Managing Your Move in a Condominium

When you live in a condominium, you need to consider its various aspects: common areas, noise, moving costs, and more. Here are our best tips for moving smoothly in a condominium!

Plan Your Move in Advance

Whether you are a tenant or an owner of a property in a condominium, you are required to follow certain rules for your move.

Notify Your Condominium Manager

If you own your apartment, you must notify the condominium manager of your departure. At least one month before your moving date, they must provide you with a certificate confirming you are up to date with your condominium fees. You then need to give this certificate to the notary to finalise the sale of your property.

If you are a tenant, you must inform your landlord of your departure from the property, respecting the notice period stated in your rental agreement (usually one or three months). The non-resident owner is then responsible for informing the condominium manager, so you have nothing else to do!

Inform Other Residents

Whether you are a tenant or an owner, to avoid upsetting the condominium association—that is, all the owners in a building—we recommend anticipating any inconvenience by simply informing your neighbours. It is customary to post a note in the common areas or lift, specifying the days of your move. This polite gesture will put you in good standing with your neighbours for your move!

Consider Matera for Your Condominium

If you live in a condominium, you know better than anyone that the condominium manager is often slow to respond… Fortunately, there are other solutions, such as a cooperative management system supported by Matera. This platform helps owners who manage their own condominium in two main ways:

• An intuitive online platform that automates all routine tasks such as accounting or creating administrative documents;
• A team of experts dedicated to more technical matters such as accounting, legal issues, or building works.

If you are having trouble with your traditional professional manager, consider Matera, which allows you to take back control of your condominium and save 30% on fees!

When moving, the platform automates the creation of necessary documents such as the pre-dated statement or the dated statement.

Avoid Cluttering the Common Areas

In a condominium, you cannot use the common areas as you wish, as their use is governed by the condominium rules.

Request Permission to Use Common Areas

To carry out your move properly, you must request permission to use the common areas of your building to store your boxes. There are regulations, especially for safety, that must be followed if you want to temporarily store your belongings in the common areas.

To request permission, simply send a letter to the condominium manager or the president of the management committee with your request.

Follow the Condominium Rules for the Lift

If your building has a lift, it is probably the common area that causes the most issues. To avoid problems, we once again recommend checking the condominium rules that govern its use.

Generally, the rules are similar in many condominiums:

• It is forbidden to transport very heavy items (such as a piano);
• A maximum number of people is set, and it is forbidden to exceed it;
• Priority must be given to people with reduced mobility.

This list is not exhaustive but gives you an idea of what you need to follow.

Plan Your Moving Costs

Although moving is sometimes considered expensive, there are simple tips to save money.

Save on Transport Costs

If good friends are hard to find when moving, you can also do without them! Unfortunately, traditional moving companies can sometimes charge high fees. However, today, other market players offer alternative solutions such as parcel carpooling or more competitive rates, like Cocolis.

Manage Administrative Fees

Among moving costs, there are also administrative fees to consider, such as:

• Termination fees for an internet line;
• Electricity connection fees if done late

Watch Out for Parking Fees

In some cities, it is impossible to reserve a parking space on the street without booking in advance. In particularly narrow city centres, you may even need to block the entire street to allow your vehicle to park. So, make sure to check the rules in your area with your local council!