If I live on the ground floor, am I required to pay for the elevator? The law is very clear about this conflict between neighbors.

Homeowners’ association meetings often become the stage for heated debates, especially when discussing building improvements, works in common areas, or the distribution of community expenses. The elevator, in particular, is one of the most controversial issues, generating doubts and disagreements among neighbors, especially in communities in Barcelona and the rest of Spain.

Disputes are common between those who live on the ground floor, who frequently question the obligation to contribute to elevator expenses, since they usually do not use this service due to their location. This conflict arises whenever an extra fee or special assessment related to the elevator is proposed. Is it really fair that ground-floor owners must pay for the elevator even if they do not use it?

The answer is provided by the Spanish Horizontal Property Law (Ley de Propiedad Horizontal), which in Article 9 establishes that all property owners are obliged to contribute to the general expenses of the building. Costs are distributed according to the participation quota of each unit, or as indicated by the community’s internal regulations. Therefore, the installation and maintenance of the elevator are considered general expenses that affect all units and premises, without exception. Even those living on the ground floor of a building in Barcelona must assume this cost, unless the community unanimously agrees to exempt them.

However, some courts have accepted the possibility that, in certain cases, ground-floor owners may be exempt from paying elevator maintenance, as long as they do not use the service. Nonetheless, the usual obligation is that they must at least contribute to the cost of installing the elevator, unless a different agreement is reached by all neighbors.

As for tenants, the regulation is clear: mandatory expenses linked to ownership, such as special assessments for works or improvements, must be paid by the property owners, not the renters. Regular community fees will only be the tenant’s responsibility if the owner expressly agrees and it is included in the rental contract.