Tenants in the building: what they may do, what they must do and who answers

In many buildings a third of the flats are rented out. Clearing up the triangle prevents 90% of the friction.

What the tenant may do

• Use the home and the common areas (pool, garden, lift) like any other resident: the right of use goes with the property.
• Attend meetings only if the owner delegates representation to them (including the vote if they choose to). Without that delegation, no voice and no vote.

What they must do

Comply with the bylaws and internal rules exactly like an owner. "I'm only renting" does not exempt anyone from the pool timetable or the garage rules.

Who answers to the community

Always the owner: for the dues (any private arrangement with the tenant does not affect the community), for damage caused by the tenant to common elements (without prejudice to claiming it back from them), and for nuisance activity from the flat (the injunction is brought against both).

Communication in practice

The common mistake: the community ignores the tenant (who is the one actually LIVING there) and the tenant hears about nothing — water shut-offs, works, rules. The healthy version: operational notices go to residents (owners or tenants alike), and legal and financial matters (meetings, dues, levies) go to the owner. When a new tenancy starts, the owner should pass on their tenant's contact details — ask for it as a standard practice of the building.

The sentence that sorts it all out

The tenant is a neighbour for every purpose of daily life; the owner is the responsible party for every financial and legal purpose.