1. What is a condominium?

A condominium, according to the law, is an interest in a real property consisting of a separate

interest in a unit in a residential, industrial, or commercial building and an undivided interest in
common, directly or indirectly, in the land in which it is located and in other common areas of the
building.

In other words, a condominium is a building where sections of which can be owned individually
by a person or, in some cases, a corporation. This can be for either a residential, industrial, or
commercial purpose.

2. Who can own condominiums?

Filipino citizens and corporations can own condominiums. Foreigners, however, are restricted to
owning no more than 40 percent of the total and outstanding capital stock of a corporation,
which must be Filipino-owned and controlled. In addition to that restriction, foreigners and
foreign corporations are, by law, prohibited to own land.

3. Who can own condominium units?

Again, Filipino citizens and corporations can own condominium units. This time, however,
foreigners, by virtue of the Condominium Act, are allowed to purchase and acquire
condominium units.

4. What is my stake in a condominium?

As a unit owner, you are, in essence, a co-owner of the condominium, entitled to such privileges
and limited by such restrictions that may follow the title.

5. What forms part of a condominium unit?

Everything within the boundaries of your unit forms part of the same. According to the law, the
interior surfaces of the perimeter walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and doors form the boundary
of your unit. That is, of course, unless the master deed or the declaration of restrictions
prescribed by the condominium corporation or the administration stipulate otherwise.

6. Am I allowed to alter anything beyond the boundaries of my unit?

Generally, no. However, if the administration allows such alteration or does not prohibit the
same, then you may be allowed to. A thorough read of the house rules or the contract would be
a good idea.

7. What do not form part of the condominium unit?

In most cases, areas that are not found inside the unit are deemed to be excluded from the unit
but the condominium law itself lists aspects of properties that generally do not form part of the
unit. To wit: bearing walls, columns, floors, roofs, foundations, and other common structural
elements (e.g., lobbies, stairways, hallways, and other common areas), elevator equipment and
shafts, central heating, central refrigeration, and central air-conditioning equipment, reservoirs,
tanks, pumps, and other central services and facilities, pipes, ducts, flutes, chutes, conduits,
wires, and other utility installations, wherever located. An exception to the list are those outlets
that are located within the unit.

Hallways, like other common areas, are not parts of condo units and, hence, are not owned
exclusively by a single owner. However, these areas are owned collectively by the condo
corporation. Photo via Shutterstock

8. Can I freely sell my unit?

Yes. That is not prohibited in the condominium law. When you sell your unit, however, you are
not just selling the unit itself, you are also selling your interest in the common areas, as well as
your membership and shareholdings in the condominium corporation.

9. Can I freely sell my condominium?

Not exactly. Selling a unit may be simple, but selling a condominium is restricted by certain rules
under theCondominium Act. One of such restrictions is the ownership requirement. For
condominiums where the common areas are co-owned by the owners of the units, the law
requires that the purchaser be either a Filipino citizen or corporationa corporation that is at
least 60 percent owned and controlled by Filipinos. For condominiums owned by corporations,
the sale will be deemed invalid if such a sale would result in the foreign interest in the
corporation exceeding the limits prescribed by law, which in this case, is 40 percent. In other
words, in both cases, the foreign ownership in the purchasing corporation cannot exceed 40
percent, otherwise the sale would be invalid.

10. Can I mortgage my unit for a loan?

Yes. The condominium law states that each condominium owner shall have the exclusive right
to mortgage, pledge, or encumber his condominium and to have the same appraised
independently of the other condominium owner is personal to him.
 Like any property, a condo unit can be mortgaged by its owner for a loan. Photo via
Shutterstock

11. Can the condominium corporation sell the condominium without my consent?

As a general rule, it can. However, if the master deed contains a requirement that the property
should first be offered to the other condominium owners within a reasonable time before offering
it to third parties, then it may not.

Another restriction, however, is one that has been amended to the Corporation Code by
Republic Act No. 7899, which states that, as an owner, you shall not, sell, exchange, lease, or
otherwise dispose of the common areas of a condominium without the approval of the simple
majority of the registered owners, subject as well, to the approval of the Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board (HLURB).

12. The Condominium Act stipulates that the owners can sell the condominium after 50
years. Does that mean that I will not have any say in the sale?

No, that is not the case. Upon turnover of the unit to you, you become a member of the
corporation that owns the condominium. Hence, your concurrence or dissent on the matter will
count. If, however, it has been decided that the building shall be sold, then you will be
compensated your appropriate share from the proceeds of the sale.

13. Who owns the common areas in a condominium?

Generally, titles to the common areas are held by a corporation formed for the purpose.
However, the condominium law also states that the common areas are held in common by the
unit holders, in equal share for each unit.

14. What are my rights as a condominium unit owner?

Aside from those already mentioned, the only other right you have as a unit owner is the right to
renovate your unit, for as long as all renovations are done within the boundaries of your unit. All
restrictions on your rights and activities are those that are stipulated in the declaration of
restrictions or on the contract you signed upon the turnover of the unit to you.

15. I own a condominium building, and I want to amend or revoke the master deed. May I
do so without reservation?
No. The Condominium Act states that you can only do this upon the registration of an
instrument (a formal legal document) executed by a simple majority of the registered owners of
the property. In this case, a simple majority could mean either of the two: a majority based on
per-unit ownership or a majority based on the floor area of ownership.

For condominiums used for either residential or commercial purposes, the former would apply,
while if it is for a mix of both purposes, it is the latter. This requirement also stipulates that the
registered owners must be notified in advance. Evidence of a vote of a simple majority must
also be submitted to the HLURB.

SECTION 8. Where several persons own condominiums in a condominium project, an action

may be brought by one or more such persons for partition thereof by sale of the entire project,
as if the owners of all of the condominiums in such project were co-owners of the entire project
in the same proportion as their interests in the common areas: Provided, however, That a
partition shall be made only upon a showing:

a. That three years after damage or destruction to the project which renders material
part thereof unit for its use prior thereto, the project has not been rebuilt or repaired
substantially to its state prior to its damage or destruction, or

b. That damage or destruction to the project has rendered one-half or more of the units
therein untenantable and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than
thirty percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration of the
project; or

c. That the project has been in existence in excess of fifty years, that it is obsolete
and uneconomic, and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than fifty
percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration or
remodeling or modernizing of the project; or

d. That the project or a material part thereof has been condemned or expropriated and
that the project is no longer viable, or that the condominium owners holding in
aggregate more than seventy percent interest in the common areas are opposed to
continuation of the condominium regime after expropriation or condemnation of a
material portion thereof; or

e. That the conditions for such partition by sale set forth in the declaration of restrictions,
duly registered in accordance with the terms of this Act, have been met.
Its not like you will buy a condominium property and then after 50 years, your investment will be
gone, just like that. When a condominium project is fully turned over to the unit owners, it
becomes just like a corporation, and you are one of the owners of that corporation if you have a
unit there.

So it follows that you will have a say in the decision making as to what to do with the whole
building, and if it has been decided that the property is going to be sold or demolished so that a
new property will be developed on the area, you will get your appropriate share of the proceeds
of the sale.

Just like any investment, your condominium property can last, can be profitable and can be
passed on to your heir(s).

You can read the full version of this Republic Act below: