SB283

ENGROSSED

By Senator Smitherman

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to the Uniform Condominium Act; to amend Sections 35-8A-102, 35-8A-103, 35-8A-105, 35-8A-106, 35-8A-107, 35-8A-201, 35-8A-205, 35-8A-208, 35-8A-209, 35-8A-210, 35-8A-211, 35-8A-214, 35-8A-215, 35-8A-218, 35-8A-220, 35-8A-302, 35-8A-303, 35-8A-304, 35-8A-305, 35-8A-307, 35-8A-310, 35-8A-311, 35-8A-312, 35-8A-313, 35-8A-314, 35-8A-315, 35-8A-316, 35-8A-317, 35-8A-318, 35-8A-401, 35-8A-402, 35-8A-403, 35-8A-404, 35-8A-406, 35-8A-407, 35-8A-408, 35-8A-409, 35-8A-411, 35-8A-412, 35-8A-413, 35-8A-415, and 35-8A-417 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to provide further for the creation, management, and termination of a condominium association; and to specify further the rights of the developer and rights of the unit owner with regard to a condominium that is part of a condominium association.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Sections 35-8A-102, 35-8A-103, 35-8A-105, 35-8A-106, 35-8A-107, 35-8A-201, 35-8A-205, 35-8A-208, 35-8A-209, 35-8A-210, 35-8A-211, 35-8A-214, 35-8A-215, 35-8A-218, 35-8A-220, 35-8A-302, 35-8A-303, 35-8A-304, 35-8A-305, 35-8A-307, 35-8A-310, 35-8A-311, 35-8A-312, 35-8A-313, 35-8A-314, 35-8A-315, 35-8A-316, 35-8A-317, 35-8A-318, 35-8A-401, 35-8A-402, 35-8A-403, 35-8A-404, 35-8A-406, 35-8A-407, 35-8A-408, 35-8A-409, 35-8A-411, 35-8A-412, 35-8A-413, 35-8A-415, and 35-8A-417 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§35-8A-102.

"(a) This chapter applies to all condominiums created within this state after January 1, 1991. Sections 35-8A-104 (Variation by agreement), 35-8A-105 (Separate titles and taxation), 35-8A-106 (Applicability of local ordinances, regulations, and building codes), 35-8A-107 (Eminent domain), 35-8A-203 (Construction and validity of declaration and bylaws), 35-8A-204 (Description of units), 35-8A-302(a)(1) through (a)(6) and (a)(11) through (a)(16) (Powers of unit owners' association), 35-8A-311 (Tort and contract liability), 35-8A-316 (Lien for assessments), 35-8A-318 (Association records), 35-8A-409 (Resales of units), and 35-8A-417 (Substantial completion of units), and Section 35-8A-103 (Definitions), to the extent necessary in construing any of those sections, apply to all condominiums created in this state before January 1, 1991; but those sections apply only with respect to events and circumstances occurring after January 1, 1991, and do not invalidate existing provisions of the declaration, bylaws, plats or plans of those condominiums.

"(b) The provisions of Sections 35-8-1 through 35-8-22 do not apply to condominiums created after January 1, 1991, unless the declaration so provides in the case of a condominium containing four or fewer units and do not invalidate any amendment to the declaration, bylaws, plats, or plans of any condominium created before January 1, 1991, if the amendment would be permitted by this chapter. The amendment must be adopted in conformity with the procedures and requirements specified by those instruments and by Sections 35-8-1 through 35-8-22. If the amendment grants to any person any rights, powers, or privileges permitted by this chapter, all correlative obligations, liabilities, and restrictions in this chapter also apply to that person.

"(c) This chapter does not apply to condominiums or units located outside this state, but the offering statement provisions (Sections 35-8A-402 through 35-8A-408) apply to all contracts for the disposition thereof signed in by a resident of this state by any party unless: (i) the transaction is exempt under Section 35-8A-401(b); (ii) the transaction is exempt pursuant to Section 35-8A-407; or (iii) the state in which the condominium is located has statutory disclosure requirements and all terms thereof have been met.

"(d) This chapter does not apply if If a condominium contains no more than four units and is not subject to any development rights, unless the declaration provides that the entire chapter is applicable the condominium may be created pursuant to this chapter or pursuant to Sections 35-8-1 to 35-8-22, inclusive, and the declaration of condominium shall declare the chapter that shall govern the condominium.

§35-8A-103.

"In the declaration and bylaws, unless specifically provided otherwise or the context otherwise requires, and in this chapter, the following terms are defined as set forth below:

"(1) AFFILIATE OF A DECLARANT. Any person who controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a declarant. A person "controls" a declarant if the person (i) is a general partner, officer, director, or employer of the declarant, (ii) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing more than 20 percent of the voting interest in the declarant, (iii) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the declarant, or (iv) has contributed more than 20 percent of the capital of the declarant. A person "is controlled by" a declarant if the declarant (i) is a general partner, officer, director, or employer of the person, (ii) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing more than 20 percent of the voting interest in the person, (iii) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the person, or (iv) has contributed more than 20 percent of the capital of the person. Control does not exist if the powers described in this paragraph are held solely as security for an obligation and are not exercised.

"(2) ALLOCATED INTERESTS. The undivided interest in the common elements, the common expense liability, and votes in the association allocated to each unit.

"(3) ASSOCIATION or UNIT OWNERS' ASSOCIATION. The corporation organized under Section 35-8A-301.

"(4) COMMON ELEMENTS. All portions of a condominium other than the units, and any other interests in real estate for the benefit of the unit owners which are declared to be subject to the declaration.

"(5) COMMON EXPENSES. Expenditures made by or financial liabilities of the association, together with any allocations to reserves.

"(6) COMMON EXPENSE LIABILITY. The liability for common expenses allocated to each unit pursuant to Section 35-8A-207.

"(7) CONDOMINIUM. Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions. Real estate is not a condominium unless the undivided interests in the common elements are vested in the unit owners.

"(8) CONVERSION BUILDING. A building that at any time before creation of the condominium was occupied wholly or partially by persons other than purchasers and persons who occupy with the consent of purchasers.

"(9) DECLARANT. Any person or group of persons acting in concert who (i) as part of a common promotional plan, who offers to dispose of his or its an interest in a condominium unit not previously disposed of, or (ii) reserves or who succeeds to any special declarant right.

"(10) DECLARATION. Any instruments instrument, however denominated, that create creates a condominium, and any amendments to those instruments that instrument.

"(11) DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. Any right or combination of rights reserved by a declarant in the declaration to: (i) add real estate to a condominium; (ii) to create units, common elements, or limited common elements within a condominium; (iii) to subdivide units or convert units into common elements or common elements into units; or (iv) to withdraw real estate from a condominium.

"(12) DISPOSE or DISPOSITION. A voluntary transfer to a purchaser of any legal or equitable interest title to in a unit, but does not include the transfer or release of a security interest.

"(13) BOARD. The body, regardless of name, designated in the declaration to act on behalf of governing the association.

"(14) IDENTIFYING NUMBER. A symbol or address number, letter, or combination thereof that identifies only one unit in a condominium.

"(15) LEASEHOLD CONDOMINIUM. A condominium in which all or a portion of the real estate is subject to a lease, the expiration or termination of which will terminate the condominium or reduce its size.

"(16) LIMITED COMMON ELEMENT ELEMENTS. A portion of the common elements allocated by the declaration or by operation of Section 35-8A-202(2) or (4) for the exclusive use of by one or more but fewer than all of the units.

"(17) MASTER ASSOCIATION. An organization described in Section 35-8A-220, whether or not it is also an association described in Section 35-8A-301.

"(18) OFFERING. Any advertisement, inducement, solicitation, or attempt to encourage any person to acquire any interest in a unit, other than as security for an obligation. An advertisement in a newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, or in any broadcast medium to the general public, of a condominium not located in this state, is not an offering if the advertisement states that an offering may be made only in compliance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the condominium is located.

"(19) PERSON. A natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal or commercial entity.

"(20) PURCHASER. Any person, other than a declarant or a person in the business of selling real estate for his or her own account, who by means of a voluntary transfer acquires a legal or equitable interest in a unit other than: (i) a leasehold interest (including renewal options) of less than 20 years, or (ii) as security for an obligation.

"(21) REAL ESTATE. Any leasehold or other estate or interest in, over, or under land, including structures, fixtures, and other improvements and interests which by custom, usage, or law pass with a conveyance of land though not described in the contract of sale or instrument of conveyance. "Real estate" includes parcels with or without upper or lower boundaries, and spaces that may be filled with air or water.

"(22) RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. Use for dwelling or recreational purposes, or both.

"(23) SECURITY INTEREST. An interest in real estate or personal property created by contract or conveyance, which secures payment or performance of an obligation. The term includes a lien created by a mortgage, vendor's lien, deed of trust, contract for deed, land sales contract, lease intended as security, assignment of lease, rents intended as security, or any similar security device, pledge of an ownership interest in an association, and any other consensual lien or title retention contract intended as security for an obligation.

