With the Maryland legislature in the midst of its 2016 session which runs to mid-April, several bills which would affect condomium and homeowner association operations are now being considered by House and Senate legislative committees of the Maryland General Assembly.
Resale Disclosures
Legislation concerning resale disclosures would cap the amount which an association or it management company could charge an owner for providing the governing documents and other information in connection the sale of the owner’s home. As introduced, the bill would limit the basic charge to $250 and allow additional charges of $100 to inspect the property for covenant violations and up to $100 for providing an expedited response to a request for resale disclosures.
Condo associations have long been required to provide resale disclosure information. If enacted, the bill would create a new obligation for a homeowners association to provide resale disclosure information to an owner who is selling a home in an HOA.
Condominium Construction Warranty
Also under review is legislation to amend the Maryland Condominium Act to prevent developers of residential condominiums from including provisions in sales contracts and condo governing documents which limit the ability of condominium associations to file suit to enforce construction warranties for the condominium common elements.
Among the provisions which the warranty bill would prohibit are those which purport to shorten the statute of limitations applicable to any legal claims; waive the “discovery rule” or other accrual date applicable to claims; and prevent a condo association from bringing claims on behalf of two or more unit owners. It would also disallow developer-imposed requirements that as condo association obtain the approval of unit owners, the developer or others as a condition to commencing mediation, arbitration or litigation on behalf of the condo association.
Annual State Registration
Legislation has also been introduced which would require annual state registration of all condos, HOAs and coops and require associations to provide contact information for the association board members and any management company and attorney.employed by the association. It would also require information regarding the number and type of residential units, fidelity insurance, replacement reserves, grievance procedures and any other information required by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.
Amendment of Governing Documents
A bill to make it easier to amend the declaration, bylaws and other governing documents of condos and HOAs has also been introduced. It would allow an amendment by a vote of owners in “good standing” which includes only owners who are not more than 3 months in arrears in payment of association assessments and have satisfied other requirements of the bylaws. An amendment could be passed by two-thirds of the total votes of owners in good standing, or by a lower percentage if required in the governing document. The legislation would also allow an owner’s failure to vote to be counted as that owner’s approval of the proposed amendment.
As of mid-February 2016, these bills are under review by House and Senate legislative committees and have not been enacted..
Posted by: Thomas Schild Law Group, LLC, attorneys for condominiums, homeowner associations, and housing cooperatives in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
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