Maintaining order in apartment and site life, using common areas without any problems and meeting daily needs without interruption depend on a certain balance of expenses. Many elements, from cleaning to security, from technical maintenance to management processes, are part of this system.
With a correctly managed dues structure, it becomes possible to both maintain order and directly increase the value and quality of life of the area you live in.
What Does Dues Mean?
Dues are the fees paid regularly to cover common expenses such as cleaning, maintenance, security and management in common living spaces such as apartments or sites. This payment, which is mandatory under the Flat Ownership Law, is covered by the flat owner or tenant who benefits from the real estate. For example, let's assume that the total monthly expense in an apartment building with 12 flats is 12,000 TL. In this case, an average of 1,000 TL is due for each flat. If there are expenses such as elevator maintenance, staircase cleaning, common electricity use and doorman salary in the building, these items are included in the dues. In larger sites with social facilities, the dues amount increases as services such as security, parking, landscape maintenance, pool and gym are added. In this respect, dues can be considered as a mandatory contribution made by everyone in order to maintain a common life regularly.
How are apartment dues determined?
The method used when determining apartment dues is based on Article 20 of the Condominium Law No. 634. According to this regulation, flat owners are obliged to participate in common expenses in proportion to the land share of the independent sections they own. In other words, flats with a higher land share in the title deed may pay more dues compared to flats with a lower share. However, this situation is not fixed; the board of flat owners may determine a different sharing method, such as equal distribution, by majority vote. Therefore, the calculation of dues may vary depending on both the legal framework and the decisions taken within the apartment.
What Does Apartment Dues Cover?
Apartment fees cover all common expenses necessary for the regular use and maintenance of common living areas. These expenses, which vary depending on the needs of the building and the services it offers, generally consist of items focused on cleaning, maintenance and management. The most frequently included expenses within the scope of dues include apartment cleaning, electricity costs of stairs and common areas, elevator maintenance and repair costs, doorman or attendant salaries and insurance expenses. In addition, periodic maintenance expenses such as water tank cleaning, hydrophore maintenance, and roof repair are also included in the dues.
In site type structures, the scope is wider. The operating expenses of social areas such as security service, parking lot arrangement, landscaping maintenance, pool and gym are also included in the dues. For this reason, the dues amount increases as the facilities offered by the building increase.
Is it mandatory to pay apartment dues?
It is legally obligatory to pay apartment fees. According to the Condominium Law No. 634, flat owners are obliged to participate in the common expenses of the apartment. This obligation also applies to tenants who benefit from the real estate. In practice, the dues are mostly paid by the tenant, but the main responsibility belongs to the flat owner.
If the dues are not paid, the apartment management may take legal action. Interest or delay compensation may be applied for delayed payments, and enforcement proceedings may be initiated if the debt is not paid for a long time. Additionally, reasons such as "I do not benefit from these services" are not considered valid for not paying dues. Dues, which are a mandatory expense for the continuation of apartment life, are legally binding on all flat owners.
In what cases are apartment dues not paid?
As a rule, apartment fees are a mandatory payment and in most cases it is impossible not to pay them. However, in some special cases, certain items, but not all of the dues, may not be paid or the responsibility for payment may change. For example, even if the independent section is empty, the dues obligation continues, so the fact that the house is not used is not a valid reason for not paying dues. Similarly, reasons such as "I do not use the elevator" or "I do not use the garden" are not accepted for not participating in common expenses.
However, depending on the contract between the tenant and the landlord, some expenses may be borne by the landlord. For example, expenses such as major repairs and fixture replacement are generally the responsibility of the flat owner. In addition, exemptions may be granted from some special expense items in line with the decision taken by the flat owners' board. There is no such thing as not paying the dues in full, but the scope of the payment and who will pay it may vary in line with legal regulations and decisions within the apartment.
Dues are an important expense for the smooth functioning of the apartment system and when managed correctly, it directly affects your living comfort. In this process, the apartment manager plays a key role in determining expenses transparently and fairly. When you act by knowing the dues details, you can both manage your budget better and protect your rights more consciously.
