Amendments to the co-ownership law introduced by the Covid-19 law
Analyse
The Co-Owners Associations (hereafter "ACOs") can look forward to new regulations that clarify how they will be able to hold their general meetings during the period of the corona crisis, and afterwards. These new regulations are introduced by the Covid-19 law of 20 December 2020.
1. What is it all about?
The first lockdown following the corona crisis which began on 13 March 2020, confronted the ACOs with ambiguities putting them in a particularly delicate situation. Indeed, the ACOs remained legally obliged to hold their general meetings, whereas gatherings in general had been made impossible by the corona crisis measures.
In addition, the law did not provide for the possibility to organise general meetings of co-owners by electronic means of communication.
The legislator now has responded to this shortcoming.
According to the law of 20 December 2020 general meetings of co-owners may be held at a distance, even after the period of the corona crisis.
1.1 The deadline for holding the annual general meeting is extended
ACO Annual General Meetings that had been postponed due to the corona crisis and which have not yet been held by 1 October 2020, may be postponed by the building manager until the next 15-day period designated by the internal rules.
However, in the event of an urgent decision or at the request of one or more co-owners who own at least one fifth of the shares in the common areas, the building manager remains obliged to convene an extraordinary general meeting.
1.2 Can mandates be renewed?
In the event of a postponement of the General Meeting, the mandates that are about to expire and that would have been on the agenda to vote are automatically extended until the next General Meeting.
This therefore concerns, among others, the mandates of the building managers, members of the co-ownership councils and the supervisors of the accounts.
1.3 Digital meetings are now possible
Previously, only physical meetings were allowed, with the exception of the written procedure in case of unanimity.
Pursuant to the law of 20 December 2020 remote participation to the general meeting is allowed, provided that the convocation to attend so provides.
This is an important novelty in the co-ownership law, as a result of which physical meetings are no longer mandatory.
1.4 The unanimity requirement is temporarily relaxed
If it is not possible to hold a general meeting, even at a distance, the law provides for a temporary relaxation of the unanimity requirement.
Normally, if decisions falling within the competence of the general assembly are taken in writing, such decisions must be taken by the members of an ACO unanimously, except for those decisions requiring an authentic deed. The building manager is required to keep minutes of the meeting.
The law of 20 December 2020 provides for a temporary relaxation of this unanimity requirement until 9 March 2021.
Thus, until 9 March 2021, decisions of the general meeting of an ACO may be validly taken when more than half of the members of the ACO participate in the vote, provided that those members have at least half of the shares of the common parts. With regard to voting by the ACO, the majority required for decisions on individual items on the agenda of a General Meeting shall depend on majorities required by the law.
The ACO shall take into account the ballots received within three weeks of the convening of the meeting, by mail or e-mail. In case of urgency and provided this is indicated in the convocation notice, this period may be reduced to eight days from the date of dispatch of the notice.
2. When do these measures apply?
These measures apply from 1 October 2020 to 9 March 2021.
The possibility of holding digital meetings is applicable since 24 December 2020. However, this possibility is now provided for in the co-ownership law and will therefore not be limited in time .
If you would like more information or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our specialists on +32 (0)2 747 40 07 or info@seeds.law.
