What do we mean by the Co-owners’ Association (COA)?
As an apartment owner, you’re automatically part of the Co-owners’ Association (COA). Find out what this association is, how it works, and what role the building manager plays in running your property.
What is a COA?#
Owning an apartment means you automatically belong to the Co-owners’ Association (COA). Sounds complicated, but really, it’s just the official group that brings all the owners of the same building together.
The purpose of the COA? Simply: to manage and maintain the building together.
A COA is created automatically as soon as there are at least two different owners in the same building. From that moment, the law on co-ownership applies.
Sometimes there are exceptions, for example when a building has hardly any common areas. In that case, all co-owners can decide together not to set up a COA.
Which bodies make up a COA?#
Every COA must have a few required bodies:
- The general assembly
- where the big decisions are made.
- The building manager
- who handles day-to-day management.
- The auditor
- who checks the finances.
- The co-owners’ council
- required from 20 units upwards, optional for smaller buildings.
The role of the building manager#
Every co-owned building must have a building manager. This can be a professional or a voluntary one.
Tasks? The same in both cases:
- Administrative, technical, and financial management.
- Ensuring compliance with the law.
- Acting professionally and transparently, with liability insurance.
In short: pro or voluntary, the responsibilities are the same.
👉 More official info: Beheer van appartementsgebouwen - Vlaanderen (opens in a new tab).
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