Cooperative Union
Verified 19 June 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
The co-operative union is alternative the management of a building by a professional trustee. What is a co-operative union and how does it work? We present you the information to know.
The cooperative union is a form of syndicate of co-owners. It allows a collegial management of the building by the co-ownerswithout recourse to a professional trustee.
The cooperative form may be adopted as soon as the syndicate of co-owners is established. If this form was not chosen from the beginning, several steps must be followed to move to the cooperative union.
1Verify that the condominium by-law allows this model
It is important to ensure that the condominium rules does not prohibit this form of management. If that is the case, the condominium by-law will have to be amended to remove this prohibition.
FYI
It is not necessary that the co-ownership by-law provide for expressly the possibility of using the cooperative form. Its implementation is allowed even when the condominium by-law is silent on this point.
2Include on the agenda of the general meeting the transition to the cooperative form of the syndicate of co-owners
The adoption of the cooperative form of the syndicate of co-owners must be decided in general assembly. That question must therefore be included in theagenda of the general meeting and be put to the vote of the co-owners.
The cooperative form shall be adopted at the absolute majority.
The operation of the co-operative union has certain characteristics that must be respected.
Mandatory establishment of a trade union council
In the cooperative form union, the constitution of a union council is mandatory. The only exception is for small condominiums.
Appointment of trustee
The cooperative trustee is not directly designated by the co-owners.
Indeed, the general meeting of co-owners only designates the members (co-owners) who will constitute the union council. The trustee is then elected by the members of the board and chosen from among them. This election takes place at a meeting of the trade union council held after the general assembly.
The cooperative trustee shall perform the duties of president of the union council.
The members of the trade union council may also elect, under the same conditions, a vice-president. Its function is to replace the trustee in the event of his inability to act.
Please note
The cooperative trustee and the vice-president must own one or more batches of co-ownership.
The president of the union council (trustee) and the vice-president are revocable by the trade union council, under the same conditions as those for their appointment.
Distribution of tasks
The president of the trade union council carries out all the tasks of a syndic of co-ownership.
Usually, the members of the union council nevertheless assist him in this task. In this case, they divide up the different missions and the president of the union council (also says cooperative trustee) oversees the overall management of the condominium.
The cooperative trustee may also entrust certain tasks to external service providers or request technical advice from any professional.
Prohibition of remuneration of members of the trade union council
The duties of president and member of the trade union council may not be remunerated. No financial contribution may be paid to them for the performance of their tasks. They thus carry out their missions on a voluntary basis.
Appointment of an auditor
The general meeting of co-owners must designate one or more persons to ensure the control of the accounts of the cooperative union.
These may include:
- Of a co-owner, except the spouse, common-law partner, descendants, ascendants or attendants the trustee or one of the members of the trade union council or their partners linked to them by a civil solidarity pact (Civil partnerships)
- Or a chartered accountant
- Or a auditor.
The appointment of the auditor shall be voted on at the general meeting at the simple majority.
The auditor is thus responsible for the transparency and sound financial management of the syndicate of co-owners. It must report annually to the General Assembly on the performance of its mission.
FYI
The term of office of the co-owner appointed to control the accounts of the syndicate may not exceed 3 years. The mandate is renewable. It never gives rise to remuneration.
Mention of cooperative form in documents
In a co-operative form of trade union, the acts and documents drawn up on behalf of the trade union must specify its co-operative form.
The purpose of this requirement is to provide clear information to third parties on the organization of the trade union and on the identity of its representative (president of the trade union council – trustee).
The abandonment of the cooperative form of the union must be voted in the general assembly at the absolute majority.