Condominium definition
The term ‘condominium’ or ‘condo’ is used in North America and some other English speaking areas such as Australia, to refer to a building in which individual units are separately owned, but common areas are owned jointly.
It most commonly refers to residential blocks in which the residents own their individual flats and the common areas are owned jointly and managed collectively. However, other types of buildings might also include condominiums, such as shopping malls containing individual retail units.
It is a Latin word derived from ‘con’ meaning ‘together’ and ‘dominium’ meaning ‘domain’.
The term is also increasingly used to refer to groups of detached dwellings, that have common parts that are owned jointly and managed collectively such as the surrounding streets.
Condominiums are distinguished from apartments, in that the flats are owned rather than leased.
Condominiums are analogous to ‘commonhold’ properties in the UK.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
CIAT confirm the winners of the 2026 architectural technology awards.
Government launches a one stop shop for flood preparedness.
Sir Edwin Lutyens: Britain's greatest architect? Book review.
CIOB publishes free template to help assess and manage risks.
ECA's reflections on Party Conference season
Burnham wants to be confident of winning before asking for a fresh mandate.
New Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser
Sergio Cavalaro, Professor of Infrastructure Systems at Loughborough University.
Building safety levy for England
CIAT publish estimator tool for members.
Water sector faces a growing crisis that could slow the delivery of vital infrastructure.
Undervaluing our industrial past
Heritage value changes as taste for building styles changes.
Changing expectations around competence and compliance
New information sheet from CIAT.
Grenfell investigation files passed to CPS
Angela Rayner apologises on behalf of the British state.
Electrical contractors need to understand the practical implications.