Why do I pay more than my neighbour? This is how the monthly dues are worked out

It is the awkward question in every group of neighbours: "why does 3A pay €62 and I pay €78?". The answer is almost always in the deeds.

The general rule: the share

Common expenses are split according to each home's participation share (set in the horizontal division). More square metres and a better position usually mean a bigger share and a bigger monthly payment.

The legal exceptions

• The bylaws: they can set different splits (equal parts, or exempting commercial units from entrance costs they do not use).
• Unanimous resolutions: changing the allocation criterion requires unanimity — which is why it almost never changes.

"I don't use the lift"

The ground-floor flat that does not use the lift pays for the lift unless the bylaws exempt it. The legal criterion is contribution, not use. The practical exception: historic arrangements recorded in the bylaws or the deed.

Transparency: half the peace

Most disputes about the dues are not about the amount but about the opacity. When any neighbour can see the budget, the split, and their own payment worked out from their share, the awkward question disappears on its own.