Mediation in apartment-building disputes in Greece: shared charges, repairs and common areas

Identify the actual problem before discussing solutions

One building meeting may cover overdue shared charges, a leak, lift costs and items obstructing a corridor. Treating these as a single grievance makes agreement harder. Record the incident, expense and outcome sought separately, without personal accusations. This gives the discussion an agenda rather than a list of competing complaints.

Mediation can be used for private apartment-ownership disputes to the extent that the parties may lawfully settle the subject matter. The mediator facilitates discussion impartially, rather than issuing a judgment or imposing terms. Taking part in the process does not itself mean accepting the other person’s claim.

Owners, tenants and the manager have different roles

Before an invitation is sent, establish who is claiming what from whom. An owner’s obligation to the co-ownership is distinct from their arrangement with a tenant. For the building manager, examine the regulations, appointment and authority granted. Do not assume that the manager can commit every owner on every issue.

The status or use of an area may depend on the instrument establishing the separate apartment ownerships and on several people’s rights. Agreement between two neighbours does not automatically change those rights. Required consents and any necessary notarial and registration formalities need separate examination.

Prepare a short, usable file

Create a timeline and a schedule of figures: the expense behind each charge, supporting invoices, payments and points in dispute. This prevents a conversation in which one person questions the total while another is discussing how it was divided. The checklist is a practical starting point, not an exhaustive statutory document list.

For technical problems, identify what needs inspection and whether comparable repair quotations exist. A leak discussion might be organised around finding its cause, access for works and costs. This is an illustrative preparation plan, not a finding of responsibility or an account of a client’s case.

• Building regulations, the apartment-ownership instrument and amendments
• Meeting minutes and evidence of the manager’s appointment or authority
• Shared-charge statements, invoices and payment records
• Available technical reports, quotations and lawfully obtained photographs
• Relevant correspondence, formal notices and court documents

Turn proposals into specific, lawful obligations

Where agreement is possible, record amounts, dates, works, access arrangements and how completion will be checked. Separate immediate commitments from matters dependent on a technical report or required approval. Changing building regulations or property rights is not simply the same as arranging payment of a bill.

Law 5344/2026 has staggered commencement dates. The applicable process and any mandatory initial stage need checking against the date and type of case, rather than assuming every building dispute follows the same route. If a document has been served or an urgent issue arises, obtain legal advice; informal discussions should not be assumed to suspend deadlines. Sources checked on 23 October 2026.