Why am I paying if I don't use it?

However, according to the Condominium Law, not benefiting from a service does not mean being exempt from paying the expenses of that service. However, there are exceptions for some expenses.

Marmara University Faculty of Law Lecturer Dr. Egemen Işık explained to TRT Haber how common expenses are shared, the importance of apartment management plans and which expenses cannot be charged to the tenant.

According to Article 20 of the Condominium Law, flat owners cannot avoid paying their share of expenses by claiming that they do not need to benefit from common facilities. Dr. Egemen Işık explains the legal situation as follows:

"Elevators are considered a common place in accordance with the condominium law. In other words, since they are a common place, all floor owners must jointly participate in all expenses related to the elevator. People living in the building, living on the ground floor, and living on the ground floor can of course say the following. They may ask: Why should I pay for an elevator that I do not use? It is very common for them to ask this. But the law does not take an attitude in this direction."

However, there is an important exception to this rule. In some apartment buildings, it is possible for ground and ground floor apartments to be exempt from elevator expenses. Işık describes this exception as follows:

"Although the condominium law has brought such a regulation, it is necessary to look at the management plan. In the management plan, the flat owners may have decided that those living on the ground floor or the ground floor will not participate in the elevator expenses. If they have made such a decision, that is, if such an arrangement is made in the management plan, those living on the ground floor or the ground floor no longer have to pay the elevator expenses."

Source: TRT Haber Yaşam RSS (Open Press / Translated Full Text)