Co-ownership is made up of three main bodies:
- The Syndicat des copropriétaires: this is the legal entity bringing together all the co-owners. The purpose of this syndicate is to preserve the building and administer the common areas, but in practice these activities are carried out through the intermediary of the syndic.
- The Syndic: The syndic is a natural or legal person appointed by the general meeting of co-owners by a majority vote in accordance with article 25, and mandated to ensure, in general, the administration of the building, the execution of the decisions of the syndicate of co-owners and its representation in all civil acts.
The syndic will ensure that the co-ownership regulations and decisions of the general meeting of co-owners are properly implemented, collect common charges, pay current expenses, maintain the building, convene a general meeting in the event of urgent works, draw up a budget and keep the accounts of the co-ownership, keep the maintenance log, etc....
The syndic's powers are limited to administration and day-to-day management (except in emergencies, when he can order work to be carried out without authorisation from the general meeting).
Sometimes, in small co-ownerships, the co-owners refuse to pay a syndic and appoint one of the co-owners as a voluntary syndic.
- The syndic's council: the purpose of the syndic's council is to assist the syndic and monitor his management. Its members are chosen from among the co-owners.