"(24) SPECIAL DECLARANT RIGHTS. Rights reserved for the benefit of a declarant (i) to complete improvements indicated on plats and plans filed with the declaration (Section 35-8A-209); (ii) to exercise any development right (Section 35-8A-210); (iii) to maintain sales offices, management offices, signs advertising the condominium, and models (Section 35-8A-215); (iv) to use easements through the common elements for the purpose of making improvements within the condominium or within real estate which may be added to the condominium (Section 35-8A-216); (v) to make the condominium subject to a master association (Section 35-8A-220); (vi) or to appoint or remove any officer of the association or any master association or any board member during any period of declarant control (Section 35-8A-303(d)).

"(25) TIME SHARE. A right to occupy a unit or any of several units during five or more separated time periods over a period of at least five years, including renewal options, whether or not coupled with an estate or interest in a condominium or a specified portion thereof.

"(26) UNIT. A physical portion of the condominium designated for separate ownership or occupancy, the boundaries of which are described pursuant to Section 35-8A-205(a)(5).

"(27) UNIT OWNER. A declarant or other person who owns a unit, or a lessee of the owner of the right to use a unit in a leasehold condominium whose lease interest expires simultaneously with any lease interest the expiration or termination of which will remove the unit from the condominium, but does not include a person having an interest in a unit solely as security for an obligation. In a condominium, the The declarant is the initial unit owner of any unit created by in the condominium.

§35-8A-105.

"(a) If there is any unit owner other than a declarant, each unit that has been created, together with its interest in the common elements, constitutes for all purposes a separate parcel of real estate.

"(b) In a condominium where If there is any unit owner other than a declarant:,

"(1) Each unit that has been created together with its interest in the common elements, constitutes for all purposes a separate parcel of real estate; and

"(2) Each each unit must be separately taxed and assessed, and no separate tax or assessment may be rendered against any common elements for which a declarant has reserved no development rights.

"(c) Any portion of the common elements for which the declarant has reserved any development right must may be separately taxed and assessed against the declarant, and, if separately taxed and assessed, the declarant alone is would be liable for payment of those taxes.

"(d) If there is no unit owner other than a declarant, the real estate comprising the condominium may be taxed and assessed in any manner provided by law.

"(e) All laws authorizing exemptions or deductions from taxation shall be applicable to each individual unit to the same extent they are applicable to other property.

§35-8A-106.

"(a) A building code may not impose any requirements upon any structure in a condominium which it would not impose upon a physically identical development structure under a different form of ownership.

"(b) No zoning, subdivision, or other real estate use law, ordinance, or regulation may prohibit the condominium form of ownership or impose any requirement upon a condominium which it would not impose upon a physically identical development under a different form of ownership.

"(c) Except as provided in subsections (a) and (b), the provisions of this chapter do not invalidate or modify any provision of any zoning, subdivision, building code, or other real estate use law, ordinance, rule, or regulation governing the use of real estate.

§35-8A-107.

"(a) If a unit is acquired by eminent domain, or if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain leaving the unit owner with a remnant which may not practically or lawfully be used for any purpose permitted by the declaration, the award must compensate the unit owner for the unit and its interest in the common elements, whether or not any common elements are acquired. Upon acquisition, unless the decree otherwise provides, that unit's allocated interests are automatically reallocated to the remaining units in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those units before the taking, and the association shall promptly prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations. Any remnant of a unit remaining after part of a unit is taken under this subsection is thereafter a common element.

"(b) Except as provided in subsection (a), if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain, the award must compensate the unit owner for the reduction in value of the unit and its interest in the common elements, whether or not any common elements are acquired. Upon acquisition, unless the decree otherwise provides, (i) that unit's allocated interests are reduced in proportion to the reduction in the size of the unit, or on any other basis specified in the declaration, and (ii) the portion of the allocated interests divested from the partially acquired unit are automatically reallocated to that unit and the remaining units in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those units before the taking, with the partially acquired unit participating in the reallocation on the basis of its reduced allocated interests.

"(c) If part of the common elements is acquired by eminent domain the portion of the award attributable to the common elements taken must be paid to the association. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, any portion of the award attributable to the acquisition of a limited common element must be equally divided among the owners of the units in accordance with the value of the interest assigned to the unit in that particular limited common element to which that limited common element was allocated at the time of acquisition.

"(d) The court decree shall be recorded in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located.

§35-8A-201.

"(a) A condominium may be created pursuant to this chapter only by filing a declaration executed in the same manner as a deed with the judge of probate in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located. A duplicate of the declaration may be presented to the filing officer simultaneously for proper validation as to the date filed. Said duplicate shall be returned to the person who presented it.

"(b) The judge of probate shall index the declaration of condominium in the grantee's index in the name of the condominium and the association and in the grantor's index in the name of each person executing the declaration. A well-bound book of suitable size for each condominium to be known as "Condominium Book No." shall be maintained by the judge of probate. Such book shall contain a copy of the declaration of condominium, all drawings, amendments, certificate of completion, certificate of termination, or other like instruments.

"(c) A declaration or an amendment to a declaration adding units to a condominium, may not be recorded is not effective unless all structural components and mechanical systems of all buildings containing or comprising any units thereby created are substantially completed in accordance with the plans complete, as evidenced by a recorded certificate of substantial completion of structural and mechanical systems executed by an independent registered engineer or independent registered architect.

§35-8A-205.

"(a) The declaration for a condominium must contain:

"(1) The name of the condominium, which must include the word "condominium" or be followed by the words "a condominium," and the name of the association;

"(2) The name of every county in which any part of the condominium is situated;

"(3) A legally sufficient description of the real estate included in the condominium;

"(4) A statement of the maximum number of units which the declarant reserves the right to create;

"(5) A description of the boundaries of each unit created by the declaration, including the unit's identifying number;

"(6) A description of any limited common elements, other than those specified in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4), as provided in Section 35-8A-209(b)(10);

"(7) A description of any real estate common elements (except real estate subject to development rights) which may be allocated subsequently as limited common elements, other than limited common elements specified in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4), together with a statement that they may be so allocated;

"(8) A description of any development rights specified in Section 35-8A-103(11) and other special declarant rights specified in Section 35-8A-103(24) reserved by the declarant, together with a legally sufficient description of the real estate to which each of those rights applies, and a time limit within which each of those rights must be exercised;

"(9) If any development right may be exercised with respect to different parcels of real estate at different times, a statement to that effect together with (i) either a statement fixing the boundaries of those portions and regulating the order in which those portions may be subjected to the exercise of each development right, or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards, and (ii) a statement as to whether, if any development right is exercised in any portion of the real estate subject to that development right, that development right must be exercised in all or in any other portion of the remainder of that real estate;

"(10) Any other conditions or limitations under which the rights described in subdivision (8) may be exercised or will lapse;

"(11) An allocation to each unit of the allocated interests in the manner described in Section 35-8A-207;

"(12) Any restrictions on (i) use, occupancy, leasing, or alienation of the units, provided that reasonable rules and regulations related to conduct by unit owners or esthetic aesthetic considerations which are adopted by the association from time to time need not be included in the declaration, and (ii) the amount for which a unit may be sold or the amount that may be received by a unit owner on sale, condemnation, casualty loss to the unit or to the condominium, or on the termination of the condominium;

"(13) The recording data for recorded easements and licenses appurtenant to or included in the condominium or to which any portion of the condominium is or may become subject by virtue of a reservation in the declaration;

"(14) A statement of the number and identity of units which the declarant reserves the right to dispose of in time shares; and

"(15) All matters required by Sections 35-8A-206 through 35-8A-209, 35-8A-215, 35-8A-216, and 35-8A-303(d).

"(b) The declaration may contain any other matters the declarant deems appropriate.

§35-8A-208.

"(a) Except for the limited common elements described in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4), the declaration must specify to which unit or units each limited common element is allocated. An allocation may not be altered without the consent of the association and the unit owners whose units are affected by the amendment.

"(b) Except as the declaration otherwise provides, a limited common element may be reallocated by an amendment to the declaration executed by the unit owners between or among whose units the reallocation is made. The persons executing the amendment shall provide it to the association, which shall prepare, execute, and record it the amendment which is subject to Section 35-8A-217(e), and the cost shall be borne by the persons unit owners executing the amendment. The amendment shall be recorded and indexed in the names of the parties and unit owners executing the amendment, the condominium, and the association.

"(c) A common element not previously allocated as a limited common element may not be so allocated except pursuant to provisions in the declaration made in accordance with Section 35-8A-205(a)(7). The allocations must be made by amendments to the declaration.

§35-8A-209.

"(a) Plats and plans are a part of the declaration. Separate plats and plans are not required by this chapter if all the information required by this section is contained in either a plat or plan. Each plat and plan must be clear and legible and A clear and legible plat of the condominium property and plans, if required under subsection (d), shall be recorded in the office of the judge of probate in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located and shall contain a certification that the plat or plan and plans, if any contain all information required by this section. If the plat contains all of the information required by this section described in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (g), plans are not required. The recorded plan and plans are part of the declaration.

