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 and news
Saint Michael’s Kirkyard - a Presbyterian Valhalla. Book review.
Facing the impact of the COVID and the internet.
Providing a safe work environment
Preparing for the return of employees.
The role of subframe systems in controlling heat loss
Using rainscreen walls to address energy efficiency.
Code for Construction Product Information introduced
Integrity of fire product marketing - post-Grenfell - addressed.
Data measurement and carbon reduction efforts.
Climate action urgently needed
Actuate UK issues stark warning.
PM renames Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities replaces MHCLG.
Safeguarding Cultural Heritage
Protecting heritage from disasters. Book review.
Life saving feats of engineering
Three structures forever changed people's lives for the better.
Net zero 2050 targets could require 12,000 new employees per year
ECA comments on findings of BEIS Green Jobs Task Force.