Speaking Up at Your Building's Owners' Meeting
Follow the agenda, vote, and speak up about the lift, the charges and the noise at a French co-owners' general meeting.
In a French copropriété (a building of individually owned flats), the owners meet at least once a year at the assemblée générale, called by the syndic (the managing agent), who sends the agenda (l'ordre du jour) beforehand. Only owners vote, weighted by their share of the building (les tantièmes); if you can't attend, you can give someone a written proxy (un pouvoir) or vote by post. An elected conseil syndical of owners oversees the syndic, and the decisions are recorded in the procès-verbal sent to owners afterwards. Tenants have no vote.
- 1
C'est quand, la prochaine assemblée générale ?
When is the next general meeting?
- 2
Tous les copropriétaires doivent être présents ?
Do all the owners have to attend?
- 3
Si vous ne pouvez pas venir, vous pouvez donner un pouvoir.
If you can't come, you can give someone a proxy.
- 4
Le premier point à l'ordre du jour, c'est l'ascenseur.
The first item on the agenda is the lift.
- 5
Le syndic va lire le procès-verbal de la dernière AG.
The managing agent will read the minutes of the last meeting.
- 6
Nous devons voter le budget prévisionnel.
We have to approve the budget for the year.
- 7
Combien chaque copropriétaire devrait-il payer ?
How much would each owner have to pay?
- 8
Il y aura un appel de fonds exceptionnel.
There will be a one-off call for funds.
- 9
Certains voisins n'ont toujours pas payé leurs charges.
Some neighbours still haven't paid their service charges.
- 10
Est-ce que je peux prendre la parole ?
May I say something?
- 11
Je suis d'accord avec ce qu'a dit M. Durand.
I agree with what Mr Durand said.
- 12
Je ne vois pas les choses comme ça.
I don't see things that way.
- 13
Le problème du bruit devient ingérable.
The noise problem is getting out of hand.
- 14
Je propose qu'on passe au vote.
I propose we put it to a vote.
- 15
Qui est pour ?
Who's in favour?
- 16
C'est adopté à la majorité.
It's carried by a majority.
- 17
Il faudra demander plusieurs devis.
We'll have to ask for several quotes.
- 18
On a pris beaucoup de retard.
We've fallen way behind schedule.
- 19
On le reporte à la prochaine réunion.
Let's postpone it to the next meeting.
- 20
Vous pourriez nous envoyer le PV par mail ?
Could you send us the minutes by email?