Flat-owners in france face rising costs for building management

INCREASED FEES ARE EXPECTED IN 2025 DUE TO LIFT SYSTEM UPGRADES AND HIGHER COMMUNAL TAXES The amount paid by flat owners to manage the copropriété of their buildings is likely to increase in

2025 to cover the cost of new telephone and electronic systems needed for lifts, as well as rises in taxe foncière for the shared parts of the building. For the lifts, the demise of the 2G

and 3G mobile phone network, on which most compulsory lift alarm systems work, has been known for a while, but it is only recently that figures concerning how much the change will cost have

come to light. An estimated 310,000 buildings are involved, out of a total of 620,000. Lift mechanics will have to switch over the electronics in the lift itself, while the copropriété will

have to pay for a “cube” to put the alarm system onto the 4G or 5G network. LIFT MAINTENANCE Since lifts are usually surrounded by concrete, this is likely to mean that booster antennas will

be needed to make sure the building does not have blind spots. An advantage of the work should be improved mobile phone coverage throughout the building. Depending on the size of the

building and the lift’s age and electronics, new alarms are likely to cost between €3,000 and €10,000 each. Subscriptions to the mobile phone network for lifts, which are currently around

€200 a year for 2G, are likely to rise to around €800 a year with 4G or 5G. Buildings which employ a concierge will also have to factor in higher wages for this position, as most have their

salaries indexed to the SMIC (minimum wage), which went up in November and automatically increases every year on January 1. Syndicates running copropriétés have also complained of insurance

cost hikes, which are nationally running ahead of inflation, and increases in electricity costs. Read more: Why are there strict rules around façades on France's streets? Senators

warned in a report published last summer of a growing number of copropriétés dégradées, where the syndicate and copropriété system was breaking down because of disagreements between owners

or through financial problems. An estimated 150,000 coproptiétés were classed by senators as ‘fragile’, with two-thirds of these in buildings of fewer than 12 homes. Owners who do not pay

their share, conflicts between owners, disagreements over management of communal parts of the building, higher prices and an absence of maintenance can all jeopardise a building. “A vicious

cycle can happen very quickly,” the report warned. It advised all flat buyers to spend time looking at the state of the copropriété before buying and, in particular, its finances. Copies of

the annual meetings of the copropriété from the past three years must be sent to potential buyers before their first signature to buy a flat. Read more: French property syndics: What can I

do if mine stops responding?