Italy: Legal rules for condominium expenses and fines

Legal guidelines in Italy clarify the responsibilities of bare owners (nudo proprietario) and the limits of condominium administrators regarding fines and expenses.

Regarding condominium expenses, a ruling by the Court of Cassation (ordinance no. 19011/2026) establishes that bare owners cannot oppose injunctions for all expenses. While they are not responsible for all costs, the distinction between ordinary expenses, which may fall to the bare owner, and extraordinary expenses, which typically fall to the usufructuary, is critical for a successful legal defense.

In terms of disciplinary actions, condominium administrators do not have the unilateral power to impose fines. Under Article 1130 of the Civil Code, the administrator's role is to enforce regulations and report violations to the assembly. For fines ranging from 200 to 800 euros to be valid, the specific violation and the penalty must be clearly written in the condominium regulations, and the sanction must be approved by the assembly unless the regulations explicitly grant the administrator such power.