Your pet and your neighbours: barking, the lift and shared areas

What the law says

In your flat you cannot carry out activities banned by the community's statutes, or activities that are a nuisance, unhealthy or dangerous. If this happens, the president can ask you to stop and, if you carry on, the community can take it to court (Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, the Condominium Act, art. 7.2).

Having an animal is not in itself a nuisance activity. What can be is constant barking, bad smells or dirt in the shared areas. If your community's statutes say anything about animals, read them: on whether they can ban keeping them inside your home, there are court rulings both ways.

Shared areas

The community can set rules for the entrance hall, lift, garden or pool, for example that dogs must be on a lead. Ley 7/2023 (the Animal Welfare Act) also requires you to prevent your animal from causing nuisance or harm to other people (art. 26.c).

To get along well

• If your dog barks when left alone, it is not bad manners: it is usually anxiety. Work on it with a trainer.
• Short lead in the entrance hall and the lift, and wait for the next one if someone is afraid.
• Pick up and clean any accident straight away.
• If there is a complaint, talk to the neighbour first before it reaches the residents' meeting.