Many blocks of flats have collective heating systems. The collective distribution of heating costs, which does not take account of individual consumption (or only part of it), has always encouraged individualistic practices, leading co-owners to use heating excessively while neglecting the insulation of their homes.
To put a stop to this, a decree was published on 25 April 2012 providing for the commissioning of devices to individualise collective heating costs.
Co-owners will have to install devices to measure the amount of heat supplied or a representative quantity for each flat. These devices will have to be installed outside the private premises to simplify readings.
In addition, where technically feasible, co-owners should fit heat emitters with devices that regulate the temperature inside the room, in particular functioning thermostatic valves. Of course, this installation will be at the expense of the co-owners. This reform is therefore likely to be costly.
However, co-owners have plenty of time to comply with the decree. These devices must be brought into service by 31 March 2017 at the latest.
Scope of the decree on the allocation of collective heating charges
Not all buildings with collective heating are affected by this decree. In particular, the following are exempt
- multi-family buildings for which an application for planning permission was submitted after 1 June 2001;
- buildings in which it is technically impossible to measure the heat consumed by each room separately;
- buildings in which it is technically impossible to install a device enabling the occupants of each room to modulate the heat supplied significantly;
- apartment blocks for which a building permit application was submitted before 1 June 2001 and whose heating consumption is below a threshold set by decree.
Apportionment of heating costs
In buildings covered by this decree, heating costs must be apportioned on the basis of different costs:
- Fuel and energy costs: these costs are apportioned between the premises served by distinguishing between common costs and individual costs:
* Common costs will be obtained by multiplying total energy and fuel costs by a coefficient of 0.30. These common costs will then continue to be allocated according to the conditions set out in the co-ownership regulations.
* Individual costs, i.e. the difference, will be apportioned on the basis of the information provided by the equipment installed and specified by the decree.
- Other heating costs "such as costs relating to the operation and maintenance of heating installations and costs relating to the use of electrical energy (for the operation of equipment, in particular control instruments, pumps, burners and fans)". These costs will be apportioned in accordance with the co-ownership regulations.