"(b) Each plat must show:

"(1) The name of the condominium and a survey or general schematic map of the entire of the real property included in the condominium;

"(2) The location and dimensions of all real estate not subject to development rights, or subject only to the development right to withdraw, and the location and dimensions of all existing improvements within that real estate located on the condominium property;

"(3) A legally sufficient description The location and dimensions of any real estate subject to development rights reserved over any part of the condominium property, labeled to identify the rights applicable to each parcel identified portion, but the plat need not designate or label which development rights are applicable if that information is clearly described in the declaration;

"(4) The extent of any encroachments by or upon any portion of the condominium property;

"(5) To the extent feasible, a legally sufficient description any easements can be shown on the plat, the location and dimensions of all easements serving or burdening any portion of the condominium property;

"(6) The To the extent they can be shown on the plat, the location and dimensions of any vertical unit boundaries not shown or projected on plans recorded pursuant to subsection (d) and that unit's and the identifying number of each unit;

"(7) The location To the extent they can be shown on the plat, any horizontal unit boundaries with reference to an established datum of any horizontal unit boundaries not shown or projected on plans recorded pursuant to subsection (d) and that unit's and the identifying number of each unit;

"(8) To the extent they can be shown on the plat, the location and dimensions of any limited common elements other than parking spaces and the limited common elements described in subdivisions (2) and (4) of Section 35-8A-202;

"(8) (9) A legally sufficient description of any real estate in which the unit owners will own only an estate for years, labeled as "leasehold real estate";

"(9) (10) The distance between noncontiguous parcels of real estate comprising property included in the condominium;

"(10) The location and dimensions of limited common elements, including porches, balconies, and patios, other than parking spaces and the other limited common elements described in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4);

"(11) In the case of real estate not subject to development rights, all other matters customarily shown on land surveys.

"(12) (11) A certification as to whether any portion of the real property subject to contained in the condominium is located within a flood zone as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development federal agency charged with implementation of the National Flood Insurance Act and, if so, the flood zone classification. When any portion of the condominium property is located within a flood zone, the flood zone boundary shall be shown on the plat, together with the elevations and locations of all proposed existing structures to be located within the flood zone area.;

"(c) A plat may also show the (12) The intended location and dimensions of any contemplated improvement or proposed improvements to be constructed anywhere within on the condominium property pursuant to any development right. Any contemplated improvement shown, which must be clearly labeled either "MUST BE BUILT" or "NEED NOT BE BUILT.; and"

"(13) All other matters customarily shown on land surveys.

"(c) A general schematic map or a legal description of any real property that may be added to the condominium in the future pursuant to a development right reserved under Section 35-8A-205(a)(8) must either be included in the declaration or shown on an additional page of the plat. If the additional real property is shown on the plat, it must be clearly labeled that it is not part of the condominium property.

"(d) To the extent not shown or projected contained on the plats plat of the condominium property, plans of the units must show or project condominium property improvements must be prepared and recorded that show:

"(1) The location and dimensions of the vertical boundaries of each unit, and that unit's the identifying number for each unit;

"(2) Any horizontal unit boundaries, with reference to an established datum, and that unit's the identifying number for each unit; and

"(3) Any The location and dimensions of any limited common elements other than parking spaces and the limited common elements described in subdivisions (2) and (4) of Section 35-8A-202; and

"(4) The location and dimensions of any units in which the declarant has reserved the right to create additional units or common elements described in Section 35-8A-210(c) identified appropriately, unless the development rights are adequately described in the declaration.

"(e) Unless the declaration provides otherwise, the horizontal boundaries of any part of a unit located outside of a building have the same elevation as the horizontal boundaries of the inside part the building, and need not be depicted on the plats and plans.

"(f) Upon exercising any development right that affects the condominium property, the declarant shall record either new plats and plans necessary to conform to the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (d) above, or new certifications of the plats and plans previously recorded if those plats and plans otherwise conform to the requirements of those subsections.

"(g) Any certification of a plat or plan required by this section or Section 35-8A-201(b) must be made by an independent a registered engineer or, a registered architect, or a licensed surveyor.

§35-8A-210.

"(a) To exercise any development right reserved under Section 35-8A-205(a)(8), the declarant shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration as specified in Section 35-8A-217 and comply with Section 35-8A-209. The declarant is the unit owner of any units thereby created. The amendment to the declaration must assign an identifying number to each new unit created, and, except in the case of subdivision or conversion of units described in subsection (b) subdivision (2) of subsection (c), reallocate the allocated interests among all units. The amendment must describe any common elements and any limited common elements thereby created and, in the case of limited common elements, designate the unit to which each is allocated to the extent required by Section 35-8A-208.

"(b) Development rights may be reserved within any real estate added to the condominium if the amendment adding that real estate includes all matters required by Section 35-8A-205 or 35-8A-206, as the case may be, and the plats and plans include all matters required by Section 35-8A-209. This provision does not extend the time limit on the exercise of development rights imposed by the declaration pursuant to Section 35-8A-205(a)(8).

"(c) Whenever a declarant exercises a development right to subdivide or convert a unit previously created into additional units, common elements, or both:

"(1) If the declarant converts the unit entirely to common elements, the amendment to the declaration must reallocate all the allocated interests of that unit among the other units as if that unit had been taken by eminent domain; and

"(2) If the declarant subdivides the unit into two or more units, whether or not any part of the unit is converted into common elements, the amendment to the declaration must reallocate all the allocated interests of the unit among the units created by the subdivision in any reasonable manner prescribed by the declarant.

"(d) If the declaration provides, pursuant to Section 35-8A-205(a)(8), that all or a portion of the real estate is subject to the development right of withdrawal:

"(1) If all the real estate is subject to withdrawal, and the declaration does not describe separate portions of real estate subject to that right, none of the real estate may be withdrawn after a unit has been conveyed to a purchaser; and

"(2) If a portion or portions are subject to withdrawal, no portion may be withdrawn after a unit in that portion has been conveyed to a purchaser.

§35-8A-211.

"Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a unit owner:

"(1) May make any improvements or alterations to his or her unit that do not impair the structural integrity, or mechanical systems, or lessen the support of any portion of the condominium;

"(2) May not substantially or adversely change the appearance of the common elements, or the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion of the condominium, without permission of the association;

"(3) After acquiring an adjoining unit, or an adjoining part of an adjoining unit, may remove or alter any intervening partition or create apertures therein, even if the partition in whole or in part is a common element, if those acts do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the condominium. Removal of partitions or creation of apertures under this subdivision is not an alteration of boundaries.

§35-8A-214.

"The existing physical boundaries of a unit or the physical boundaries of a unit reconstructed in substantial accordance with the original plats and plans thereof become its boundaries rather than the metes and bounds expressed in the deed or plat or plan, regardless of settling or lateral movement of the building, or minor variance between boundaries shown on the plats or plans or in the deed and those of the building. This section does not relieve a unit owner of liability in case of his or her willful misconduct nor relieve a declarant or any other person of liability for failure to adhere to the plats and plans.

§35-8A-215.

"A declarant may maintain sales offices, management offices, and models in units or on common elements in the condominium only if the declaration so provides and specifies the rights of a declarant with regard to the number, size, location, and relocation thereof. Any sales office, management office, or model not designated a unit by the declaration is a common element, and if a declarant ceases to be a unit owner, he or she ceases to have any rights with regard thereto unless it is removed promptly from the condominium in accordance with a right to remove reserved in the declaration. Subject to any limitations in the declaration, a declarant may maintain signs on the common elements advertising the condominium. The provisions of this section are subject to the provisions of other state law, and to local ordinances.

§35-8A-218.

"(a) Except in the case of a taking of all the units by eminent domain specified in Section 35-8A-107, a condominium may be terminated only by agreement of unit owners of units to which at least 80 percent of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units in the condominium are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses.

"(b) An agreement to terminate must be evidenced by the execution of a termination agreement, or ratifications thereof, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of unit owners. The termination agreement must specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless it is recorded before that date. A termination agreement and all ratifications thereof must be recorded in every county in which a portion of the condominium is situated, and is effective only upon recordation.

"(c) In the case of a condominium containing only units having horizontal boundaries described in the declaration, a termination agreement may provide that all the common elements and units of the condominium shall be sold following termination. If, pursuant to the agreement, any real estate in the condominium is to be sold following termination, the termination agreement must set forth the minimum terms of the sale.

"(d) In the case of a condominium containing any units not having horizontal boundaries described in the declaration, a termination agreement may provide for sale of the common elements, but may not require that the units be sold following termination, unless the declaration as originally recorded provided otherwise or unless all the unit owners consent to the sale.

"(e) The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract for the sale of real estate in the condominium, but the contract is not binding on the unit owners until approved pursuant to subsections (a) and (b). If any real estate in the condominium is to be sold following termination, title to that real estate, upon termination, vests in the association as trustee for the holders of all interests in the units. Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the sale. Until the sale has been concluded and the proceeds thereof distributed, the association continues in existence with all powers it had before termination. Proceeds of the sale must be distributed to unit owners and lien holders as their interests may appear, in accordance with subsections (i), (j), and (k). Unless otherwise specified in the termination agreement, as long as the association holds title to the real estate, each unit owner and his or her successors in interest have an exclusive right to occupancy of the portion of the real estate that formerly constituted his or her unit. During the period of that occupancy, each unit owner and his or her successors in interest remain liable for all assessments and other obligations imposed on unit owners by this chapter or the declaration.

