Lifts in a Spanish community of owners: majority, obligation and who pays

“Carrying out works or setting up new common services aimed at removing architectural barriers that hinder access or mobility for people with disabilities and, in any case, setting up lift services, even when they involve amending the title deed (título constitutivo) or the bylaws, shall require the vote in favour of a majority of the owners who, in turn, represent a majority of the shares” (art. 17.2).

If the agreement is validly adopted, the community is bound to pay the costs even if the amount charged each year exceeds twelve ordinary monthly payments of common expenses (art. 17.2).

Accessibility works are mandatory, with no prior agreement of the owners' meeting (Junta de propietarios), when they are “requested by owners in whose home or premises people with disabilities, or people over seventy, live, work or volunteer”, including the installation of ramps, lifts or other devices, “provided that the amount charged each year for them, once public grants or aid are deducted, does not exceed twelve ordinary monthly payments of common expenses” (art. 10.1.b). Whoever requested them pays any excess, and the works remain mandatory.

Until 22 October 2026 the works are also mandatory when the public aid the community can access reaches 75% of their cost (art. 10.1.b, text in force).

From 23 October 2026 (Ley 4/2026, of 1 October) art. 10.1.b changes. If the community applies for financing, the cost is spread over as many years as the available financing options allow. The person concerned can provide information about aid, and the community is then obliged to apply for it. When the aid granted reaches 70% of the cost, the works are mandatory without the financial limits. If the community does not carry them out, the person concerned can go to court.

• The reserve fund (fondo de reserva) can also be used for the accessibility works of arts. 10.1.b and 17.2 (art. 9.1.f).
• For mandatory works, the owners' meeting only decides how the special levy (derrama) is shared out and the payment terms (art. 10.2.a).
• From 23 October 2026 the law provides that public authorities will make funds available for accessibility aid in residential buildings (third additional provision).

Calls for applications change every year and open and close programme by programme. On our pages of communities of owners by province we link, with their official source and the date we checked them, the grants and the permit procedure in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Zaragoza.