How Bulgarian condominium management and maintenance costs are allocated, and why an empty apartment is not automatically exempt.
An empty apartment does not automatically mean zero building charges. First establish whether the payment covers management and maintenance under Article 51 of the Condominium Management Act, or repairs and the repair and renewal fund, which follow different rules.
Article 51’s default is allocation by the number of owners, users, occupants and household members rather than floor area. A unit occupied for up to 30 days in a calendar year is charged as one person.
With the required special majority, the owners’ meeting may select an Article 51(9) option: allocation by persons, common-part shares or equally per independent unit. Read the operative resolution first. Convenient parts of different methods cannot simply be combined without a legal basis.
The exemption for children under six relates to allocation by persons. It does not become a reduction of a flat charge per unit. For professional activity involving outside visitors, the Act permits a reasoned resolution increasing charges three to five times, with a separate rule where there is an independent entrance.
Repair expenditure does not become routine maintenance merely by being called a monthly charge. Request a breakdown, resolution and calculation. If challenging the resolution itself, check the separate procedure and deadline rather than assuming non-payment will invalidate it.
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This article is for general information only. It does not constitute or replace individual legal advice.