Glossary · Legislation
Condominium ownership (propriété par étages, PPE)
Condominium ownership (propriété par étages, PPE) is a form of co-ownership provided for by Swiss law (art. 712a of the Civil Code), in which several people own the same building. Each holds an exclusive right to a specific part (a flat, a cellar, a parking space) and a share of the common parts (roof, façades, stairwell).
Each co-owner pays charges in proportion to their share, as set out in the PPE regulations. This document also governs the use of the common parts and the decisions taken at the co-owners’ meeting. Before buying a PPE unit, it is advisable to consult these regulations and the latest minutes of the co-owners’ meetings, to find out what works have been approved or are expected on the building.
In Geneva, PPE is a common form of ownership for flats, particularly in recent or renovated buildings in urban and suburban municipalities.
