“When there are economic problems, people prioritize other things, and when not paid, that’s where it does the least damage: society before electricity.” Carmela Lavandeira, vice president of the Galician Association of Property Managers, draws on what can happen. skyline in the city’s neighborhood communities last summer. industry professionals they fear an increase in non-payment in community fees due to the economic difficulties experienced by the population in the inflationary context of recent months.
The buzz of a tumultuous return to normalcy is already circulating in offices and neighborhood communities after the summer, although the lawyer from Fincas Lavandeira warns that it is too early to make predictions due to little summer activity. “There is always a break in the summer and more in August. People are in towns or on vacation, but we’ve already had some receipt refunds”, Carmela Lavandeira warns. She explains that the situation extends beyond the city of A Coruña and is similar in other autonomous communities, confirming the advisor to the industry’s National Council.
The uncertainty of the political and economic moment, he warns, hinders prediction.. “Even though we can estimate it, we can’t do much. You don’t know how many people will pay, who will pay, and how much. In a large community it doesn’t matter if there are two defaulters, but in a small community the accounts suffer.”, explains the lawyer.
Property managers explain that the consequences of a possible default deluge could repeat what has already happened in other recessions, such as 2008, when some of the buildings’ services were limited. “Then, measures should be taken, such as the withdrawal of materials., stop the elevator because there was no money to maintain it or to limit or even stop heating in the winter,” recalls Lavandeira, noting that it is important to “adjust” heating degrees and “have efficient boilers” to promote energy. saving. These won’t be the only measures, he warns. “We will need to increase quotas and do some leaks. We’ll have to explain to the neighbors, but in the end everything works out and that’s one more thing,” he complains. In the face of defaults, go ahead, negotiation and margins will go before trials. “We always try to talk to the non-paying person and give some time. A deal is better than a bad case“, to give advice.
Property managers aren’t the only ones worried about the bills coming in late summer. Community heads are already voicing their skepticism when it comes to preparing properties for the coming months, as fluctuations in gas and fuel prices have hampered estimated expenses. “Presidents call us anxiously, asking if they are filling up deposits, waiting halfway through or changing contracts. We explain the situation and the account and leave the decision to them. The cost of diesel has increased 40%, and two months ago it was double last year. We make estimates based on the previous year’s spending and applying an approximate CPI, but now 10% is no more”, explains Lavandeira.