die Eigentumswohnung, -en

Definition & meaning

An Eigentumswohnung is a residential apartment that is privately owned by an individual, rather than rented from a landlord.

1. Legal ownership: The owner holds the title to a specific unit within a larger building or complex. This often includes shared ownership (or "co-ownership") of the common areas of the building, such as the hallway, roof, staircase, and garden.
2. Management: Owners of these apartments are usually members of a homeowners' association (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft ?), which makes collective decisions regarding maintenance, repairs, and building management.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Eigentumswohnung). It is a compound word formed by two parts:

• Eigentum: Meaning "property" or "ownership."
• Wohnung: Meaning "apartment" or "flat."

Etymologically, it describes a "flat that is (one's own) property."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Eigentumswohnung is often contrasted with rented living space, but there are terms related to its status as property:
• Wohnungseigentum ? (refers to the legal concept of condominium ownership).
• ETW (the common abbreviation for Eigentumswohnung).

Antonyms:

• Mietwohnung ?: A rental apartment owned by a landlord and occupied by a tenant.