Montenegro’s Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property has clarified the legal rights and responsibilities of apartment building managers following a resident’s complaint alleging conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and possible misuse of authority in the management of a residential building.
The ministry stressed that building managers are required to act strictly in accordance with the law and decisions adopted by the assembly of unit owners, which is the building’s main decision-making body. Managers are responsible for implementing assembly decisions, organising maintenance, keeping financial records, reporting on their work, and providing owners with full access to documentation related to the building’s management.
The ministry also emphasised that apartment owners have the right to monitor the manager’s work, inspect financial records, question maintenance costs, and file complaints if they suspect irregularities. If the owners’ assembly determines that the manager has violated the law or failed to perform their duties, it may order corrective measures, seek compensation for damages, or dismiss and replace the manager. Oversight of compliance with housing maintenance laws is carried out by housing inspectors, while the legal framework is governed by Montenegro’s Law on the Maintenance of Residential Buildings and the Law on Property Rights.
