Can I Be the Property Manager Myself?

In Belgium, co-owners can manage their own apartment building. The law allows it — as long as you follow the co-ownership rules and handle the role properly. Here’s what that means in practice.

What does a property manager do?

The syndic property manager is the building’s central figure. They keep everything up and running: maintenance, finances, meetings, and communication. Think planner, mediator, and budget guardian — all in one.

What Does the Law Say?

Article 577-8 of the Civil Code requires every building with multiple owners to have a syndic. But it doesn’t say this must be a professional one. “The property manager may be a co-owner or an external administrator.” So yes…you can be appointed as a voluntary property manager, as long as the general assembly decides and records it in the minutes.

The legal basics

Two main levels:

Civil (articles 577-3 to 577-14)
- A syndic is mandatory.
- The syndic may be voluntary.
- Registration in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO) is required.
Building statutes (deed & rules)
- May include extra conditions or limits. It sounds heavy, but it’s mainly about having structure and transparency.

How to become voluntary property manager

Put it on the agenda — the meeting must vote officially.
Majority vote — more than half of the votes needed.
Record everything — who’s appointed, for how long, with or without compensation.
Register in the KBO — through a business counter (like Liantis or Xerius).
Ensure proper handover — documents, keys, accounts… no loose ends.

Why many buildings choose a voluntary property manager

Small buildings (up to 15 units) increasingly prefer self-management. Because:

Lower costs
More involvement
Faster decisions
Full transparency

And with Synt, you get structure without the stress.

To summarize:

Yes, you can be your own property manager — legally and practically. Do it well, stay organized, and use the right digital tool.