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Co-ownership: charges revised if the unit is not bare land
Droit-immobilier

Co-ownership: charges revised if the unit is not bare land

📅 Decision of 23 April 1992🔄 Updated on 4 October 2026⚖️ Cour de cassation👁️ 14 views📖 2 min read

A court of appeal, hearing an action for revision of the apportionment of co-ownership charges, legally justifies its decision to modify this apportionment by holding that the value of the unit in question should not be assessed as bare land, given that it was intended for the construction of a building and that the unit used as a comparable had been chosen because of the equality of areas and weighting coefficients.

Decision reference: cc • No. 89-21.086 • 1992-04-23 • View decision →

This decision provides important insight into your property law. Here is what it changes for you.

The situation

A court of appeal, hearing an action for revision of the apportionment of co-ownership charges, legally justifies its decision to modify this apportionment by holding that the value of the unit in question should not be assessed as bare land, given that it was intended for the construction of a building and that the unit used as a comparable had been chosen because of the equality of areas and weighting coefficients.

What the law says

This decision confirms the fundamental principles of property law.

Points to remember

  • Strictly comply with legal time limits for appeals
  • Keep all your supporting documents (titles, deeds, correspondence)
  • Anticipate: preventive advice always costs less than litigation

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Legal information

  • Number: 89-21.086
  • Court: Cour de cassation
  • Decision of: 23 April 1992

Keywords

droit immobilierjurisprudenceimmobilier

Practical use cases

1

Co-owner disputes apportionment of charges

Sophie owns a commercial unit in a co-owned building in Lyon (Lyon). The building has apartments on upper floors and shops on the ground floor. She pays maintenance charges based on her unit's surface area, but she believes the method is unfair because her unit is used as a shop, not bare land. She has found a comparable unit in a similar building where charges are lower.

Practical application:

This case law supports Sophie's request for revision of the charge apportionment. The court held that the value of a unit should be assessed based on its intended use (e.g., commercial), not as bare land. Sophie should gather evidence of comparable units with similar areas and weighting coefficients. She should then formally request a revision from the co-ownership trustee, and if refused, take the matter to court, citing this decision.

2

First-time buyer evaluating co-ownership charges

Marc is a first-time buyer looking at a flat in Paris (Paris). The notary's preliminary documents show the co-ownership charges are allocated according to each unit's surface area. Marc is concerned because the building has many commercial units on the ground floor, which might have different usage patterns and affect his future costs.

Practical application:

This case law highlights that charge apportionment must reflect actual use, not just surface area. Marc should ask the seller and trustee for the detailed breakdown of charges and how they are calculated. If commercial units benefit from services differently, Marc could negotiate a reduction or request a revision of the apportionment after purchase. He should keep all documents and consider a lawyer's advice if the current method seems unfair.

3

Landlord appeals charge apportionment in co-ownership

Jean-Pierre rents out a small apartment in Nice (Nice). The co-ownership charges have increased significantly due to new elevator maintenance costs. He notices that the ground-floor commercial units, which do not use the elevator, are paying the same proportion based on surface area. He wants to challenge this apportionment.

Practical application:

According to this decision, the court can revise charge apportionment if the value of units is assessed considering their intended use. Jean-Pierre should collect evidence that commercial units do not benefit from the elevator. He should then call a general meeting to propose a new apportionment key based on actual usage. If the majority rejects it, he may file a court action, citing this case law to show that the current method is unjust.

Maître Cécile Zakine

About the author

Maître Cécile Zakine — Lawyer at the Alpes-Maritimes Bar, Doctor of Law. Every article in this magazine is based on the analysis of a real court decision, commented and put into perspective by Maître Zakine’s team.

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Disclaimer: The analysis presented on this site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalised legal advice. For advice tailored to your situation, contact a qualified lawyer.

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