The owner of a property that is part of a residential complex (often apartments) is automatically a member of the VvE. The VvE manages and carries out maintenance on the communal areas of the apartment block, such as the façade or roof. In addition, the VvE ensures that members build up a reserve fund to cover major maintenance work and draws up rules and regulations. These set out the rules that apply to the apartment complex, such as use of communal areas, noise, nuisance etc.
Any tenants living in the block are not members of the VvE. However, they do profit from the efforts and work carried out by the VvE, including cleaning and maintenance of communal areas such as the stairs and lifts, as well as maintenance work on the building or measures to make it more sustainable. A portion of the VvE fees may therefore be passed on to tenants via service fees.
It’s common for a VvE to ask a tenant to sign a VvE declaration. This confirms that the tenant has read the rules and regulations and provided some personal details so that VvE committee members can contact them if necessary. In the event of an emergency, for instance, it’s handy if the VvE is able to contact residents quickly.
