AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE CONDOMINIUM AND TIME-SHARE LAWS.
Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is forthwith to enable condominium associations to further develop condominiums and otherwise to create or designate certain interests therein to improve the governance of condominiums, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. It is hereby found and declared by the general court that a serious public emergency exists within the commonwealth with respect to a shortage of affordable housing stock based upon the expiration of the right to add additional condominium units and land in numerous condominiums created pursuant to chapter 183A of the General Laws and with respect to the need to clarify and further establish the rights and powers of the organization of unit owners to create or designate easements, limited common areas and other rights in condominiums.
SECTION 2. Section 28A of chapter 183 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1996 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "assessments", in line 15, the following words:- or condominium common expense assessment, including legal fees.
SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 183A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of "Limited common areas and facilities" and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-
"Limited common areas and facilities", a portion of the common areas and facilities either (i) described in the master deed or (ii) granted or assigned in accordance with the provisions of this chapter by the governing body of the organization of unit owners, for the exclusive use of one or more but fewer than all of the units.
SECTION 4. Section 4 of said chapter 183A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (5) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(5) The organization of unit owners shall provide to each mortgagee holding a recorded mortgage upon a unit, written notice of the organization's name and mailing address. The organization shall provide written notice to each such mortgagee of any changes in the name or mailing address previously provided by the organization. Each mortgagee holding a recorded mortgage upon a unit shall give written notice of the mortgagee's name and mailing address to the organization of unit owners. Thereafter, each mortgagee shall provide written notice to the organization of any changes in said name and address for the purpose of providing notices to the mortgagee under this chapter or under the provisions of the loan documents or condominium documents. The organization and mortgagees may rely in good faith upon the most recent notice of name and address for the purpose of providing notices to the organization and mortgagees, as the case may be, under this chapter or under the provisions of the loan documents or condominium documents. In addition, any first mortgagee may at any time give notice to both the unit owner and the organization of unit owners of its desire to receive notice regarding the granting of an easement or other interest or the granting or designation of a limited common area, or the taking of other action by the organization of unit owners all as provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of section 5. Notice to the governing body of the organization of unit owners shall be deemed notice to the organization of unit owners. Any notices sent in writing to a mortgagee or to the governing body of the organization of unit owners, as listed in the most recent notice of name and address, if relied upon in good faith, shall be deemed sufficiently given, provided that the organization or mortgagee, as the case may be, has given notice as required by this chapter.
SECTION 5. Section 5 of said chapter 183A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
(b)(1) The percentage of the undivided interest of each unit owner in the common areas and facilities as expressed in the master deed shall not be altered without the consent of all unit owners whose percentage of the undivided interest is materially affected, expressed in an amendment to the master deed duly recorded; provided, however, that the acceptance and recording of the unit deed shall constitute consent by the grantee to the addition of subsequent units or land or both to the condominium and consent to the reduction of the undivided interest of the unit owner if the master deed at the time of the recording of the unit deed provided for the addition of units or land and made possible an accurate determination of the alteration of each unit's undivided interest that would result therefrom. The percentage of the undivided interest in the common areas and facilities shall not be separated from the unit to which it appertains, and shall be deemed to be conveyed or encumbered with the unit even though such interest is not expressly mentioned or described in the conveyance or other instrument. The granting of an easement by the organization of unit owners, or the designation or allocation by the organization of unit owners of limited common areas and facilities, or the withdrawal of a portion of the common areas and facilities, all as provided for in this subsection, shall not be deemed to affect or alter the undivided interest of any unit owner.
(2) The organization of unit owners, acting by and through its governing body, shall have the power and authority, as attorney in fact on behalf of all unit owners from time to time owning units in the condominium, except as provided in this subsection, to:
(i) Grant, modify and amend easements through, over and under the common areas and facilities, and to accept easements benefiting the condominium, and portions thereof, and its unit owners, including, without limitation, easements for public or private utility purposes, as the governing body of the organization shall deem appropriate; provided, however, that the consent of at least 51 per cent of the number of all mortgagees holding first mortgages on units within the condominium who have requested to be notified thereof, as provided in subsection (5) of section 4 is first obtained; and provided, further, that at the time of creation of such easement and at the time of modification or amendment of any such easement, such easement and any such modification or amendment shall not be inconsistent with the peaceful and lawful use and enjoyment of the common condominium property by the owners thereof. Such grant, modification, amendment, or acceptance shall be effective on the thirtieth day following the recording, within the chain of title of the master deed, of an instrument duly executed by the governing body of the organization of unit owners setting forth the grant, modification, amendment or acceptance with specificity, and reciting compliance with the requirements of this subsection.
