Air Conditioning installation For Community Owners

There are regulations that must be followed when installing air conditioning in a community of owners. Find out how to install it with TotalEnergies!

Air conditioning is becoming more and more common in residential communities, especially in warmer geographical areas. But is it possible to install this air conditioning system anywhere in the building? Is a special permit required for this? What does the law say about this?

There are many doubts that may arise when you want to install air conditioning in a community of neighbors. Therefore, with this article we want to resolve many of them.

Can I install air conditioning in a residential community?

Air conditioning equipment is made up of two units: one that is placed inside the home, which does not require any authorization (unless the community statutes or municipal ordinances state otherwise), and another outside unit, the compressor, which is usually installed on facades, terraces or roofs , that is, in common areas of the community of neighbors.

To do this, the following requirements must be met

1. The consent of the community of owners is required to carry out the installation of the air conditioning unit, unless the municipal ordinances or statutes of the community itself indicate otherwise. 

2. The installation must comply with municipal regulations regarding safety, urban planning and the environment.

3. The installation of air conditioning cannot affect the safety or stability of the building or common areas. Nor can it cause disturbances (noise, odours or vibrations) to other neighbours.

4. Installing air conditioning on the façade : authorization from the community of neighbors is required, regardless of what is stated in the municipal ordinances or statutes of the community. In addition, it must not alter the aesthetics of the property or be a nuisance for the other owners or tenants.

5. Installing air conditioning in the courtyard or on the terrace: approval from the community of neighbours is required, regardless of what the municipal ordinances or community statutes say. However, this must not prevent the use of the common areas used by the rest of the neighbours.

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Regulations on the installation of air conditioning in communities of owners

Nowadays, there are different regulations that must be taken into account when installing air conditioning in a community of owners.

Municipal ordinances

the first thing to consult are these regulations that exist in any city, town or locality, which determine, for example, the distance that must exist between the compressor and the windows of the homes, how water must be evacuated, the centimeters that the air conditioning equipment can protrude from the façade, etc.

Community statutes

you should check if there is any statute of the community itself that refers to the installation of air conditioning throughout the property and act accordingly. For example, there are communities that prohibit the installation of this equipment on the facades or only allow its installation on the roof. 

Article 7 of the Horizontal Property Law

establishes that each owner will have the right to modify architectural components and installations as long as it does not alter the safety of the building, modify the exterior or violate the rights of another owner.

Civil Code

which does not allow the installation of this type of elements on the façade, the size of the devices must be of certain measurements (not excessively large) and they cannot be bothersome to other neighbours.

Hire our electricity rate for neighborhood communities

At TotalEnergies we have different electricity rates designed for residential communities . You just have to choose the one that best suits the needs of the property and its owners, without having to pay more.

Also, if you have any questions, in our post What should you know when contracting an electricity rate for a community of owners? we will resolve many questions that may arise.

And don’t forget that, thanks to our vast experience and our great team of professionals, we will always advise you on everything you need. Join the TotalEnergies family! We are waiting for you.