Legal advice on horizontal property and neighborhood disputes

Specialists in real estate law, horizontal property, and dispute resolution in homeowners' associations.

Resolve your legal questions

Living in a homeowners’ association involves much more than sharing expenses. It means coexisting under a specific legal regime—the Horizontal Property Law and Catalan regional regulations—that governs rights, obligations, majorities, works, fees, and responsibilities.

When conflicts arise, improvisation often worsens the problem.

At Vaello Legal, we have been advising homeowners’ associations, presidents, administrators, and residents in Barcelona for over 20 years, both in prevention and judicial defense.

Advice for associations and presidents

Managing an association requires legal rigor.

The president and the association may assume civil liabilities if resolutions are not adopted correctly or if they do not act in accordance with the law.

Common errors we see every week:

Resolutions approved without the legally required majority.
Improperly structured special assessments.
Works approved without meeting formal requirements.
Incorrect allocation of expenses.
Contradictory or outdated bylaws.
Challenges to resolutions due to defects in the notice.

An improperly convened meeting or a poorly drafted minute can invalidate important decisions.

What do we do for the association?

Advice prior to homeowners’ meetings.
Review of notices and agendas.
Drafting or review of minutes.
Analysis of majorities required for each resolution.
Challenge or defense against challenges.

Judicial claim for unpaid fees.
Advice on works, special assessments, and accessibility.
Update or modification of bylaws.
Defense against claims from owners.

Our goal is to legally safeguard community decisions and avoid unnecessary litigation.

Defense of individual owners

We also protect your rights against the association.

The association does not always act correctly. It may impose undue expenses, approve illegal resolutions, or violate individual rights.

Common situations:

Disproportionate or improperly approved special assessments.
Works affecting private elements.
Prohibitions without statutory basis.
Community installations imposed without sufficient majority.
Disputes over use of common areas.
Unjustified refusal to authorize works in the dwelling.

If a resolution is contrary to the law or the bylaws, it may be challenged in court within the deadline.

How can we help you?

Review of legality of adopted resolutions.
Judicial challenge of community resolutions.
Defense against claims from the association.
Advice on disputes over noise or nuisance activities.
Defense in proceedings for non-payment.
Neighborhood mediation when an out-of-court solution is viable.

Acting within the deadline is essential: many resolutions can only be challenged within 3 months.

Common disputes in homeowners' associations

In Barcelona, the following are particularly common:

Non-payment and claim for fees.
Installation of elevators and removal of architectural barriers.
Tourist rental and statutory limitations.
Works on facades and structural elements.
Private use of terraces and patios.
Liability for damage to common elements.

Each of these disputes requires technical and strategic analysis.

Conclusion

Coexistence in an association requires clear rules and well-founded decisions. When disputes arise, it is essential to act with legal judgment and within the deadline.

At Vaello Legal, we offer specialized advice on homeowners’ associations in Barcelona, both for associations and individual owners.

If you have a neighborhood dispute, a pending challenge, or need advice before a meeting, contact us.
In horizontal property, prevention is always cheaper than litigation.