Apartment owners clashing more with owners' associations; Call for national solution

Apartment owners are increasingly clashing with their owners’ associations (VVEs). A survey by the Homeowners’ Association (VEH) among its own members showed that over 40 percent of VVes have long-running conflicts with owners, often resulting in lawsuits. The VEH called for the national government to intervene.

Anyone who owns an apartment or upstairs or downstairs home is automatically a member of a VVE. The members are responsible for maintaining the complex and deciding on expenditures for repairs and sustainability. Due to the energy transition and stricter quality standards, these associations have to make increasingly complex and pricey decisions.

“While homeowners at the beginning of this century had to decide which company would repair the roof and at what cost, neighbors now have to agree among themselves whether they invest in solar panels or want to be connected to a heating network,” VEH director Cindy Kremer explained to Nieuwsuur. The VVEs make decisions by majority but must take the interests of all owners into account. If one owner is vehemently against a decision, they can take the matter to court.

“That’s happening more and more often,” Kremer said. The VEH found 125 lawsuits involving VVEs last year about maintenance, sustainability expenditure, and overdue payments. Smaller conflicts about things like people taking their bikes in the lift or residents causing too much noise also increasingly get out of hand. “Small conflicts quickly escalate because groups of supporters and opponents arise who all live under one roof, which quickly increases tensions.”

And that impacts people’s quality of life. “You are confronted with arguments every day because you live in the middle of it. Particularly in small VVEs, mutual relationships are easily disrupted. Some members feel unsafe. You quickly find yourself in an untenable situation,” Kremer said in a VEH press statement.

The VEH wants the national government to intervene. “We would like to see the government encourage VVEs to first find a solution together,” Kremer said. “If that is not possible, a national network of district judges can offer a solution. With district judges, you don’t need expensive lawyers, they can quickly rule without complicated, lengthy procedures.”