Living in a condominium with shared expenses often generates friction, especially when the bill does not reflect the actual consumption of each home. A resident of an old building decided to challenge the collective heating charging model, considering it unfair and outdated. The neighbors’ refusal to move forward with the individualization of electricity consumption for heating triggered a struggle that could result in fines for everyone.
The core of the problem lies in the collective billing method used in many buildings with central heating: costs are distributed without individual measurement, which can lead to situations in which those who save end up bearing part of the expenses of those who consume more.
The revolt against shared billing
According to the Spanish portal Noticias Trabajo, a portal specializing in labor and housing legislation, which cites reports from the French press, the case occurred in a five-story building in France. The protagonist, Fabien, says he is tired of a formula that he considers opaque and that prevents him from controlling his own expenses. In statements about the case, he summarized the problem as follows: “those who use a lot of heating sometimes pay less than those who try to save money”.
To try to change the model, the resident hired an expert, at his own expense, to explain the advantages of measuring devices to a meeting. Even so, the meeting of condominium owners rejected the proposal, with fears linked to the installation cost and technical complexity.
Legal obligation to individualize costs
According to French, the official portal of the French State for administrative information and guidance on procedures, the general rule is clear: in co-properties with collective heating or central cooling, the individualization of costs is, in principle, mandatory, through thermal energy meters or, when these are not viable, cost distribution per radiator. The objective is to distribute the bill based on actual consumption and reduce waste.
The obligation, however, has exceptions. Service-Public itself lists situations in which it may not apply, such as consumption below certain thresholds, technical impossibilities and cases in which installation costs are disproportionate to the expected savings.
Fines of up to 1500 euros per house and per year
The sanction exists and can be heavy. Still according to the same source, in the case of control, the administration may require documentation from the condominium that proves the installation of the devices or justifies the exemption. If the obligation is not met, a formal notice to regularize may be issued. Without a response within one month or without meeting the deadline set in the notification, the authority may apply an administrative amendment of up to 1500 euros per year and per dwelling, until the building is brought into compliance.
The case also shows that the change can create “winners” and “losers”: those who consume more tend to pay more when the bill starts to reflect real use, while those who save stop subsidizing the rest.
What would change (or not) if it were in Portugal
In Portugal, the logic is similar: energy efficiency legislation provides for the installation of sub-metering and cost-sharing systems for heating, cooling and hot water for domestic use in buildings with central systems, when this is technically and economically viable.
In practice, in a condominium without individual measurement and without different approved criteria, it is common for these charges to be treated as a common expense and distributed by the permile, that is, by the value of each fraction. Therefore, as in the French case, the discussion often ends up reaching the assembly: it is there that it is decided how to implement solutions that bring billing closer to real consumption and reduce conflicts between neighbors.
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