The ‘Downstairs Neighbor Consent Form’: Navigating Renovation Disputes and Redefining Neighborly Boundaries
Mrs. Wang, an 8th-floor resident, happily began her old house renovation. She paid the required deposit to the homeowners’ association and posted the construction notice, believing her ‘neighborly relations’ procedures were complete. To her surprise, as soon as the bathroom waterproofing was removed, her 7th-floor neighbor stormed over, pointing at new water stains and cracks on the ceiling, demanding Mrs. Wang stop construction immediately and pay for damages.Meanwhile, Mr. Li, living on the 10th floor, took a crucial step before starting his renovation. His commissioned architect brought a ‘pre-renovation condition report’ and a ‘waterproofing construction plan’ and proactively visited the 9th-floor neighbor. After both parties confirmed the 9th-floor ceiling was ‘undamaged before construction,’ the neighbor signed a document. During construction,…