"(f) If the real estate constituting the condominium is not to be sold following termination, title to the common elements and, in a condominium containing only units having horizontal boundaries described in the declaration, title to all the real estate in the condominium, vests in the unit owners upon termination as tenants in common in proportion to their respective interests as provided in subsection (h), and liens on the units shift accordingly. While the tenancy in common exists, each unit owner and his or her successors in interest have an exclusive right to occupancy of the portion of the real estate that formerly constituted his or her unit.

"(g) Following termination of the condominium, the proceeds of any sale of real estate, together with the assets of the association, are held by the association as trustee for unit owners and holders of liens on the units as their interests may appear.

"(h) Following termination, creditors of the association holding liens on the units which were recorded before termination, may enforce those liens in the same manner as any lien holder. All other creditors of the association are to be treated as if they had perfected liens on the units immediately before termination.

"(i) The respective interests of unit owners referred to in subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) are as follows:

"(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), the respective interests of unit owners are the fair market values of their units, limited common elements, and common element interests immediately before the termination, as determined by one or more independent appraisers selected by the association. The decision of the independent appraisers shall be distributed to the unit owners and becomes final unless disapproved within 30 days after distribution by unit owners of units to which 25 percent of the votes in the association are allocated. The proportion of any unit owner's interest to that of all unit owners is determined by dividing the fair market value of that unit and common element interest by the total fair market values of all the units and common elements.

"(2) If any unit or any limited common element is destroyed to the extent that an appraisal of the fair market value thereof before destruction cannot be made, the interests of all unit owners are their respective common element interests immediately before the termination.

"(j) Except as provided in subsection (k), foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against the entire condominium does not of itself terminate the condominium, and foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against a portion of the condominium, other than withdrawable real estate, does not withdraw that portion from the condominium. Foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against withdrawable real estate does not of itself withdraw that real estate from the condominium, but the person taking title thereto has the right to require from the association, upon request, an amendment excluding the real estate from the condominium.

"(k) If a lien or encumbrance against a portion of the real estate comprising the condominium has priority over the declaration, and the lien or encumbrance has not been partially released, the parties foreclosing the lien or encumbrance may upon foreclosure, record an instrument excluding the real estate subject to that lien or encumbrance from the condominium.

§35-8A-220.

"(a) If the declaration for a condominium provides that any of the powers described in Section 35-8A-302 are to be exercised by or may be delegated to a profit or nonprofit corporation which exercises those or other powers on behalf of one or more condominiums or for the benefit of the unit owners of one or more condominiums, all provisions of this chapter applicable to unit owners' associations apply to any such corporation with regard to such delegated power except as modified by this section.

"(b) Unless it is acting in the capacity of an association described in Section 35-8A-301, a master association may exercise the powers set forth in Section 35-8A-302(a)(2) only to the extent expressly permitted in the declarations of condominiums which are part of the master association or expressly described in the delegations of power from those condominiums to the master association.

"(c) If the declaration of any condominium provides that the board may delegate certain powers to a master association, the members of the board have no liability for the acts or omissions of the master association with respect to those powers following delegation.

"(d) The rights and responsibilities of unit owners with respect to the unit owners' association set forth in Sections 35-8A-303, 35-8A-308 through 35-8A-310, and 35-8A-312 apply in the conduct of the affairs of a master association only to those persons who elect the board of a master association, whether or not those persons are otherwise unit owners within the meaning of this chapter.

"(e) Even if a master association is also an association described in Section 35-8A-301, the certificate of incorporation or other instrument creating the master association and the declaration of each condominium the powers of which are assigned by the declaration or delegated to the master association, may provide that the executive board of the master association must be elected after the period of declarant control in any of the following ways:

"(1) All unit owners of all condominiums subject to the master association may elect all members of that executive board.

"(2) All members of the executive boards of all condominiums subject to the master association may elect all members of that executive board.

"(3) All unit owners of each condominium subject to the master association may elect specified members of that executive board.

"(4) All members of the executive board of each condominium subject to the master association may elect specified members of that executive board.

§35-8A-302.

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), and subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association may:

"(1) Adopt and amend bylaws and rules and regulations, except that an association may not adopt a bylaw or enforce an existing bylaw to restrict an owner from renovating or decorating the interior walls, ceiling, or floor of his or her unit in a manner that does not substantially alter the exterior appearance of the condominium;

"(2) Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures, and reserves and impose and collect assessments for common expenses from unit owners;

"(3) Hire and discharge managing agents and other employees, agents, and independent contractors;

"(4) Institute, defend, or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium;

"(5) Make contracts and incur liabilities;

"(6) Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement, and modification of common elements;

"(7) Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common elements;

"(8) Acquire, hold, encumber, and convey in its own name any right, title, or interest to real or personal property, but interests in the common elements other than those set forth in subdivision (9) may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest only pursuant to Section 35-8A-312;

"(9) Grant easements, encroachments, leases, licenses, and concessions through or over the common elements;

"(10) Impose and receive any payments, fees, or charges for the use, rental, or operation of the common elements, other than limited common elements described in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4), and for services provided to unit owners;

"(11) Impose against owners of units charges for late payment of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations of the association;

"(12) Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and recordation of amendments to the declaration, resale certificates required by Section 35-8A-409, or statements of unpaid assessments;

"(13) Provide for the indemnification of its officers and board and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance;

"(14) Assign its right to future income, including the right to receive common expense assessments, but only to the extent the declaration expressly so provides, or as required to secure a loan that is otherwise allowed or provided for in the governing documents;

"(15) Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or bylaws;

"(16) Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this state by legal entities of the same type as the association; and

"(17) Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association.

"(b) The declaration may not impose limitations on the power of the association to deal with the declarant which are more restrictive than the limitations imposed on the power of the association to deal with other persons.

§35-8A-303.

"(a) Except as provided in the declaration, the bylaws, the articles of incorporation in subsection (b), or other provisions of this chapter, the board may act in all instances on behalf of the association. In the performance of their duties, the officers and members of the board are required to exercise (i) if appointed by the declarant, the care required of fiduciaries of the unit owners other than the declarant and (ii) if elected by the unit owners other than declarant, ordinary and reasonable care.

"(b) The board may not act on behalf of the association to amend the declaration as specified in Section 35-8A-217, to terminate the condominium described in Section 35-8A-218, or to elect members of the board or to determine the qualifications, powers and duties, or terms of office of board members as provided in Section 35-8A-303(f), but the board may fill vacancies in its membership for the unexpired portion of any term.

"(c) Within 30 days after adoption of any proposed budget for the condominium, the board shall provide a copy of the budget to all the unit owners, and shall set a date for a meeting of the unit owners to consider ratification of the budget not less than 14 10 nor more than 30 50 days after delivery or mailing of the budget to the unit owners. Unless at that meeting a majority of all the unit owners present in person or by proxy or any larger vote specified in the declaration reject the budget, the budget is ratified, whether or not a quorum is present. In the event the proposed budget is rejected, the periodic budget last ratified by the unit owners shall be continued until such time as the unit owners ratify a subsequent budget proposed by the board.

"(d) Subject to subsection (e), the declaration may provide for a period of declarant control of the association, during which period a declarant, or persons designated by him or her, may appoint and remove the officers and members of the board. Regardless of the period provided in the declaration, a period of declarant control terminates no later than the earliest of (i) 60 days after conveyance of 75 percent of the units which may be created to unit owners other than a declarant; (ii) two years after all declarants have ceased to offer units for sale in the ordinary course of business; or (iii) two years after any development right to add new units was last exercised. A declarant may voluntarily surrender the right to appoint and remove officers and members of the board before termination of that period, but in that event he or she may require, for the duration of the period of declarant control, that specified actions of the association or board, as described in a recorded instrument executed by the declarant, be approved by the declarant before they become effective.

"(e) Not later than 90 days after conveyance of 25 percent of the units which may be created to unit owners other than a declarant, at least one member and not less than 25 percent of the members of the board must be elected by unit owners other than the declarant. Not later than 90 days after conveyance of 50 percent of the units which may be created to unit owners other than a declarant, not less than 33 1/3 percent of the members of the board must be elected by unit owners other than the declarant.

"(f) Except as otherwise provided in Section 35-8A-220(e), not later than the termination of any period of declarant control, the unit owners shall elect a board of at least three members, at least a majority of whom must be unit owners other than declarant. The board shall elect the officers. The board members and officers shall take office upon election.

"(g) Notwithstanding any provision of the declaration or bylaws to the contrary, the unit owners, by a two-thirds vote of all persons present in person and entitled to vote at any meeting of the unit owners at which a quorum in person is present, may remove any member of the board with or without cause, other than a member appointed by the declarant.

§35-8A-304.

"(a) No special declarant right specified in Section 35-8A-103(24) created or reserved under this chapter may be transferred except by an instrument evidencing the transfer recorded in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located. The instrument is not effective unless executed by the transferor and the transferee in the same formality as a conveyance of real property.

"(b) Upon transfer of any special declarant right, the liability of a transferor declarant is as follows:

"(1) A transferor is not relieved of any obligation or liability arising before the transfer and remains liable for warranty obligations imposed upon him or her by this chapter. Lack of privity does not deprive any unit owner of standing to maintain an action to enforce any obligation of the transferor.

