Latest on CAE

The Spanish Supreme Court (STS 486/2022, 27 May) harmonises the criterion and recognises that a homeowners’ association may be liable as a “principal company” when it outsources services that are core to its activity. This puts an end to years of inconsistency and compels the professionalisation of Coordination of Business Activities (CAE): having paperwork is not enough; effective coordination must be demonstrated.

Good coordination of business activities within a community reduces accidents, speeds up work, and prevents claims. This guide turns the regulation into practice: clear roles, concrete documents, and a verifiable end-to-end process, with alerts and evidence ready for any inspection.

On 27 February 2024, a 47-year-old worker fell about seven metres while installing an external lift in a building in Madrid’s Moratalaz district. He was taken in serious condition to Gregorio Marañón Hospital. The Labour Inspectorate opened an investigation to determine whether the required safety measures had been applied.

«The maximum penalty under Spain’s LISOS (Labour Infractions and Sanctions Act) does not change with size: a 10-unit building can receive the same fine as a 100-unit one.»

Imagine a maintenance company enters a homeowners’ association to carry out work and one of its employees is injured. At first glance it looks like the company’s problem—doesn’t it? In fact, if that firm hadn’t submitted its CAE documentation or it hadn’t been validated, the association and the property manager can face serious legal consequences.

Spoiler: Not having a porter on the books does not exempt your building from Coordination of Business Activities (CAE). The moment a cleaner or an elevator technician walks through the door, your community assumes preventive duties.

As a property manager, your responsibility goes well beyond handling maintenance issues or coordinating contractors. When communities delegate that duty, you are also the guarantor that every company working on the premises complies with occupational-risk-prevention law. Allowing a contractor or worker on site without proof of legal compliance can lead to administrative fines, civil claims or even criminal liability if an accident occurs.

Coordination of Business Activities (CAE) is a legal obligation for every homeowners’ association that hires external service providers. Yet many property managers still make mistakes—usually through lack of awareness or the absence of the right tool. Below are the most frequent errors and simple ways to prevent them.

“Companies that work with VerifiCAE upload their documents only once, and they are valid for every community where they provide services.”

Managing homeowners’ associations comes with a long list of responsibilities. One of the most sensitive—and often underestimated—is Coordination of Business Activities (CAE). Allowing companies to work in common areas without the proper documentation can put both the community and you at risk. With VerifiCAE, you can leave behind endless emails, paper folders and constant doubts. Our platform is built specifically for property managers who need a professional, streamlined solution.

If you manage homeowners’ associations as a property manager, you’ve likely already heard about Coordination of Business Activities (CAE).

When we talk about occupational risk prevention, we usually picture offices, factories or construction firms. Yet there is another setting where these regulations apply—and are often ignored: homeowners’ associations. Even if an association has no employees of its own, the law still requires it to meet certain preventive obligations whenever it hires external service providers. This is precisely where many communities—and their property managers—face significant legal risks.

Coordination of Business Activities (CAE) is a concept many homeowners’ associations are still unfamiliar with, yet it is legally mandatory whenever external companies work in common areas. At VerifiCAE, we focus on making compliance easy, providing legal security for both property managers and the communities themselves.