The term “certificate of completion” is used in connection with property ownership. The certificate of completion is necessary to create private property. When it comes to condominiums, we speak of separate property. Who issues this certificate, what are the requirements?

• The certificate of completion forms the basis for condominiums.
• The Condominium Act forms the basis for the exhibition.
• An exhibition only takes place if the resulting separate property meets the requirements for living space.
• The number of certificates of completion issued for existing properties provides information on the number of rental apartments that have been taken off the market.

What is the certificate of completion based on?

This certificate forms the legal basis for separating parts of a property from other parts. The limits are ceilings, walls and doors, taking into account noise and heat insulation requirements. The separate property defined by the certificate of isolation must have separate access from other separate property units. You also need your own kitchen and bathroom to convert an apartment into separate ownership.

To put it more simply: the certificate of completion defines the scope of a condominium and the associated additional separate property, for example a cellar or a garage.

The legal basis for the certificate of completion is based on Paragraphs 3, Paragraphs 2 and 7, Paragraph 4 of the Condominium Act (WEG).

Who issues the certificate of completion?

If you want to convert an apartment building into condominiums, you have to apply for the necessary certificate from the building authorities, which also issued the building permit. The declaration of closure is a prerequisite for the owners of the respective private property to be able to be entered in the land register.

It continues to be the most important factor to be able to establish special and common ownership of a property.

Which documents are necessary for the issue of the certificate of completion?

For the application, the owners need

• An informal application, which designates the building, contains the name and address of the applicant and is signed by the owner.
• A map showing all buildings and facilities on the property in question.
• The current extract from the land register
• A layout plan for the seclusion including the floor plan and elevation of the building.

What does the certificate of completion cost?

If an authority is involved for a certificate, fees usually apply. This is also the case with a certificate of completion. However, the costs for this are not uniform, but vary. Not only the fee schedule of the respective municipality plays a role, but also the extent of the division.

The range of possible costs is between 29 euros and 160 euros. If a distribution plan has to be drawn up, the expenses increase by a further 40 euros.

The division plan is part of the division declaration . It shows the floor plans of the respective separate property and includes the sections and the building views. The production is carried out by an architect or structural engineer.

What are the requirements for a certificate of completion?

First of all, the individual property in question must enable housekeeping in accordance with the definition of living space. This also includes the presence of a kitchen and bathroom. If the premises were used commercially as an office, this does not affect the certificate if it can also be used as living space in the future.

The decision as to whether the criteria apply is based on the requirements of the Condominium Act. For a new building, the test is not carried out from a building law perspective. The certificate of completion can be issued even if no building permit is subsequently issued. So it makes sense to wait for the approval of the building application before applying for the certificate of completion.

Certificates of completion as a statistical parameter

Short for CC by abbreviationfinder, the certificate of completion is primarily important for property developers or owners of apartment buildings. Only through them is it possible to create buildings with condominiums. It also contains an important indicator for housing construction policy.

The certificates of completion can be used to determine how many existing rental apartments have been converted into separate property. From this, in turn, the need for additional rental apartments in the future can be derived, even if it is not clear whether the buyer will use it himself after the conversion. The conversion of rented living space into renovated condominiums is one of the focal points in housing policy.