duztee

Sorry Cathyg but I am going to side with the don't bring any furniture brigade.
Firstly it makes moving so much easier without it.
Secondly I bought all mine here including a fully fitted kitchen which I ordered in the local furniture shop, it was a 3 week wait because all the units came from Germany, and the quality is top notch.


Another tip for the older readers here who may be considering this a retirement venue, Get a good hobby! And choose one that doesn't require the constant sourcing of supplies (e.g. Modelling). Hungarian shops don't actually like to stock very much, and although they might advertise it invariably you will have to wait while they order one in.

And, since no one has answered Szegeds question, Yes you are responsible for the area outside of your property. be it grass or pavement it is supposed to be maintained (including snow clearance)

scot47

I like the tip about not expecting Hungary to be like "Back Home"

scrubbedexpat142

Agreed - it's a lot better!

Szeged

Thanks for the clarification, Duztee. I thought that might still be the case (my HU GF did mention something about it, but I forgot what the story was). Also, I was not sure if it is a nationwide law/regulation or just a county law. I know it was true for Foráskút and Sándorfalva in Csongrad county.

I do not really follow village life (regulations) unless I visit friends in the countryside. Szeged city has private properties with front pavement, etc of course but as I live in a local apartment area.....

scrubbedexpat142

Same rules re maintenance apply in Budapest.

Sachina

Certainly in the village where I live, the outside of my property the pavement, grass verge, rainwater culvert are all cleared on a regular basis by the workers employed by the mayor's office. Similarly in winter they clear the snow from the paths including the path that leads from your front gate up to your woodshed. This is often done several times a day if necessary.

As far as I can see this practice is standard in the smaller villages, but not in the larger ones that I have to pass through on my way to the city, where you regularly see people cutting the grass verges outside their houses.

duztee

Consider yourself very lucky Sachina!!
I am responsible for the care and maintenance of 'my' paths (plural, the one disadvantage of a corner house).
As I have mentioned before, my neighbour is out from the first snowflake till the last trying to sweep them up before they even land. Which makes my system of let it all land and then get it in one go look positively unenthusiastic, (which I am).

scrubbedexpat142

Our neighbour goes out to clear snow at 6 in the morning!

duztee

Apartment blocks here generally have one of the tenants nominated to deal with outside cleaning, putting out the bins etc.
The other tenants each paying a small fee to said volunteer.

scrubbedexpat142

& while I remember, we are now responsible for the gas mains from the road to the house.

Szeged

This could be because they hire the unemployed, as part of their payment scheme (i.e. job seekers allowance equivalent); like a "low paid" community service to top up the unemployed peoples allowance (unemployed/welfare benefits). Either way, you are lucky to have such a service.

scrubbedexpat142

So that's where I am going wrong - I should charge my fellow owners!

Szeged

In my apartment block and surrounding blocks we are lucky in that, although we pay a maintenance fee for the cleaning of common areas (i.e. stairwells), rubbish services, heating the hallway and stairwell, we do get really good value for these paid services. Grass is cut, car park is well maintained, dustbin areas are kept clean as well as emptied/cleared, trees and branches are cut/trimmed, etc.

fidobsa

Yes, my place has a very wide frontage so I have quite a long stretch of pavement to clear. Also, the grass verges (if you can still call them that) are much deeper than normal, so the grass that I have to cut which is not mine is about a 3 hour job each time. This includes time taken picking up fallen branches from the elderly walnut trees and stones that get onto the grass from the edge of the road.

scrubbedexpat142

Something to do on those lazy, balmy Sunday afternoons!