Real estate – owners need to renovate – economy

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) strengthens members of owner associations who want to renovate apartments or buildings against the resistance of other apartments. The judges emphasized with a judgment announced on Friday (Az. V ZR 225/20) the obligations to remediate and allowed only a few exceptions. All members of the community have to participate, lack of maintenance or obsolescence relieve neither of the obligations nor high costs. Only destruction through isolated events could be the reason for this, such as fires, floods and explosions. In some cases, damage is then not insured. The owners’ association Haus & Grund emphasized that owners who want to renovate would have their backs strengthened: They would not only get the green light, but would not be left alone at their expense.