Category
Regulations
The Italian Civil Code, special laws and case law that govern condominium life. Guides on the rights and duties of owners and administrators, resolutions, bylaws, thousandth tables and regulatory updates, explained in practical terms.
40 articles
Mandatory condominium mediation: when it is needed and how it works
Condominium mediation is mandatory for many disputes between owners and the condominium before going to court. Here is article 71 quater of the implementing provisions, the matters covered, the administrator's role and the resolution required.
ReadChallenging a condominium resolution: grounds and deadlines
Challenging a condominium resolution lets an owner contest a flawed decision of the meeting before the court. Here is the difference between nullity and voidability, the deadlines of article 1137 and who may act.
ReadThe dissenting owner in condominium litigation (article 1132)
Article 1132 of the Italian Civil Code lets an owner who voted against a lawsuit formally dissociate from it. Here is how the procedure works and what real consequences it has on expense liability.
ReadCondominium expenses and selling a property: who pays what
When a property is sold, condominium expenses are split between seller and buyer according to precise criteria. Here is the rule of article 63 of the implementing provisions of the Italian Civil Code, the joint liability for the current and previous year, and who pays extraordinary costs.
ReadMandatory Mediation in Italian Condominio Disputes
For many condominio disputes in Italy, mediation is a mandatory step before going to court. Here is which matters fall under the obligation, how the assembly authorizes participation, and what powers the property manager has during mediation.
ReadList of Common Areas in an Italian Condominio Under Article 1117
Article 1117 of the Italian Civil Code lists the assets presumed to be common property in a condominio, from the land the building stands on to shared systems. Here is how the presumption works, when it yields to the title deed, and which assets fall outside it.
ReadArchitectural Appearance in an Italian Condominium: What It Is and How It Is Protected
Architectural appearance is the overall aesthetic look of the building, and protecting it concerns every owner, not just the administrator. Here is what case law says, which works can alter it, and how owners can respond when it happens.
ReadMinimal condominium: rules, meeting and administrator
A minimal condominium is one made up of only two owners. Even here the condominium rules apply, with some adjustments to the meeting, majorities and appointment of an administrator. Here are the essential rules.
ReadRight of Way in an Italian Condominio: When It Exists and How It Is Protected
A right of way (servitù di passaggio) in an Italian condominio is a real burden on one property for the benefit of another, distinct from every co-owner's right to use common parts. Here is how it is created, defended in court, and managed by the administrator.
ReadSupercondominio: definition, management and meeting
A supercondominio arises when several condominiums share common parts and services. Here is the definition under article 1117 bis of the Italian Civil Code, how management works, and the representative rule for meetings with more than sixty participants.
ReadDamages from Things in Custody in a Condominium (Article 2051)
The condominium is liable as custodian of the common areas for damages caused by things in custody, unless it proves a fortuitous event. The administrator and the insurance policy play a central role in handling claims and compensation.
ReadCondominium common parts: what they are under art. 1117 of the Civil Code
Condominium common parts are the assets and systems intended for the use of all owners. Article 1117 of the Civil Code offers an illustrative list. Here is what it covers, what the presumption of joint ownership means and how expenses are shared.
ReadThe Italian condominium reform (law 220/2012): what changed
The condominium reform introduced by law 220/2012 reshaped the administrator's role, the financial statement, the bank account and meetings. Here is what really changed.
ReadThe Italian condominium regulations: when they are mandatory and what they can govern
The condominium regulations govern the use of common parts and the allocation of expenses. Here is when they become mandatory, what they can and cannot provide and the difference between meeting-approved and contractual regulations.
ReadChanging the Intended Use of a Unit in an Italian Condominium
Turning a storage room into an office or an apartment into a bed and breakfast is never a fully free choice in an Italian condominium: a change of intended use runs into the limits set by the bylaws, architectural decorum, and coexistence with other owners.
ReadPets in Italian Condominiums: What the Bylaws Can and Cannot Ban
Condominium bylaws cannot prohibit an owner from keeping pets in their own unit, but they can regulate how those pets are kept. Here is what Article 1138 of the Civil Code says and which restrictions remain lawful.
ReadClauses in the Condominium Bylaws That Limit Ownership: Are They Valid?
Clauses restricting the use of individual units, such as a ban on short term rentals, are valid only under specific conditions. Here is when a condominium bylaw can genuinely limit an owner's rights.
ReadContractual and Assembly Condominium Regulations in Italy: The Differences
Contractual and assembly condominium regulations have different origins and different legal force. Here is how to recognize them, what they can govern, and which majorities are required to amend them.
ReadCommon Parts for the Exclusive Use of One Condominium Owner: What It Means
When a common part is reserved for the exclusive use of a single owner, it does not change its nature as shared property. Here is what that means for expenses, maintenance and the rights of other owners.
