Condominium Rules

Basic outline of condominium rules

You can:

• Keep a dog. No one can stop you raising a dog in the apartment. However, the animal must be kept on a leash when circulating in the public or communal areas. An animal will be banned if people complain about the noise or the dog threatens the security and health of the other people who live there in the block.
• Rent out or lend your garage space. As long as it is to someone who lives in the block and there is a cordial agreement between the owner and user. It would also be common courtesy to inform the Syndico. (See comments on condo fees)
• You can carry out alterations within your apartment subject to the condominium rules of convenience. No works must compromise the integrity of the structure. It would also be common courtesy to inform the Syndico as he may have further knowledge about the location of pipes etc.
• Invite your friends to use the swimming pool though they must abide by the condominium rules of usage.

You can’t:

• Let anyone who doesn’t live in the block use your garage space.
• Use your garage space for more than the designated number of vehicles.
• Let children play in the communal areas when there is a leisure area to play in.
• Leave rubbish, furniture, bikes etc in the communal areas which would otherwise impede the free movement of residents.
• Let baby-sitters, cleaners, house maids and workers from the block use the swimming pool.
• Have parties in the apartments.
• Have loud sound systems going full blast at any time of day, especially after 22.00.
• Use the apartment for commercial purposes. (In some Cities you are not allowed to run a business from your apartment; João Pessoa is one of these Cities)
• Carry out any work in the apartment including erecting furniture outside of commercial hours (8.00am-18.00pm Mon-Fri, Sat 8.00am -12.00, at any time on Sunday)

You must:

• Find out if the block is well administered.
• If there are any debts.
• Find out about the general condition of the structure.
• Find out about the general workings of the organisation of the block such as use of pool, leisure area etc.

Condominium fees

• Sacrosanct and covered by law. Non payment can only lead to difficulties. If you can’t pay then speak to the Sindico first and tell him or her what the problem is. A bit of diplomacy here will save a lot of trouble especially when it comes to selling a flat.
• If you are 60 or over then you could be liable for a discount if you dont use any of the facilities like gym and especially the garage area.
  “Everyone must pay their part” is the maxim of the condominium but is only true up to a point.
• The law says otherwise. If you don’t use the area in the garage then why should you pay for it? You must be over 60 to enforce this. So if you live in a block with a lot of third season dwellers and your condo goes up then thats the reason why.
• If you want to know more then look to the “O Codigo Civil artigo 1.340 and Lei no 10.741/03” or ask your Sindico.