What are condominium fees?

What do condominium fees pay for?

They pay for the upkeep and use of the building's common parts. For example, cleaning, stairwell lighting, the lift and roof works.

They also pay for services of common interest in the building.

How is the amount shared?

As a rule, each owner pays in proportion to the value of their home within the building.

The rules of the condominium may split some services equally, if the assembly approves it. Common parts that only serve some owners are paid by those owners.

What is the common reserve fund?

Every condominium must have a fund for the building's upkeep works. Each owner pays in at least 10% of their share of the other costs.

The fund is kept in a bank. If the assembly uses it for another purpose, the owners must top it up within 12 months.

What if the seller owes the condominium money?

To sell, the owner asks the administrator for a statement of the fees and debts on the home. The administrator has 10 days to issue it. The statement is mandatory for the deed.

Old debts belong to whoever should have paid them at the time, as a rule the seller. But if you waive the statement in the deed, you take on the seller's debts to the condominium. Fees that fall due after the purchase are yours.

What about works already approved?

Read the minutes carefully. Works approved before the purchase may have fees to pay afterwards. Amounts that fall due after the deed are the new owner's responsibility.

So ask the seller and the administrator which extra fees are scheduled.

What should I ask for before buying?

• The administrator's statement, with the fees and debts.
• The condominium rules.
• The minutes of the assembly meetings from recent years, to see works already approved.
• The balance of the common reserve fund.

For a flat, fire insurance for the home and the common parts is mandatory.

An example with the sums

Your flat's fee is €50 a month. That is €600 a year. For the reserve fund, you pay at least 10% of that: €5 a month, or €60 a year.

In total, count on at least €55 a month, on top of your mortgage repayment. These are example figures.

Where FINOVA helps

We include condominium fees and IMI in the home's costs, next to the repayment. In the home purchase simulator you can see how much you can borrow. See also What is IMI, and when do I have to pay it? and What are the bank and notary costs?

Sources

• Diário da República — Law No 8/2022, revising the horizontal ownership regime (in Portuguese)
• Todos Contam — Buying a home (in Portuguese)

Sources checked on 22 September 2026.