(ii) Grant to or designate for any unit owner the right to use, whether exclusively or in common with other unit owners, any limited common area and facility, whether or not provided for in the master deed, upon such terms as deemed appropriate by the governing body of the organization of unit owners; provided, however, that consent has been obtained from (a) all owners and first mortgagees of units shown on the recorded condominium plans as immediately adjoining the limited common area or facility so designated and (b) 51 per cent of the number of all mortgagees holding first mortgages on units within the condominium who have given notice of their desire to be notified thereof as provided in subsection (5) of section 4. In such case as the limited common area or facility shall directly and substantially impede access to any unit, the consent of the unit owner of such unit and its first mortgagee, if such mortgagee has requested notice as aforesaid, shall also be required. Such grant or designation, and the acceptance thereof, shall be effective 30 days following the recording, within the chain of title of the master deed or of the declaration of trust or by-laws, of an instrument duly executed by the governing body of the organization of unit owners and the grantee or designee and his mortgagees, which instrument shall accurately designate, depict and describe the area affected and the rights granted and designated, and shall recite compliance with the requirements of this subsection. Such grant or designation shall be considered an appurtenance to the subject unit and shall be deemed to be conveyed or encumbered with the unit even though such interest is not expressly mentioned or described in the conveyance or other instrument.
(iii) Extend, revive or grant rights to develop the condominium, including the right to add additional units or land to the condominium; provided, however, that the rights to add additional units are set forth in or specifically authorized by the master deed, and, notwithstanding any provision in section 19 to the contrary, withdraw any portion of the common area of the condominium upon which, at the time of said withdrawal, no unit has been added to the condominium in accordance with the master deed; and provided further, that said withdrawal is not specifically prohibited by the master deed. Any action taken pursuant to this subparagraph shall be taken upon such terms and conditions as the organization of unit owners may deem appropriate, including the method or formula by which the percentage interest of each unit is to be set in accordance with subsection (a) of section 5, or in accordance with another method which the organization of unit owners reasonably determines is fair and equitable under the circumstances, following such extension, revival, grant, addition or withdrawal if not specified in the master deed; provided further, that the consent thereto, including the terms and conditions thereof, of not less than 75 per cent of owners of units within the condominium, or such lower percentage, if any, as the master deed may provide, and 51 per cent of the number of all mortgagees holding first mortgages on units within the condominium who have given notice of their desire to be notified thereof as provided in subsection (5) of section 4 is obtained for such extension, revival, grant, addition or withdrawal. Any action taken pursuant to this subparagraph may be taken even if the time period for adding land, units or common facilities, or for withdrawal has expired. The withdrawal of common areas pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be deemed to affect the percentage interest of each unit. Such extension, revival, grant, addition or withdrawal shall be effective 30 days after the recording, within the chain of title of the master deed or of the declaration of trust or by-laws, of an instrument duly executed by the organization of unit owners setting forth accurately the extension, revival, grant, addition or withdrawal, and reciting compliance with the requirements of this subsection; and
(iv) Sell, convey, lease or mortgage any rights or interest created as a result of exercise of rights established under subparagraph (iii); provided, however, that any proceeds obtained by the organization of unit owners as a result of such sale, conveyance, lease, or mortgage may be paid by the organization of unit owners for common expenses of the condominium, and otherwise shall be distributed in accordance with subparagraph (iii) of subsection (a) of section (6), or in accordance with another method which the organization of unit owners reasonably determines is fair and equitable under the circumstances. The provisions of paragraph (2) shall not affect the rights reserved by the declarant in the master deed except to the extent such rights have expired.
Any consent required by this subsection shall be deemed to be given if, upon written notice by certified and first class mail, provided by the governing body of the organization of unit owners of a proposed action hereunder, to the unit owner or mortgagee whose consent is required, such unit owner or mortgagee fails to object within 60 days of the date of mailing of such notice. The consent of each mortgagee, to the extent required hereunder, shall be counted separately as to each unit upon which such mortgagee holds a mortgage, based upon one vote for each unit. In no event may a consent required of a mortgagee under this subsection be withheld unless the interests of the mortgagee would be materially impaired by the action proposed. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this subsection and of the master deed, trust or by-laws or other governing documents of the condominium, this subsection shall control. Any third party interested in title to said condominium or condominium unit or units may conclusively rely upon the recitation of compliance contained within any instrument recorded pursuant to this subsection.
