Condominium Meetings in Portugal: All You Need to Know

Whenever a property is part of a condominium (which it will be if it is an apartment), there are several aspects and responsibilities to be considered: charges, rules of procedures, and possible restrictions. That said, shared ownership also entails participating in condominium meetings (referred to as "assembleias de condóminos" in Portuguese) to ensure the smooth management of a building's common spaces.

Condominium meetings are formal gatherings where co-owners discuss and decide on essential matters related to the condominium and common areas. These meetings are important for common decision-making, as well as financial and operational management. 

1. Annual General Meeting

The most important condominium meeting is the general meeting, which usually takes place in the first quarter of each year. The main goals of such meeting are as follows:

• Approving the accounts of the previous year: reviewing the condominium’s income and expenses related to the previous year, as well as the status of the accounts. 
• Approving the annual quote for the current year: setting and voting on the financial plan for the year, which includes aspects of general maintenance of the building, repairs, and necessary improvements to the building. According to the approved quote, the fees each owner must make to cover the common costs should also be defined. 
• Electing the condominium administrator: the owners may vote to elect or re-elect the condominium administrator, which can be an external company. The administration is in charge of overseeing the day-to-day management of the building. 

The general meeting is mandatory, and owners shall be notified in advance, along with an agenda to be discussed. This meeting provides an opportunity for the co-owners to align their financial and operational priorities. Active participation and collaboration during these meetings are essential to promoting a harmonious and well-managed community.

   2.  Extraordinary Meetings

These meetings are called whenever required to address urgent or non-routine issues, such as repairs, renovation works, amendments to the condominium rules of procedures or any other matter that may require immediate action or decision.

For decisions to be valid, meetings must have a quorum of property owners present or represented by power of attorney. Voting is typically proportional to each owner's share of the condominium (usually determined by the size of their property). Certain decisions may require unanimous agreement.