A ground-floor flat can become a medical practice, a law office or a salon. It is not complicated, but the steps are mandatory and their order matters.

1. Consent of the owners association
Required for a change of use, plus the consent of directly affected neighbours — above, below and on the landing. Get it first; without it, the rest is wasted time.

2. A separate entrance, if the activity needs one
For a practice open to the public, entry through the block stairwell is frequently refused. A direct entrance from outside changes the facade, so it goes into the permit.

3. Approvals specific to the activity
Medical practice: health authority approval and functional circulation drawn into the design. Food service: veterinary-sanitary and fire brigade. Each has area and equipment requirements we draw in from the start, so nothing is redone.

What changes in tax
Space registered for office use is taxed differently. Worth calculating beforehand, not discovering the following March.

Realistic timeline
Two to three months for documentation and approvals, if the association consent comes through first time. Most often, that is where it stalls.