Practical guide
How to decide the allocation criterion for a new expense
When the condominium introduces a service or system that did not exist before, such as video surveillance, an electric vehicle charging point or a new technological system, there is no ready allocation table. The criterion must be built starting from Article 1123 and following of the Italian Civil Code, looking at the nature of the expense and who benefits. In many cases it is also an innovation under Article 1120, with its specific majorities. This guide explains how to identify the correct criterion for a new expense, how to get it approved and how to record it in a stable way.
Distinguishing a new expense from an innovation
The first step is to understand whether the new expense is simple management of a service or a genuine innovation. An innovation, governed by Article 1120, is a work that modifies the common thing to improve its use or enjoyment, and requires qualified majorities at the owners' meeting. The mere introduction of a recurring service or the maintenance of an existing system instead follows the ordinary rules.
The classification is not formal. Installing a video surveillance system is typically an innovation that Article 1122-ter governs with specific majorities, while the monthly management fee once the system is installed is a service expense to be allocated as such. Distinguishing the two phases avoids confusing majorities and criteria.
Identifying the criterion based on benefit
Once the nature is established, the criterion is derived from Articles 1123 and 1124. If the new service benefits everyone equally, ownership thousandths apply. If it benefits to a different extent, use is weighted. If it serves only a group of owners, only the interested parties pay.
A few examples clarify the principle. Video surveillance of common parts normally serves everyone equally and goes by thousandths. An electric vehicle charging system used only by some owners with garages may be allocated within the interested group or with dedicated consumption meters. A newly installed lift follows the logic of Article 1124 for future management.
The majorities to approve the new expense
The resolution introducing a new expense requires the correct majority according to the nature of the work. Ordinary innovations under Article 1120 paragraph 1 require the majority of those present and at least half of the building's value on second call. Certain incentivized innovations, such as those for energy efficiency, safety or the removal of architectural barriers, benefit from reduced majorities provided by law.
The allocation of the expense, however, is not freely available to the meeting by majority when it affects mandatory legal criteria. The meeting may nonetheless identify the applicable table and, within the limits of the law, adopt agreed criteria unanimously. It is good practice to record both the majority reached and the chosen allocation criterion.
Creating and preserving the new table
Once the expense is approved and the criterion defined, it must be translated into a thousandth table or a stable allocation rule, to be kept among the condominium's documents. Without a dedicated table, each financial year risks recalculating the allocation inconsistently, generating disputes.
The new table should ideally be attached to the financial statement and referenced in later allocations. If the service involves individual consumption, such as electric charging, it is advisable to set up per-unit consumption measurement from the start, so a documentable proportional criterion can be applied.
Set up once and reuse over time
The value of a well-set new expense lies in repeatability: define the criterion once and reapply it automatically each year. Doing it by hand risks forgetting the choice or applying it differently from one financial year to the next.
With software such as AmministraPro you can create a new thousandth or consumption table, link it to the expense account and reuse it in all future allocations, keeping consistency and traceability. The features are described on the /funzioni page and the plans on the /prezzi page.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides the allocation criterion of a new expense?
The criterion is derived from the nature of the expense under Articles 1123 and 1124 of the Italian Civil Code. The meeting identifies the applicable table and approves the expense with the correct majority, but cannot overturn the mandatory legal criteria by simple majority: any agreed criteria require unanimity.
Is video surveillance an innovation?
Installing a video surveillance system for common parts is typically an innovation governed by Article 1122-ter, which requires specific majorities. The subsequent management fee is instead a recurring service expense, normally allocated by thousandths among all served owners.
How is an electric charging system allocated?
It depends on who uses it. If it serves only some owners, the expense may fall on the interested group or be measured with dedicated consumption meters. If the charging point is a common service, its actual benefit is assessed under the criteria of Article 1123.
Do I need to create a new thousandth table?
Yes, when the new expense will be recurring. Translating the criterion into a stable table, kept and referenced in later allocations, avoids inconsistent recalculations from one financial year to the next and reduces owner disputes.
Does software help manage a new expense?
Yes. Software lets you create the table once, link it to the account and reuse it each year while keeping consistency. AmministraPro supports thousandth and consumption tables with repeatable allocations: the features are on /funzioni and the plans on /prezzi.
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