Public relations regarding the management of common parts of buildings under condominium ownership arrangements and rights and obligations of owners, tenants and occupants of individual units or parts thereof, are regulated under the Condominium Ownership Management Act (COMA), (effective as of May 1st, 2009, published in the State Gazette, issue 6, dated January 23rd, 2009, amended in SG, issue 15 dated February 23rd, 2010, amended in SG, issue 8 dated January 25th, 2011, amended in SG, issue 57 of July 26th, 2011).
The special regime of management of the common parts of buildings under condominium ownership arrangements is introduced for buildings in closed residential complexes shall be arranged with a written contract, with notarized signatures, with the investor and the owners of individual units, which are parties thereto. The agreement has to be registered with the Registry Agency on the lot of each individual unit by the investor, and shall be referenced to subsequent purchasers.
Exceptions to the management of the common parts of buildings under condominium ownership arrangements are introduced for buildings, which contain up to three independent units, which are property to more than one owner. In these cases, the provisions of article 30, paragraph 3, article 31, paragraph 1 and article 32 of the Property Act shall apply.
Condominium Management shall cover procedures and shall supervise the use and maintenance of the common areas and compliance with the building internal regulations under condominium ownership arrangement, and the supervision over the fulfilment of the obligations of the owners, users and residents.
Forms of Condominium Management are the General Meeting and/or the Association of Owners.
The management bodies are: the General Meeting and the Managing Board (Manager).
The General Meeting of the Association shall be authorized to make a decision, adopted by a majority of more than 50 percent of the represented shares in the association, to assign the powers of the Management Board (Manager) to non-owner individuals. The contract for authorization shall be executed by a person, authorized by the General Meeting of the Association.
Expenses for the management and maintenance of the common parts under the condominium ownership arrangement will be equally shared by owners, users and residents.
Repair, renovation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of common parts or replacement of common facilities and equipment shall be carried out under the decision of the General Meeting of owners. The General Meeting of the owners or the Association establish and maintain a Repairs and Renovations Fund. Expenses for repairs, renovation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the common areas, referred to in the respective decision of the General Meeting of owners, shall be distributed among the owners of the individual units, proportionate to the notional shares of the common parts of the building, held by them.
For any issues, not covered by the COMA, the provisions of the Ownership Act will apply.
The list of main obligations to be complied with includes, but shall not be limited to: to not prevent all other owners, operators and occupants from using all common areas of the building; to not cause damage to common areas; to not rent them; to not participate in activities, which cause excessive disturbance and inconvenience to other occupants; to fulfil the decisions of the General Meeting; to make payments for the expenses required; to comply with the sanitary and hygiene standards, et al. A Condominium Log has to be organized, kept and maintained in each building which should contain the relevant information on the property, owners, users, et al. The decisions of the governing bodies, adopted in accordance with the condominium ownership arrangements, shall be absolutely mandatory for all building owners.
Often, property owners who are foreign nationals employ management and maintenance companies to perform all internal organization works for the building, pay bills, collect payments from owners, rent apartments on their behalf, et al. Services of such companies can be easily found through the internet. It is strongly recommended to sign a contract with such a company and follow the advice of your legal counsel.
