General Meeting & voting
The General Meeting is the most important decision-making body within an Owners Association. This is where the budget, maintenance works, and major investments are approved, among other things. On this page, you will find a clear explanation of the General Meeting, proxies, voting rights, quorums, and the various majorities such as a simple majority, two-thirds majority, and four-fifths majority.
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Agenda
The agenda lists all topics to be discussed during the meeting. Normally, decisions can only be made on items included in the agenda. Owners can often propose additional items in advance.
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Notice of Meeting
The notice of meeting is the official invitation to the General Meeting. It contains the date, location, and agenda of the meeting. Owners receive this within the statutory period.
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Notice period
The notice period is the legal timeframe within which the invitation to the General Meeting must be sent. This ensures owners have sufficient time to prepare. The period is established by law.
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Minutes (PV)
The minutes (proces-verbaal) are the official record of the General Meeting. They state all decisions and voting results. The document is provided to the owners after the meeting.
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Minutes
Minutes are the written summary of a meeting. They contain the most important decisions and agreements. They serve as a useful reference for all co-owners.
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Voting rights
Every co-owner has voting rights at the General Meeting. The weight of the vote usually depends on the quotas. Some decisions require a special majority.
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Simple majority
A simple majority means that more than half of the votes cast are in favor of a proposal. This is the most common voting rule at the General Meeting. It is used for most day-to-day decisions.
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Absolute majority
An absolute majority means more than half of the votes. In practice, this is often described as 50% + 1 vote. This is the standard majority for many decisions within the Owners Association.
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Special majority
A special majority is a higher majority than a simple majority. Depending on the subject, this could be, for example, two-thirds or four-fifths of the votes. The required majority is laid down in the co-ownership law.
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Two-thirds majority (2/3)
A two-thirds majority requires at least two-thirds of the votes cast to be in favor of the proposal. This majority is necessary for certain important decisions within the Owners Association. The law determines which subjects this rule applies to.
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Four-fifths majority (4/5)
A four-fifths majority is required for far-reaching decisions regarding the co-ownership. Examples include certain changes to the common areas or the purpose of the building. This ensures a broad consensus is needed.
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Unanimity
Unanimity means that all co-owners must agree to a decision. This is only required in exceptional cases determined by law. A single vote against can prevent the decision.
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Attendance quorum
The attendance quorum determines whether the General Meeting can validly take place. Sufficient co-owners must be present or represented according to the legal conditions. If this is not the case, a second meeting can be convened.
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Vote against
A vote against is a vote against a proposed resolution at the General Meeting. Votes against are recorded in the minutes. They can be important if a decision is later contested.
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Abstention
An abstention means that a co-owner does not cast a vote in favor or against. An abstention is as if the person was not present during the vote. Their shares are included in neither the numerator, nor in the denominator during that vote.
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Digital General Meeting
A digital General Meeting takes place online via a digital platform. This allows owners to also participate remotely. The organization must comply with the legal conditions.