Charges (encargos)
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Encargos are the obligations and costs attached to a property, such as condominium fees or taxes, and the word is also used together with ónus to mean everything that weighs on the property.
Sale notices nearly always use the pair ónus e encargos. An is, as a rule, a third party's right registered over the property. Encargos is a wider word: it also covers expenses and obligations that come with the property.
The most frequent examples are condominium fees and building works, for an in a block, and property taxes.
On condominium debts, article 1424-A of the Civil Code says that liability for existing debts depends on when they should have been paid, and that charges falling due after the transfer belong to the new owner.
Example
Illustrative example: a flat is sold at auction in March. The condominium is owed €600 in fees that fell due the previous year, and an extraordinary fee of €400 for works falls due in June. Under article 1424-A, the June fee is for the new owner. For the older €600, check with the building's management and with whoever is running the sale.
In practice, at an auction
The rarely states condominium debts. Before bidding, contact the building's management and ask about arrears and works already approved. For purposes, charges the buyer becomes bound to pay count as part of the purchase value (IMT Code, article 12(5)). See Liens and charges in a judicial sale.