"(2) If a successor to any special declarant right is an affiliate of a declarant specified in Section 35-8A-103(1), the transferor is jointly and severally liable with the successor for any obligations or liabilities of the successor relating to the condominium.

"(3) If a transferor retains any special declarant right, but transfers other special declarant rights to a successor who is not an affiliate of the declarant, the transferor is liable for any obligations or liabilities imposed on a declarant by this chapter or by the declaration relating to the retained special declarant rights and arising after the transfer.

"(4) A transferor has no liability for any act or omission or any breach of a contractual or warranty obligation arising from the exercise of a special declarant right by a successor declarant who is not an affiliate of the transferor.

"(c) Unless otherwise provided in a mortgage instrument or deed of trust or other agreement creating a security interest, in case of foreclosure of a security interest, sale by a trustee under an agreement creating a security interest, tax sale, judicial sale, or sale under federal bankruptcy law or receivership proceedings, of any units owned by a declarant or real estate in a condominium subject to development rights, a person acquiring title to all the real estate being foreclosed or sold succeeds to all special declarant rights related to that real estate held by that declarant, or only to any rights reserved in the declaration pursuant to Section 35-8A-215 and held by that declarant to maintain models, sales offices and signs.

"(d) Upon foreclosure of a security interest, sale by a trustee under an agreement creating a security interest, tax sale, judicial sale, or sale under federal bankruptcy law or receivership proceedings, of all units and other real estate in a condominium owned by a declarant:

"(1) The declarant ceases to have any special declarant rights, and

"(2) The period of declarant control specified in Section 35-8A-303(d) terminates unless the judgment or instrument conveying title provides for transfer of all special declarant rights held by that declarant to a successor declarant.

"(e) The liabilities and obligations of a person who succeeds to special declarant rights are as follows:

"(1) A successor to any special declarant right who is an affiliate of a declarant is subject to all obligations and liabilities imposed on the transferor by this chapter or by the declaration.

"(2) A successor to any special declarant right, other than a successor described in subdivisions (3) or (4), who is not an affiliate of a declarant, is subject to all obligations and liabilities imposed by this chapter or the declaration:

"a. On a declarant which relates to his or her exercise or nonexercise of special declarant rights; or

"b. On his or her transferor, other than:

"1. Misrepresentations by any previous declarant;

"2. Warranty obligations on improvements made by any previous declarant, or made before the condominium was created;

"3. Breach of any fiduciary obligation by any previous declarant or his or her appointees to the board; or

"4. Any liability or obligation imposed on the transferor as a result of the transferor's acts or omissions after the transfer.

"(3) A successor to only a right reserved in the declaration to maintain models, sales offices, and signs pursuant to Section 35-8A-215, may not exercise any other special declarant right, and is not subject to any liability or obligation as a declarant, except the obligation to provide an offering statement and any liability arising as a result thereof.

"(4) A successor to all special declarant rights held by his or her transferor who is not an affiliate of that declarant and who succeeded to those rights pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or a judgment or instrument conveying title to units under subsection (c), may declare the intention in a recorded instrument to hold those rights solely for transfer to another person. Thereafter, until transferring all special declarant rights to any person acquiring title to any unit owned by the successor, or until recording an instrument permitting exercise of all those rights, that successor may not exercise any of those rights other than any right held by his or her transferor to control the board in accordance with the provisions of Section 35-8A-303(d) for the duration of any period of declarant control, and any attempted exercise of those rights is void. So long as a successor declarant may not exercise special declarant rights under this subsection, he or she is not subject to any liability or obligation as a declarant other than liability for his or her acts and omissions under Section 35-8A-303(d).

"(f) Nothing in this section subjects any successor to a special declarant right to any claims against or other obligations of a transferor declarant, other than claims and obligations arising under this chapter or the declaration.

§35-8A-305.

"If entered into before the board elected by the unit owners pursuant to Section 35-8A-303(f) takes office, (i) any management contract, employment contract, or lease of recreational or parking areas or facilities, (ii) any other contract or lease between the association and a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant, or (iii) any contract or lease that is not bona fide or was unconscionable to the unit owners at the time entered into under the circumstances then prevailing, may be terminated without penalty by the association at any time during the current term of the contract or lease after the board elected by the unit owners pursuant to Section 35-8A-303(f) takes office upon not less than 90 days' notice to the other party. This section does not apply to any lease the termination of which would terminate the condominium or reduce its size, unless the real estate subject to that lease was included in the condominium for the purpose of avoiding the right of the association to terminate a lease under this section.

§35-8A-307.

"(a) Except to the extent provided by the declaration, subsection (b), or Section 35-8A-313(h), the association is responsible for maintenance, repair, and replacement of the common elements, and each unit owner is responsible for maintenance, repair, and replacement of his or her unit. Each unit owner shall afford to the association and the other unit owners, and to their agents or employees, access through his or her unit reasonably necessary for those purposes. If damage is inflicted on the common elements, or on any unit through which access is taken, the unit owner responsible for the damage, or the association if it is responsible, is liable for the prompt repair thereof.

"(b) In addition to the liability that a declarant as a unit owner has under this chapter, the declarant alone is liable for all expenses in connection with real estate subject to development rights. No other unit owner and no other portion of the condominium is subject to a claim for payment of those expenses. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, any income or proceeds from real estate subject to development rights inures to the declarant.

§35-8A-310.

"(a) If only one of the multiple owners of a unit is present at a meeting of the association, he or she is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to that unit. If more than one of the multiple owners are present, the votes allocated to that unit may be cast only in accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the multiple owners, unless either the declaration or bylaws expressly provides otherwise. There is majority agreement if any one of the multiple owners casts the votes allocated to that unit without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other owners of the unit.

"(b) Votes allocated to a unit may be cast pursuant to a proxy duly executed by the unit owner except as provided in Section 35-8A-303(g). If a unit is owned by more than one person, each owner of the unit may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other owners of the unit through a duly executed proxy. A unit owner may not revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section except by actual notice of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the association. A proxy is void if it is not dated or purports to be revocable without notice. A proxy terminates one year after its date, unless it specifies a shorter term.

"(c) If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters affecting the condominium be cast by lessees rather than unit owners of leased units: (i) the provisions of subsection subsections (a) and (b) apply to lessees as if they were unit owners; (ii) unit owners who have leased their units to other persons may not cast votes on those specified matters; and (iii) lessees are entitled to notice of meetings, access to records, and other rights respecting those matters as if they were unit owners. Unit owners must also be given notice, in the manner provided in Section 35-8A-308, of all meetings at which lessees may be entitled to vote.

"(d) No votes allocated to a unit owned by the association may be cast.

§35-8A-311.

"Neither the association, any association mortgagee, nor any unit owner except the declarant is liable for that declarant's torts in connection with any part of the condominium which that declarant has the responsibility to maintain. Otherwise, an action alleging a wrong done by the association shall be brought against the association and not against any unit owner. If the wrong occurred during any period of declarant control and the association gives the declarant reasonable notice of and an opportunity to defend against the action, the declarant who then controlled the association is liable to the association or to any unit owner: (i) for all tort losses not covered by insurance suffered by the association or that unit owner, and (ii) for all costs which the association would not have incurred but for a breach of contract or other wrongful act or omission. Whenever the declarant is liable to the association under this section, the declarant is also liable for all reasonable litigation expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred by the association. Any statute of limitation affecting the association's right of action under this section is tolled until the period of declarant control terminates. A unit owner is not precluded from bringing an action contemplated by this section solely because he or she is a unit owner, or a member or officer of the association. Liens resulting from judgments against the association are governed by Section 35-8A-317.

§35-8A-312.

"(a) In a condominium portions of the common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest by the association if persons entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes in the association, including 80 percent of the votes allocated to units not owned by a declarant, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, agree to that action; but all the owners of units to which any limited common element is allocated must agree in order to convey that limited common element or subject it to a security interest. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses. Proceeds of the sale or loan are an asset of the association.

"(b) An agreement to convey common elements in a condominium or subject them to a security interest must be evidenced by the execution of an agreement, or ratifications thereof, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of unit owners. The agreement must specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless recorded before that date. The agreement and all ratifications thereof must be recorded in every county in which a portion of the condominium is situated, and is effective only upon recordation.

"(c) The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract to convey an interest in a condominium pursuant to subsection (a), but the contract is not enforceable against the association until approved pursuant to subsections (a) and (b). Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the conveyance or encumbrance, including the power to execute deeds or other instruments.

"(d) Any purported conveyance, encumbrance, judicial sale or other voluntary transfer of common elements, unless made pursuant to this section, is void.

"(e) A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not deprive any unit of its rights of access and support.

"(f) Unless the declaration otherwise provides, a conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not affect the priority or validity of pre-existing encumbrances.

§35-8A-313.

"(a) Commencing not later than the time of the first conveyance of a unit to a person other than a declarant, the association shall maintain, to the extent reasonably available:

"(1) Property insurance on the common elements insuring against all risks of direct physical loss commonly insured against or, in the case of a conversion building, against fire and extended coverage perils. The total amount of insurance after application of any deductibles shall be not less than the greater of 80 percent of the actual cash value of the insured property at the time the insurance is purchased or such greater percentage of such actual cash value as may be necessary to prevent the applicability of any co-insurance provision and at each renewal date, exclusive of land, excavations, foundations and other items normally excluded from property policies; and

"(2) Liability insurance, including medical payments insurance, in an amount determined by the board but not less than any amount specified in the declaration, covering all occurrences commonly insured against for death, bodily injury, and property damage arising out of or in connection with the use, ownership, or maintenance of the common elements.