SECTION 6. Subsection (c) of section 6 of said chapter 183A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following two paragraphs:-
The organization of unit owners shall take no further action to enforce its priority liens against a particular unit for common expenses if the first mortgagee agrees in writing that a priority lien exists without the requirement of instituting an action, as to such enforcement and pays, within 60 days of said writing, the following prescribed amounts: (1) so much of any delinquent assessments on that unit for regularly recurring budgeted common expenses over a period for six months immediately preceding the notice of delinquency that would constitute a priority amount if an action had been commenced on the date the organization gives its delinquency notice to the mortgagee; (2) costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the organization at the time of said writing by the first mortgagee to collect outstanding common expenses, including, but not limited to, costs and fees to ascertain the first mortgagee's identity, examine title, and prepare and send to the unit owner and mortgagee the notices referred to in this paragraph; and to pay within 30 days of their due date; (3) all future common expenses, and special assessments other than special assessments for improvements made pursuant to section 18, assessed against that unit from the date of said notice until such time as the mortgagee's mortgage is foreclosed or otherwise no longer encumbers the unit. The amount which the first mortgagee, if it so elects, would be required to pay to cause the organization not to proceed to enforce its priority liens shall not include any amounts attributable to late charges, fines, penalties, and interest assessed by the organization of unit owners and shall only include amounts attributable to special assessments due and payable after the giving of the delinquency notice pursuant to this paragraph, and then only to the extent the special assessment is not made with respect to any improvement authorized under section 18. If the amounts described in clauses (1) and (2) are not received within said 60 day period, or if the amount of any future assessments under clause (3) is not received within 30 days of their due date, the organization may proceed to take further action to enforce its liens without voiding the first mortgagee's obligation to pay as provided in this subsection. The agreement by the first mortgagee to make payments in the amounts and for the duration specified in this paragraph shall be binding upon its successors and assigns and the successful bidder at any foreclosure but no such successor, assign, bidder or purchaser shall have any liability by virtue of the first mortgagee's undertaking pursuant to this paragraph for any amount first arising, assessed or becoming due after the mortgage is foreclosed or otherwise no longer encumbers the unit. The first mortgagee shall not be liable for the amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) which arise after the first mortgagee ceases to have an interest in the unit. Such amounts shall then become the obligation of the successors and assigns of the first mortgagee.
Within ten days after receipt of the written request of the first mortgagee, the organization of unit owners shall provide a written statement in reasonable detail of the actual dollar amounts the first mortgagee would be required to pay, if it so elected, to cause the organization of unit owners not to take further action to enforce its priority liens against the unit as provided in this section. The first mortgagee shall have 14 days following the mailing of said written statement to enter into the written agreement provided for in the previous paragraph. Unless the organization of unit owners has notice of a first mortgagee's foreclosure sale actually scheduled within 30 days, the organization of unit owners shall take no further action to enforce its priority liens against a particular unit for common expenses for a period of 24 days from the receipt of the written request by the first mortgagee or 14 days following mailing of the written statement by the organization of unit owners, whichever is less. The failure of the organization of unit owners to send the written statement to the first mortgagee, as described above, shall not affect the priority lien of the organization of unit owners for up to six months' common expenses, but the priority amount shall not include any costs or attorneys' fees incurred to collect or enforce the liens.
SECTION 7. Subsection (d) of said section 6 of said chapter 183A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The statement shall be furnished within ten business days after receipt of a written request, upon payment of a reasonable fee, and shall be binding on the organization of unit owners, the governing body of the organization of unit owners, and every unit owner; provided, however, that no fee shall be required of any mortgagee, in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage, who has given the organization notice of its intention to foreclose a mortgage upon the unit.
SECTION 8. Section 5A of chapter 254 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the words "one hundred and eighty-three A" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 183A or under section 29 of chapter 183B.
SECTION 9. Said section 5A of said chapter 254, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 15, the word "Such" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- For a lien under chapter 183A, such.
SECTION 10. Said section 5A of said chapter 254, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:-
For a lien under chapter 183B, such form shall be printed in substantially the following form:
SALE OF REAL ESTATE UNDER GLM 183B:29
By virtue of a Judgment and Order of the ______ Court (docket no, ______ in favor of ______ against ______ establishing a lien pursuant to GLM 183B:29 on the time-share known as ______ of the ______ for the purpose of satisfying such lien, the time-share will be sold at Public Auction at ____ o'clock __.M. on the ______ day of ______ A.D. 19__ at ______. The premises to be sold are more particularly described as follows:
Description: (Describe premises exactly as in the deed, including all references to title, restrictions, encumbrances, etc.)
Terms of sale: (State the amount, if any, to be paid in cash by the purchaser at the time and place of the sale, and the time or times for payment of the balance or the whole as the case may be.)
Other terms to be announced at the sale.
(Signed)___________________________
___________________________________
Lien Holder
___________ 19
SECTION 11. Except for section 6, this act shall apply to all master deeds, and amendments thereto, without regard to whether such master deed or amendment was recorded before, on or after the effective date of this act. The provisions of said section 6 shall apply only to priority liens and assessments first arising 90 days after the effective date of this act.