robotic lawnmower can be connected if desired.
Roads and public areas are an important part of the new development, and everyone has a key role in keeping them clean and orderly. If we notice that something is broken or damaged on playgrounds or in community spaces, we fix it ourselves or notify the property manager. If we witness activity that damages public property (such as graffiti or vandalism), we try to document the situation and report it to the police. At the same time as the first residents have moved into their new homes, construction continues in other parts of the development. Lighter construction debris may be carried by the wind from construction sites. We approach this with understanding and inform the builder or Liven. Both the builder and Liven strive to ensure that construction work causes as little disturbance to residents as possible.
To keep the surroundings of our home neat and safe, we have agreed that no larger machinery than a minibus may be parked in front of the building. The truck should park in the warehouse parking lot, and boats or yachts should be kept at the harbor during winter. A blocked entrance road can obstruct emergency vehicles and prevent snow removal in winter. It is our responsibility to guide arriving guests and ensure they do not park in front of neighbors’ homes, on the lawn, or in prohibited parking areas.
For three houses, a waste container cluster is planned, where containers for household waste, packaging, and bio-waste collection are located. Broken sleds, baby strollers, or old refrigerators should be taken by yourself to the waste station. These items do not belong next to the containers. Please follow the instructions on the containers. Those who wish to compost themselves can place a closed quick composter in their own garden, which is absolutely the right thing to do. There are several ways to deal with autumn leaves. In the Iseära area, there are designated marked places where you can bring tree leaves and mowed grass. We keep these places clean from other waste that is unpleasant to see. Over a couple of years, leaf piles turn into good soil. Christmas trees are collected at the fire pit. The garden waste removal service from home is provided by the waste management organizer AS Eesti Keskkonnateenused. More detailed information can be found here.