ReadTimeshare and Condominium in Italy: Differences and Management
Timeshare and condominium are distinct legal institutions that sometimes coexist in the same building. Here are the key differences and how expenses and usage turns are managed.
ReadHorizontal Condominio: The Rules for Townhouse and Villa Complexes
Complexes of villas or townhouses sharing private roads or green areas often fall under Italy's horizontal condominio rules. Here is when they apply and how such complexes are managed.
ReadGarage Boxes and Parking Spaces as Appurtenances in an Italian Condominio
Garage boxes and parking spaces in an Italian condominio can be exclusive appurtenances or common parts, with very different consequences for expenses, use and resale. Here is how to tell the two regimes apart.
ReadThe Common Courtyard in an Italian Condominio: Use, Parking and Maintenance
The common courtyard is one of the most used shared spaces in an Italian condominio, and one of the most frequent sources of friction, especially over parking. This guide covers rights, limits and cost sharing rules.
ReadAdding a Floor to a Condominium Top Floor: Rights and Limits Under Article 1127
Article 1127 of the Italian civil code grants the top floor owner the right to add new floors to the building, but this right is limited by structural safety, aesthetic harmony and light or air reduction, and requires paying compensation to the other owners.
ReadAdverse Possession of Common Areas in Italian Condominiums: When Is It Possible
A unit owner can only become the exclusive owner of a common area through adverse possession if they can prove exclusive, visible possession maintained continuously for twenty years. Mere tolerance by other owners is not enough.
ReadThe DURC and vetting contractors in an Italian condominium
The DURC certifies that a contractor is up to date with social contributions and insurance premiums. Here is when the administrator must check it, what risks the condominium runs and how to manage the document.
ReadEmbezzlement by the condominium administrator in Italy
When an administrator keeps or diverts condominium funds earmarked for payments, the crime of embezzlement under article 646 of the Italian Criminal Code applies. Here is when it occurs and how owners can protect themselves.
ReadDissolution and division of the condominium
The dissolution of an Italian condominium lets a building be split into separate autonomous condominiums. Here is when it is possible, what articles 61 and 62 of the implementing provisions of the Civil Code say and how it works.
ReadUse of common property under article 1102 of the Italian Civil Code
Every owner may make use of the common parts, even more intensively than others, but within two precise boundaries. Here is what article 1102 says on the use of common property and how it applies to the most frequent cases.
ReadLegal distances between structures in a condominium
Legal distances in a condominium govern windows, balconies and new structures between properties. Here is what articles 905, 906 and 907 of the Italian Civil Code say and how they apply inside a condominium building.
ReadEasements in an Italian condominium: common cases and rules
An easement (servitu) in a condominium is a burden imposed on one property for the benefit of another. Here is what the Civil Code says, common cases such as right of way and view, how they are created and the limits on common parts.
ReadLimitation of condominium charges: deadlines and interruption
Condominium contributions are subject to limitation too. Here is the deadline, when it starts running and which acts the administrator can use to interrupt it and avoid losing the debt.
ReadWhen a condominium comes into being: formation and requirements
A condominium needs no deed of formation: it comes into being on its own the moment a building passes from a single owner to several owners. Here is when it happens and what requirements are needed.
ReadPartial condominium in Italy: what it is and how to manage it
A partial condominium exists when an asset serves only part of the building. Here is what article 1123 of the Italian Civil Code says, how expenses are split and who has the right to vote on the works.
ReadThe difference between co-ownership and condominium in Italian law
Co-ownership and condominium are often confused, but the Italian Civil Code governs them differently. Here is the difference between comunione and condominio in terms of object, calculation of shares, applicable rules and possibility of dissolution.
ReadWorks on individually owned parts: article 1122
Article 1122 of the Italian Civil Code sets the limits on works an individual owner may carry out in their own unit. Here is what is prohibited, when the administrator must be notified and how architectural decor is protected.
ReadSplitting stairs and lift costs: article 1124 of the Italian Civil Code
Article 1124 of the Italian Civil Code sets a mixed criterion for stairs and lifts: half the cost by the value of the units, half by the height of the floor above the ground. Here is how it applies in practice.
ReadThe powers of the condominium meeting under article 1135 of the Civil Code
Article 1135 of the Italian Civil Code lists the decisions reserved to the owners' meeting. Here are its powers, from appointing the administrator to the special fund for works.
ReadDuties of the condominium administrator under article 1130
Article 1130 of the Italian Civil Code lists the tasks a condominium administrator must carry out by law. Here we review the administrator's duties one by one, from contributions to mandatory registers and the annual report.
ReadInnovations in a condominium under article 1120
Works on common parts follow special voting rules. Here is what article 1120 of the Italian Civil Code says, which majorities are needed and which innovations are prohibited.
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