"(b) In the case of a building containing units having horizontal boundaries described in the declaration, the insurance maintained under subdivision (a)(1), to the extent reasonably available, must include the units, but need not include improvements and betterments installed by unit owners.

"(c) If the insurance described in subsections (a) and (b) is not reasonably available, the association promptly shall cause notice of that fact to be hand-delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to all unit owners. The declaration may require the association to carry any other insurance, and the association in any event may carry any other insurance it deems appropriate to protect the association or the unit owners.

"(d) Insurance policies carried pursuant to subsection (a) must provide that:

"(1) Each unit owner is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising out of his or her interest in the common elements or membership in the association;

"(2) The insurer waives its right to subrogation under the policy against any unit owner or member of his or her household;

"(3) No act or omission by any unit owner, unless acting within the scope of his or her authority on behalf of the association, will void the policy or be a condition to recovery under the policy; and

"(4) If, at the time of a loss under the policy, there is other insurance in the name of a unit owner covering the same risk covered by the policy, the association's policy provides primary insurance.

"(e) Any loss covered by the property policy under subsections (a)(1) and (b) must be adjusted with the association, but the insurance proceeds for that loss are payable to any insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the association, and not to any holder of a security interest. The insurance trustee or the association shall hold any insurance proceeds in trust for unit owners and lien holders as their interests may appear. Subject to the provisions of subsection (h), the proceeds must be disbursed first for the repair or restoration of the damaged property, and the association unit owners and lien holders are not entitled to receive payment of any portion of the proceeds unless there is a surplus of proceeds after the property has been completely repaired or restored, or the condominium is terminated.

"(f) An insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a unit owner from obtaining insurance for his or her own benefit.

"(g) An insurer that has issued an insurance policy under this section shall issue certificates or memoranda of insurance to the association and, upon written request, to any unit owner, or holder of a security interest. The insurer issuing the policy may not cancel or refuse to renew it until 30 days after notice of the proposed cancellation or nonrenewal has been mailed to the association, each unit owner and each mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust to whom a certificate or memorandum of insurance has been issued at their respective last known addresses.

"(h) Any portion of the condominium for which insurance is required under this section which is damaged or destroyed must be repaired or replaced promptly by the association unless:

"(1) The condominium is terminated, in which case Section 35-8A-218 applies,

"(2) Repair or replacement would be illegal under any state or local statute or ordinance governing health or safety, or

"(3) Eighty percent of the unit owners, including every owner of a unit or assigned limited common element which will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild. The cost of repair or replacement in excess of insurance proceeds, including any deductible or retention under any contract of insurance, and reserves is a common expense.

"If the entire condominium is not repaired or replaced, (i) the insurance proceeds attributable to the damaged common elements must be used to restore the damaged area to a condition compatible with the remainder of the condominium, (ii) except to the extent that other persons will be distributees under Section 35-8A-205(a)(12)(ii),

"(1) The insurance proceeds attributable to units and limited common elements which are not rebuilt must be distributed to the owners of those units and the owners of the units to which those limited common elements were allocated, or to lienholders, as their interests may appear, and

"(2) The remainder of the proceeds must be distributed to all the unit owners or lienholders, as their interests may appear, in proportion to the common element interests of all the units.

"If the unit owners vote not to rebuild any unit, that unit's allocated interests are automatically reallocated upon the vote as if the unit had been condemned under Section 35-8A-107(a), and the association promptly shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations.

"(i) The provisions of this section may be varied or waived in the case of a condominium all of whose units are restricted to nonresidential use.

"(j) Unless the declaration provides otherwise, the association shall pay any cost in excess of insurance proceeds, including any deductible or retention under any contract of insurance as a common expense.

§35-8A-314.

"Unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, any surplus funds of the association remaining after payment of or provision for common expenses and any prepayment of reserves must be paid to the unit owners in proportion to their common expense liabilities or credited to them to reduce their future common expense assessments, or held in reserve.

§35-8A-315.

"(a) Until the association makes a common expense assessment, the declarant must pay all common expenses. After any assessment has been made by the association, assessments must be made at least annually, based on a budget adopted at least annually by the association.

"(b) Except for assessments under subsections (c), (d), and (e), all common expenses must be assessed against all the units in accordance with the allocations set forth in the declaration pursuant to Section 35-8A-207(a) and (b). Any past due common expense assessment or installment thereof bears interest at the rate established by the association not exceeding 18 percent per year.

"(c) To the extent required by the declaration:

"(1) Any common expense associated with the maintenance, repair, or replacement of a limited common element must be assessed against the units to which that limited common element is assigned, equally, or in any other proportion that the declaration provides;

"(2) Any common expense or portion thereof benefiting fewer than all of the units must be assessed exclusively against the units benefited; and

"(3) The costs of insurance must be assessed in proportion to risk and the costs of utilities must may be assessed in proportion to usage.

"(d) Assessments to pay a judgment against the association under Section 35-8A-317(a) may be made only against the units in the condominium at the time the judgment was entered, in proportion to their common expense liabilities.

"(e) If any common expense is caused by the misconduct of any unit owner or such unit owner's invitee, the association may assess that expense exclusively against his or her unit after notice and an opportunity to be heard.

"(f) If common expense liabilities are reallocated, common expense assessments and any installment thereof not yet due shall be recalculated in accordance with the reallocated common expense liabilities.

"(g) All assessments, including utilities, fees, and other charges shall also constitute the personal obligation of the unit owner to the association.

"(h) No unit owner other than the association shall be exempted from any liability for any assessment under this code section or under any condominium instrument for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, abandonment, nonuse, or waiver of the use or enjoyment of his or her unit or any part of the common elements.

§35-8A-316.

"(a) The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment and any other moneys due the association for special assessments or services or charges, such as water or repairs, levied against that unit or fines imposed against its unit owner from the time the assessment or fine becomes due becomes due. The association's lien may be foreclosed in like manner as a mortgage on real estate but the and as provided in the declaration provided the declaration is in conformity with Title 35, Chapter 10, Article 1A and subject to the right under Article 14A of Chapter 5 of Title 6. The association shall give send reasonable advance notice of its proposed action to the unit owner and all lienholders of record of of the unit. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, fees, charges, late charges, fines, and interest charged pursuant to Section 35-8A-302(a)(10), (11), and (12) are enforceable as assessments under this section. If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment thereof becomes due the first installment thereof becomes due.

"(b) A lien under this section is prior to all other liens and encumbrances on a unit except (i) liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration, (ii) a first security interest on the unit recorded before the date on which the assessment sought to be enforced became delinquent, and (iii) liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the unit. The lien is also prior to the mortgages and deeds of trust described in clause (ii) above to the extent of the common expense assessments based on the periodic budget adopted by the association pursuant to Section 35-8A-315(a) which would have become due in the absence of acceleration during the six months immediately preceding institution of an action to enforce the lien. This subsection does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens, or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association. The lien under this section is not subject to the provisions of homestead or other exemptions.

"(c) Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same real estate, those liens have equal priority.

"(d) Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien. No further recordation of any claim of lien for assessment under this section is required.

"(e) A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within three years after the full amount of the assessments becomes due.

"(f) This section does not prohibit actions to recover sums for which subsection (a) creates a lien or prohibit an association from taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

"(g) A judgment or decree in any action brought under this or the preceding section must include costs and reasonable attorney's fees actually incurred for to the prevailing party.

"(h) Any unit owner, mortgagee of a unit, person having executed a contract for the purchase of a condominium unit, or lender considering the loan of funds to be secured by a condominium unit shall be entitled upon request to a statement from the association or its management agent setting forth the amount of assessments levied against the unit, including information regarding whether such assessments are past due and the amount past due, and unpaid together with late charges and interest applicable thereto against that condominium unit. Such request shall be in writing, shall be delivered to the registered office of the association, and shall state an address to which the statement is to be directed. Failure on the part of the association to mail or otherwise furnish such statement regarding amounts due and payable if specified in the written request therefor within 10 business days from the receipt of such request releases the association's lien against the unit for the amount of the assessment as of that date, but does not discharge the unit owner's debt to the association. The information specified in such statement shall be binding upon the association and upon every unit owner. Payment of a reasonable fee not exceeding $10.00 may be required as a prerequisite to the issuance of such a statement if the condominium instruments so provide.

§35-8A-317.

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a judgment for money against the association if recorded is not a lien on the common elements, but is a lien in favor of the judgment lienholder against all of the units in the condominium at the time the judgment was entered. No other property of a unit owner is subject to the claims of creditors of the association.

"(b) If the association has granted a security interest in the common elements to a creditor of the association pursuant to Section 35-8A-312, the holder of that security interest shall exercise its right against the common elements before its judgment lien on any unit may be enforced.

