Definition : Undivided co-ownership (by indivision)

Il existe deux types de copropriétés différentes soit la copropriété divise et la copropriété indivise. Voici une capsule vidéo où l'avocat émérite Yves Joli-Coeur explique ces deux concepts juridiques qui sont bien différents.      

If you are shopping for an apartment, ask yourself if it is located in a divided or undivided co-ownership. Although these two concepts are similar, as they ultimately aim to share the same building by several people called co-owners, the legal and financial implications are not the same. These two types of co-ownership thus have very different terms of ownership, ownership and liability between the co-owners of a building. A look at the main distinctions between divided co-ownership and undivided co-ownership.  

Undivided co-ownership (by indivision) has existed since time immemorial, even before the existence of divided co-ownership. Indivision allows two or more people to own a building while sharing acquisition and operating costs. A co-ownership is said to be undivided when the right of ownership is not accompanied by a material division of the property. The building usually has a single lot number. The owners own a share of this lot. The municipal and school tax bills are thus intended for all the co-owners of the building, who must separate the costs. In addition, since 1994, the Civil Code of Quebec has contained several rules governing joint ownership.

In undivided co-ownership, the rights of withdrawal and of first refusal may disrupt the course of a real estate transaction. It is important to know that other co-owners may take precedence over a potential purchaser.  The title of the latter could be precarious for some time: a buyer who acquires rights in an  undivided co-ownership  without first receiving the approval of all the undivided co-owners is therefore liable to have his share redeemed and thus be excluded from the indivision.    

When it comes time to acquire a home, many buyers turn to the acquisition of a multi-unit building (such as a duplex, triplex, quadruplex, etc.). The direct conversion of rental units to divided co-ownership is prohibited in some cities, with a few exceptions, which is why owners first turn them into undivided co-ownership. It should be noted that a building, whose dwellings are all occupied by undivided owners,can be converted into divided co-ownership, subject to certain conditions. But carrying out this conversion requires to overcome several steps involving all owners concerned.