An alternative that has the wind in its sails

Being his own trustee: when rates of professionals are regularly denounced for their opacity and their prohibitive cost, the question arises. Especially for small condominiums that often have difficulties to find a professional for a reasonable cost. "The professional Trustees consider condominiums from 2 to 20 lots not profitable financially, says the Association of managers of condominiums (Arc)." This is the reason for which they generally apply important lump sum rates, of the order of 3,000 to 5,000 euros. "The cost is even more outrageous that delivery is not always to an exceptional level. Far from it.

The fees in question

The image of real estate agents or taxi drivers, the trustees do not have good news to users. The reasons are mostly management not always very competent, and rates. "Our trustee was wrong in assignments and I spent a time crazy to control accounts, says Danielle Jager, co-owner and today voluntary trustee of co-ownership of 48 lots to Maisons-Alfort in the Val-de-Marne. It is permitted, in addition, to change supplier without notice to the meeting of the co-owners. "This obligation exists yet when it comes to a change of energy supplier (article 24 of the Act of 1965). And the examples are legion. The Trustees are another source of discontent of users. Some do go there actually not dead hand.

For who wants to offer the services of a trustee, the first of the precautions therefore is to peel the contract. Since the Decree of December 2, 1986, the fees of the Trustees are free. They must, however, distinguish between fees for management of those specific benefits. Yet it is often on the specific benefits that the shoe pinches. Investigations carried out by different associations ceased to denounce the excesses of some professionals in management fees, for years, those relating to the specific benefits had an unfortunate tendency to grow. To avoid a very common practice of out of the day-to-day management, an increasing number of tasks supported by the Trustees, the national Council of Consumer Affairs (CNC) had also issued, in September 2007, a notice setting out a list of common management tasks to include in the flat-rate fees. These tasks not subject to supplementary billing, the preparation and conduct of the annual General Assembly, the establishment of account management, of the estimated budget, the appeals of provisions on budget, audit and payment of invoices, delivery, where appropriate, the archives to the successor Trustee, the holding of a include separate, an address book maintenance, negotiation and contracting of the service providersmanagement of the work of maintenance and maintenance, the statement of claims... Remains that the trustees have little followed this opinion and the balance sheet is very mixed. This is the reason for which the Secretary of State for trade, Hervé Novelli, ruled, most recently, for the publication by the end of the first half of 2010, a decree governing the compensation of the Trustees of low-rise. A victory for consumer associations and the co-owners calling for a clear definition of the benefits that should at least do a trustee to the title of the current management. If the order should resume the opinion delivered by the NCC, there is no doubt that the discussions on the final text may be very animated. "The Trustees will attempt to standardize a minimum benefits in the annual package", fears Bruno Dhont, the Director General of the Arc. Already, the reactions are very bright. Fnaim sees itself as betrayed by Hervé Novelli, believing that this "mark of mistrust and suspicion is unbearable for the thousands of professionals who practice daily trade of trustee of co-ownership and who had demonstrated their commitment to greater transparency". Pending an official text, the co-owners have any interest to adhere to what recommends the opinion of the CNC. "The professional trustees are often poorly perceived but 88 of condominiums retain their trustee", is a member of the us.

The adventure of volunteering

Still those who dare to escape the professional trustee. "It's almost as easy for a large condominium for a small," says Bruno Dhont. An alternative that has the wind in its sails. A it several reasons. "The appointment of a trustee volunteer is a major source of economy and management improvement, says Bruno Dhont." "Over three years, I did Save 40,000 euros to my condominium", says Danielle Jager. It is following the resignation of his trustee whose management was regularly contested that this retired co-owner, then President of the Union, it is proposed as volunteer trustee. The economic argument, however, must not be the only motive, because even in voluntary trustee, there are incompressible fees: operating expenses of co-ownership, convening meetings, recovery of unpaid, possible compensation of the trustee volunteer... In addition, volunteer trustee is not necessarily a legal and accounting specialist, perhaps should to appeal to professionals in certain cases (certified public accountant, architect, lawyer...). He can not do the impasse equipment computer (computer, software of management...) and get help, if necessary, by an association of co-owners. All elements that have a cost. In any event, "If the concepts are quickly acquired, it does invents not volunteer trustee in the day to the next, says Bruno Dhont." "Better to have transpired in contact with the Trade Union Council, it is even a required passage." And if new condominiums accounting was a handicap that had no accounting training, today, the barrier is lifted by specific software. A work which takes time and allows for many retirees to remain active, of which more women. And if the professional trustees believe that volunteers are taking risks to the condominium, he will need other arguments to convince, "as many condominiums were defrauded by professional trustees, and not by volunteer Trustees", finds Bruno Dhont.