"(c) Whether perfected before or after the creation of the condominium, if a lien other than a deed of trust or mortgage, including a judgment lien or lien attributable to work performed or materials supplied before creation of the condominium, becomes effective against two or more units, the unit owner of an affected unit may pay to the lienholder the amount of the lien attributable to his or her unit, and the lienholder, upon receipt of payment, promptly shall deliver a release of the lien covering that unit. The amount of the payment must be proportionate to the ratio which that unit owner's common expense liability bears to the common expense liabilities of all unit owners whose units are subject to the lien. After payment, the association may not assess or have a lien against that unit owner's unit for any portion of the common expenses incurred in connection with that lien.

"(d) A judgment against the association must be indexed in the name of the condominium and the association and, when so indexed, is notice of the lien against the units.

§35-8A-318.

"The association shall keep financial records sufficiently detailed to enable the association to comply with Section 35-8A-409. All financial and other records shall be made reasonably available for examination by any unit owner and his or her authorized agents and such records shall be made available in the county where the condominium is located. A reasonable fee or hourly charge may be assessed for this service.

§35-8A-401.

"(a) This article applies to all units subject to this chapter, except as provided in subsection (b) or as modified or waived in writing by agreement of purchasers of units in a condominium in which all units are restricted to nonresidential use.

"(b) Neither an offering statement nor a resale certificate need be prepared or delivered in the case of:

"(1) A gratuitous disposition of a unit;

"(2) A transfer pursuant to court order;

"(3) A disposition by a government or governmental agency;

"(4) A transfer by foreclosure or disposition by deed in lieu of foreclosure;

"(5) A disposition to a person in the business of selling real estate who intends to offer those units to purchasers where the responsibility for preparing and delivering the offering statement has been transferred to the person pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 35-8A-402;

"(6) A disposition that may be canceled at any time and for any reason by the purchaser without penalty; or

"(7) A disposition of a time share interest in a unit.

§35-8A-402.

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a declarant, prior to the offering of any interest in a unit to the public, shall prepare an offering statement conforming to the requirements of Sections 35-8A-403 through 35-8A-406.

"(b) A declarant may transfer responsibility for preparation of all or a part of the offering statement to a successor declarant specified in Section 35-8A-304 or to a person in the business of selling real estate who intends to offer units in the condominium for his the offeror's own account. In the event of any such transfer, the transferor shall provide the transferee with any information necessary to enable the transferee to fulfill the requirements of subsection (a).

"(c) Any declarant or other person in the business of selling real estate who offers to a purchaser a unit for his the offeror's own account to a purchaser whom such responsibility for preparation and delivery of an offering statement has been transferred shall deliver an offering statement in the manner prescribed in Section 35-8A-408(a) and is liable under Sections 35-8A-408 and 35-8A-417 35-8A-414 for any false or misleading statement set forth therein or for any omission of material fact.

"(d) If a unit is part of a condominium and is part of any other real estate regime in connection with the sale of which the delivery of an offering statement is required under the laws of this state, a single offering statement conforming to the requirements of Sections 35-8A-403 through 35-8A-406 as those requirements relate to each regime in which the unit is located, and to any other requirements imposed under the laws of this state, may be prepared and delivered in lieu of providing two or more offering statements.

§35-8A-403.

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an offering statement must contain or fully and accurately disclose the following information with regard to the condominium, including a proposed condominium:

"(1) The name and principal address of the declarant and of the condominium;

"(2) The name and the address, legal description, or other description of the location of the condominium, and the number and types of units in the condominium;

"(3) A general description of the condominium, including to the extent possible, the types, number and types of buildings, structures, and amenities the declarant is obligated to build, and declarant's schedule of commencement and completion of construction of buildings, structures, and amenities that declarant anticipates including in the condominium; The number of units is obligated to include in the condominium;

"(4) Copies of the declaration, other than the plats and plans, as well as any other recorded plats, plans, easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, and reservations affecting the condominium; the bylaws, and certificate or the proposed certificate of formation and the bylaws of the association created or to be created to manage the condominium, any rules or regulations of the association; , a copy of the lease for any leasehold condominium, copies of any contracts and leases to be signed by purchasers at closing, and copies of any contracts or leases that will or may be subject to cancellation by the association under Section 35-8A-305;

"(5) Any current balance sheet and a A projected budget for the association, either within or as an exhibit to the offering statement, for at least one year after the date or anticipated date of the first conveyance to a purchaser, and thereafter the current budget along with the current balance sheet of the association, a statement of who prepared the budget, and a statement of the budget's assumption concerning occupancy. The budget must include, without limitation:

"a. A statement of the amount, or a statement that there is no amount, included in the budget as a reserve for repairs and replacement;

"b. A statement of any other reserves included in the budget;

"c. The projected common expense assessment expenses by category of expenditures for the association; and

"d. The projected monthly common expense assessment for each type of unit;

"(6) Any services not reflected in the budget that the declarant provides, or expenses that he or she pays, and that he or she expects may become at any subsequent time a common expense of the association and the projected common expense assessment attributable to each of those services or expenses for the association and for each type of unit;

"(7) Any initial or special fee due from the purchaser at closing together with a description of the purpose and method of calculating the fee;

"(8) A reference to, and a brief description of, any liens, known defects, or encumbrances on or affecting the title to the condominium;

"(9) A description of any financing offered or arranged by the declarant and if the contract of sale offered to the purchaser does not contain a provision conditioning purchaser's obligation to perform the contract on obtaining financing, a statement that the purchaser will forfeit any deposit he or she has paid if the purchaser requires such financing but does not qualify for such financing as is offered or arranged by declarant;

"(10) The terms and significant limitations of any warranties provided by the declarant, including statutory warranties provided in this chapter and limitations on the enforcement thereof or on damages;

"(11) A statement that:

"a. Within seven days after receipt of an offering statement a purchaser, before conveyance, may cancel any contract for purchase of a unit from a declarant,;

"b. If a declarant fails to provide an offering statement to a purchaser before conveying a unit, that purchaser may rescind the conveyance within seven days after first receiving the offering statement,; and

"c. If a purchaser receives the public offering statement more than seven days before signing a contract, he or she cannot cancel the contract;

"(12) A statement of any unsatisfied judgments or pending suits lawsuits against the association; and the status of any pending suits lawsuits material to the condominium of which a declarant has actual knowledge;

"(13) A statement that any deposit made in connection with the purchase of a unit will be held in an escrow account until closing and will be returned to the purchaser if the purchaser cancels the contract pursuant to Section 35-8A-408, together with the name and address of the escrow agent;

"(14) Any restraints on sale or lease of any units in the condominium and any restrictions:

"a. On use, occupancy or alienation of the units, and

"b. On the amount for which a unit may be sold or on the amount that may be received by a unit owner on sale, condemnation, casualty loss to the unit or to the condominium or on the termination of the condominium;

"(15) A brief description of the insurance coverage provided for the benefit of unit owners;

"(16) Any current or expected fees or charges to be paid by unit owners for the use of the common elements and other facilities related to the condominium;

"(17) The extent to which financial arrangements have been provided for completion of all improvements that the declarant is obligated to build pursuant to Section 35-8A-416 (Declarant's obligation to complete and restore);

"(18) A brief narrative description of any zoning affecting the condominium; and

"(19) The applicable amendment requirements as provided in the declaration or as provided by Alabama law.

"(b) If a condominium composed of not more than 12 units is not subject to any development rights, and no power is reserved to a declarant to make the condominium part of a larger condominium, group of condominiums, or other real estate, an offering statement may but need not include the information otherwise required by subdivisions (9), (10), (15), (16), (17), and (18) of subsection (a).

"(c) A declarant shall promptly amend the offering statement to report any material change in the information required by this section.

§35-8A-404.

"If the declaration provides that a condominium is subject to any development rights, the offering statement must disclose, in addition to the information required by Section 35-8A-403:

"(1) The maximum number of units, and the maximum number of units per acre, that may be created;

"(2) A statement of how many or what percentage of the units which may be created will be restricted exclusively to residential use, or a statement that no representations are made regarding use restrictions;

"(3) If any of the units that may be built within real estate subject to development rights are not to be restricted exclusively to residential use, a statement, with respect to each portion of that real estate, of the as to whether there is a maximum percentage of the real estate areas, and the maximum percentage of the floor areas of all units that may be created therein, that are not restricted exclusively to residential use units which may be used for nonresidential purposes;

"(4) A statement of any development rights reserved by a declarant and of any conditions relating to or limitations upon the exercise of development rights;

"(5) A statement of the maximum extent to which each unit's the allocated interests of each unit may be changed by the exercise of any development right described in subdivision (3) (4);

"(6) A statement of the extent to which any buildings or other improvements that may be erected pursuant to any development right in any part of the condominium will be compatible with existing buildings and improvements in the condominium in terms of architectural style, quality of construction, and size, or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards;

"(7) General descriptions of all other improvements that may be made and limited common elements that may be created within any part of the condominium pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

"(8) A statement of any limitations as to the locations of any building or other improvement that may be made within any part of the condominium property that may be added to the condominium pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

"(9) A statement that any common elements or limited common elements created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant will be of the same general types and sizes as the common elements and the limited common elements within other parts of the condominium, or a statement of the types and sizes planned, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

"(10) A statement that the proportion of limited common elements to units created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant will be approximately equal to the proportion existing within other parts of the condominium, or a statement of any other assurances in that regard, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

"(11) A statement that all restrictions in the declaration affecting use, occupancy, and sale or lease of units will apply to any units created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, or a statement of any differentiations that may be made as to those units, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard; and

"(12) A statement of the extent to which any assurances made pursuant to this section apply or do not apply in the event that any development right is not exercised by the declarant.

