37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 1027THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONDOMINIUM RESERVEFUND FOR THE REHABILITATION OF EXISTINGBUILDINGS IN PORTUGALJoão Carlos Gonçalves LanzinhaC-Made Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, Civil Engineering and Architecture Department,Faculty of Engineering, University of Beira Interior, Calçada Fonte do Lameiro, Covilhã, Portugalmail:joao.lanzinha@ubi.ptKey words: Condominium, Maintenance, RehabilitationAbstractThis article reflects on the importance of the Condominium Reserve Fund for therehabilitation of buildings in Portugal. It presents the results of research into theadministration of condominiums in multi-family buildings, emphasising the need to increasecontributions to that fund.The contributions made by unit owners to the condominium budget are analysed, with specialattention given to the constitution of the legally-stipulated reserve funds, the distribution ofgeneral condominium current expenses, the monthly payments made and the prediction of theoverall funds involved in the economic management of condominiums. It was found that themonthly payments are not always adequately reflected in the constitution of reserve funds,which means that condominiums are often unprepared for the expenses needed to maintainthe buildings in good state of conservation, a fact that may generate conflicts and contribute tothe degradation of the housing stock.A series of measures are therefore proposed to alter this situation, namely highercontributions, technical studies into the reserve fund, increased guarantees from propertybuyers and the formal accreditation of the individuals or companies responsible for theadministration of condominiums.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 353