Propietaris

Propietaris is the Catalan term for property owners, used to refer to persons or institutions with legal title to a property. The word derives from Latin propietarius and is related to the noun propietat, meaning property.

In law, ownership (propietat) is a bundle of rights that typically includes the right to use, enjoy, exclude others, and dispose of the property, subject to applicable laws, mortgages, easements, and planning rules. Ownership can be held by individuals, families, companies, or other legal entities, and may be restricted by zoning, covenants, or public regulations.

Evidence of ownership is usually established by a title deed and registered in the land registry (registre de la propietat) in Catalan-speaking regions of Spain. Owners are typically responsible for property-related obligations such as taxes (for example, the property tax, IBI) and maintenance. In shared properties, owners may also contribute to community charges and maintenance through a homeowners association or communal body.

In multi-owner buildings, the concept is often encountered within the comunitat de propietaris or homeowners association, where owners share responsibility for common areas and governance. Decisions regarding common areas are usually made by voting according to established rules and by-laws, with financial contributions determined by the ownership share or prescribed formulas.

Propietaris differ from tenants, who hold rights of use under a lease rather than ownership. Proprietors have the authority to sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer the property, within the bounds of the law. The concept of propietaris is central to property law, urban planning, and real estate markets, with specifics varying by jurisdiction while retaining the core notion of ownership of a discrete asset.