§35-8A-406.

"The offering statement of a condominium containing any conversion building containing units that may be occupied for residential use must contain, in addition to the information required by Section 35-8A-402 Section 35-8A-403:

"(1) A statement by the declarant, to the best of declarant's knowledge, of the approximate age of structural components and mechanical and electrical installations which are material to the use and enjoyment of the buildings or an affirmative statement in bold face print that no representations are made in that regard and;

"(2) A list of any outstanding notices of uncured violations of building code or other municipal regulations, together with the estimated cost of curing those violations.

§35-8A-407.

"If an interest in a condominium is currently registered with the securities and exchange commission Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States or registered pursuant to the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, a declarant satisfies all requirements relating to the preparation and delivery of an offering statement of this chapter if he or she delivers to the purchaser a copy of the offering statement filed with the securities and exchange commission Securities and Exchange Commission or a copy of the property report approved in accordance with the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act as a part of the registration process.

§35-8A-408.

"(a) A person required to deliver an offering statement the required documents or report pursuant to Section 35-8A-402(c) or 35-8A-407 shall provide a purchaser of a unit with a copy of the offering statement and all amendments thereto before conveyance of that unit, and not later than the date of any contract of sale. Unless a purchaser is given the offering statement required documents more than seven days before execution of a contract for the purchase of a unit, the purchaser may cancel the contract, or rescind the conveyance if a conveyance has already occurred, within seven days after first receiving the offering statement required documents or report.

"(b) If a purchaser elects to cancel a contract or conveyance pursuant to subsection (a), he or she may do so by hand-delivering notice thereof to the offeror or by mailing notice thereof by prepaid United States mail to the offeror or to his or her agent for service of process. Cancellation is without penalty, and all payments made by the purchaser before cancellation shall be refunded promptly.

"(c) If a person required to deliver an offering statement or report pursuant to Section 35-8A-402(c) or 35-8A-407 fails to provide a purchaser to whom a unit is conveyed with that offering statement and all amendments thereto as the documents required by subsection (a), the purchaser, at the purchaser's option and in lieu of any rights to damages or other relief, is entitled to receive from that person an amount equal to five percent of the sales price of the unit at anytime prior to the expiration of six months from if the purchaser provides notice of the election to that person in the same manner as described in subsection (b) within six months of the date of conveyance of the unit, plus five percent of the share, proportionate to his common expense liability, of any indebtedness of the association secured by security interests encumbering the condominium.

§35-8A-409.

"(a) Except in the case of a sale where delivery of an offering statement is required, or unless exempt under Section 35-8A-401(b), a unit owner upon written request by the purchaser a purchaser of a unit previously disposed of, which written request must be made within 14 days of the date the purchaser signs the contract with a purchaser, shall furnish to a purchaser before the conveyance and in any event within 15 days of receipt of the written request, a copy of the declaration, other than the plats and plans, the bylaws, the rules or, and the regulations of the association, and a certificate containing:

"(1) A statement setting forth the amount of the monthly periodic common expense assessment and;

"(2) A statement setting forth the amount of any unpaid common expense or special assessment currently due and payable from the selling unit owner assessments against the unit either past due or then due owing;

"(2) A statement of any other fees payable by unit owners;

"(3) A statement of any other assessments or fees assessed against the unit or the unit owner either past due or then due and owing;

"(3) (4) The most recent regularly prepared balance sheet, and income and expense statement, if any, or any other reports regularly prepared showing cash flow of the association;

"(4) (5) The current operating budget of the association;

"(5) (6) A statement of any unsatisfied judgments against the association and any pending suit in which the association is a party;

"(6) (7) A statement describing any insurance coverage provided for the benefit of unit owners;

"(7) (8) A statement of the remaining term of any lease hold leasehold estate affecting the condominium and the provisions governing any extension or renewal thereof; and

"(8) (9) A statement of any restrictions in the declaration affecting the amount that may be received by a unit owner upon sale, condemnation, casualty loss to the unit or condominium or on termination of the condominium.

"(b) The association, within 10 days after a request by a unit owner, shall furnish a certificate containing the above listed information necessary to enable the unit owner to comply with this section. A unit owner providing a certificate pursuant to subsection (a) is not liable to the purchaser for any erroneous information provided by the association and included in the certificate.

"(c) A purchaser who receives a copy of the certificate prepared by the association is not liable after closing for any unpaid assessment assessments or fee fees greater than the amount set forth in the certificate prepared by the association. A The unit owner is not liable to a purchaser for the failure or delay of the association to provide the certificate in a timely manner, but accordance with the time set forth in subsection (b). If the purchaser timely requested the information in accordance with subsection (a), the purchase contract is remains voidable by the purchaser until the certificate requested information has been provided and for five days thereafter or until conveyance, whichever first occurs.

§35-8A-411.

"(a) In the case of a sale of a unit where delivery of an offering statement is required pursuant to Section 35-8A-402(c) or a disclosure is made pursuant to Section 35-8A-407, a seller shall before conveying a unit, (i) record or furnish to the purchaser releases of all liens or an agreement to release any liens that encumber that unit and its common element interest, except liens on real estate that a declarant has the right to withdraw from the condominium, that the purchaser does not expressly agree in a written contract of sale which specifically identifies such lien and its amount to take subject to or assume and that encumber a condominium, that unit and its common element interest, or (ii), or provide a surety bond or substitute collateral for or insurance against the lien in the manner provided for liens on real estate in Section 35-11-233(b).

"(b) Before In conveying real estate to the association the declarant shall have that real estate released from: (i) all liens the foreclosure of which would deprive unit owners of any right of access to or easement of support of their units, and (ii) all other liens on that real estate unless the offering statement describes certain real estate which may be conveyed subject to liens in specified amounts.

§35-8A-412.

"(a) A declarant of a condominium containing conversion buildings, and any person in the business of selling real estate for his or her own account who intends to offer units in such a condominium shall give each of the residential tenants and any residential subtenant in possession of a portion of a conversion building notice of the conversion no later than 60 days before the tenants and any subtenant in possession are required to vacate. The notice must set forth generally the rights of tenants and subtenants under this section and shall be hand-delivered to the unit or mailed by prepaid United States mail to the tenant and subtenant at the address of the unit or any other mailing address provided by a tenant. No tenant or subtenant may be required to vacate upon less than 60 days' notice, except by reason of nonpayment of rent, waste, or conduct that disturbs other tenants' peaceful enjoyment of the premises, and the terms of the tenancy may not be altered during that period. Failure to give notice as required by this section is a defense to an action for possession.

"(b) If a notice of conversion specifies a date by which a unit or proposed unit must be vacated, and otherwise complies with the provisions of Section 35-9-80 Chapter 9A, the notice also constitutes a notice to terminate specified by that statute.

"(c) Nothing in this section permits termination of a lease by a declarant in violation of the terms of the lease.

§35-8A-413.

"(a) Express warranties made by declarant, his an affiliate of the declarant, and or any person in the business of selling real estate for his or her own account, to a purchaser of a unit, if relied upon by the purchaser, are created as follows:

"(1) Any affirmation of material fact or material promise which relates to the unit, its use, or rights appurtenant thereto, improvements to the condominium that would directly benefit the unit, or the right to use or have the benefit of facilities not located in the condominium, creates an express warrant warranty that the unit and related rights and uses will conform to the affirmation or promise;

"(2) Any model or description of the physical characteristics of the condominium, including plans and specifications of or for improvements, creates an express warranty that the condominium will substantially conform to the model or description;

"(3) Any description of the quantity or extent of the real estate comprising the condominium, including plats or surveys, creates an express warranty that the condominium will conform to the description, subject to customary tolerances; and

"(4) A provision statement that a buyer may put a unit only to a specified use is an express warranty that the specified use is lawful.

"(b) Neither formal words, such as "warranty" or "guarantee," nor a specific intention to make a warranty, are necessary to create an express warranty of quality, but a statement purporting to be merely an opinion or commendation of the real estate or its value does not create a warranty.

§35-8A-415.

"No promotional material may be displayed or delivered to prospective purchasers which describes or portrays an improvement that the declarant is not obligated to build unless the description or portrayal of the improvement that is not in existence and is displayed in the promotional material is conspicuously labeled or identified as, "NEED NOT BE BUILT."

§35-8A-417.

"In the case of a sale of a unit where delivery of an offering statement is required or a disclosure is made pursuant to Section 35-8A-407, a contract of sale may be executed, but no interest in that unit may be conveyed, or voted until the declaration is recorded and the unit is substantially completed, as evidenced by a recorded certificate of substantial completion executed by an independent registered architect, or independent registered engineer, or by issuance of a certificate of occupancy authorized by law."

Section 2. This act shall become effective on January 1, 2018.

Property, Real and Personal

Condominiums

Condominium Association

Popular Names

Code Amended