Millesimal tables (tabelle millesimali): how to read them
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What is a thousandth, in simple termsWhere to find your home's tableHow to calculate your share, step by stepWhy costs differ between ownersWhat happens if you buy a home with outstanding chargesWhat changes if the home is subdividedThe most common mistakesIn practiceFrequently asked questionsSourcesMillesimal tables (tabelle millesimali) show how much of the shared costs of the condominium (building owners' association) each unit pays. The total of all thousandths (millesimi) always adds up to 1,000, and your share is calculated like this: divide your thousandths by 1,000 and multiply the result by the expense.
Example: your flat has 80 thousandths and the cost of redoing the roof is €10,000. Your share is €10,000 × 80 / 1,000 = €800.
What is a thousandth, in simple terms
A thousandth is one part in a thousand of the whole building. It is not a number of square metres: in the table, the weight of each unit comes from its value compared with the rest of the building. That is why a large flat can have more thousandths than a small one, but not always in exact proportion.
The tables are used to divide shared costs: the roof, the façade, the stairs, the systems. The condominium regulations and the law state that costs are divided according to thousandths, except in special cases (art. 1123 c.c.).
Where to find your home's table
The table may be in several places. Check in this order:
- in the condominium regulations, where it is attached or referred to;
- with the building administrator (amministratore), who must keep it available for the condominium owners;
- in the purchase deed, where the notary usually states the thousandths of the individual unit;
- in the annual statement of accounts, where you can see how each cost was divided.
Warning: many condominiums have more than one table. There is a general one, and others for the lift, the stairs or the heating. Each cost must use the right table, and if you use the wrong one the calculation is wrong even if the figures look correct.
How to calculate your share, step by step
To work out what you pay, follow these steps:
- find the row for your unit, using the internal or subaltern number (subalterno) (see how to find sheet, parcel and subaltern number);
- read the thousandths of ownership, that is those in the general table;
- take the total cost shown in the estimate or the statement of accounts;
- divide your thousandths by 1,000 and multiply by the cost.
Example with heating. The heating cost is €6,000 and the heating table assigns you 50 thousandths. Your share is €6,000 × 50 / 1,000 = €300. If the heating table is different from the general one, the result changes: that is why you should not confuse the two.
Why costs differ between owners
Costs are not always divided into equal shares. For some services, such as the lift, the regulations may take into account who actually uses the service. For example, a ground-floor flat may have a different share of the lift cost from one on the top floor.
Do not take anything for granted. Read in the regulations how each item is divided and ask the administrator to explain it with a real example.
What happens if you buy a home with outstanding charges
This is the point that worries buyers most. Whoever takes over from an owner is jointly and severally liable (in solido) for paying the contributions for the current year and the previous one (art. 63 disp. att. c.c.). Jointly and severally liable means the condominium can ask you for them, even if the debt was the seller's.
Example: you buy in March 2026 and the seller has not paid the charges for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The condominium can ask the new owner for the charges for 2026 and 2025. The older ones remain the seller's responsibility.
To avoid surprises, ask the administrator for a certificate of payments before signing. The administrator is obliged to issue it (art. 1130, n. 9, c.c.). If the condominium has more than eight condominium owners, the administrator is mandatory (art. 1129 c.c.), and will be your point of contact.
What changes if the home is subdivided
If a flat is split in two, the units change and usually the thousandths change too. The new table does not write itself: it must be checked and approved according to the condominium rules.
Before buying a unit created by a subdivision (frazionamento), ask the administrator whether the table has been updated. Then compare the floor plan with the actual state of the home, using the cadastral floor plan (planimetria catastale) and the land registry extract (visura catastale). To understand how a subdivision is carried out, read the dedicated guide: subdividing a flat, rules and costs.
The most common mistakes
- Confusing thousandths with square metres: they are two different measures.
- Using the general table for a cost that has its own table, such as heating.
- Not checking that the total of each table adds up to 1,000.
- Paying without asking for the certificate, and discovering later that you owe arrears.
In practice
- Ask the administrator for your unit's table and the heating table.
- Check that the total of each table adds up to 1,000.
- Take the latest cost from the statement of accounts and redo the calculation of your share: if it does not add up, ask for an explanation.
- Before signing the notarial deed (rogito), ask for the certificate of payment of the condominium charges.
For the full process from search to notarial deed, see buying a home: all the steps.
Frequently asked questions
Do thousandths correspond to square metres?
Not always and not directly. A thousandth measures the value of the unit compared with the whole building. A similar surface area can have different thousandths if the position, the floor or the features change.
Can I refuse to pay the costs of a service I do not use?
That depends on the regulations and the tables of your condominium. Some services are also divided according to use. Do not take anything for granted: read what the regulations say or ask the administrator.
Who pays outstanding charges if I buy the home?
The charges for the current year and the previous one can be asked of you, as the new owner, jointly and severally with the seller (art. 63 disp. att. c.c.). The older ones remain the seller's responsibility. To be safe, ask the administrator for the certificate of payments before the notarial deed (rogito).
Sources
In the same chapter
- APE (attestato di prestazione energetica): what it isThe APE is the document that shows how much energy a home consumes and gives it an energy class from A4 to G. Here is when you need it, how to read it and how long it lasts.
- Cadastral category (categoria catastale): A/2, A/3, C/6 and the others explainedThe cadastral category is the code that classifies the property (A/2, A/3, C/6…) and determines cadastral income and taxes. Here is what the letters and numbers mean.
- Certificate of habitability (certificato di agibilità): when it is neededThe certificate of habitability confirms that a home is fit for use. Here is when it is needed, how to check it before buying and what to do if it is missing.
- Cadastral code of the municipality (codice catastale del comune): what it isThe cadastral code is a four-character code that identifies the municipality (comune) in the land registry, and you need it to look up a land registry extract. Here is where to find it.
- Foglio, particella and subalterno: how to find themFoglio, particella and subalterno are the numbers that identify the property in the land registry (catasto): you find them in the notarial deed, the land registry extract and the auction appraisal report.
- Mortgage on a home: what it is and how it is cancelledThe mortgage is the guarantee the bank registers on the home for the loan. It is closed after the final payment, but it should be checked with a mortgage search: here's how.
General information, not legal or tax advice: the law and the notice of sale prevail.
