Limited common elements: spaces or things? “Limited common elements” can be spaces or things. Parking spots are an example of “spaces” that are frequently defined as “limited common elements” in an association’s Governing Documents. Parking spaces are essentially blocks of air surrounded by common elements and lines drawn on pavement. In most cases, the boundary…
Category Archives: Condominium Laws
What are Limited Common Elements? Part One
Under the New Act (RCW 64.34 et seq., Washington’s Condominium Act) and Old Act (RCW 64.32 et seq., the Horizontal Property Regimes Act), limited common elements or areas are defined as a subset of common elements or areas. Specifically, limited common elements are the portion of common elements (owned by everyone) that are designated in…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part Two
Methods of enacting a no-smoking rule There are three ways we have seen clients enact (or attempt to enact) a no-smoking rule: 1) Amendment to Declaration/CC&Rs: This method is likely the most difficult and costly way to enact a smoking ban, but it will be given the most deference by courts and be relatively strong…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part One
An association may enact a rule banning smoking in common areas, and can probably ban it in individual units/homes as well. However, an association must consider several potential risks and benefits before enacting such a rule. We generally treat tobacco, marijuana, and vaping any substance the same way in adopting and enforcing community association rules….
When a Project Manager is Needed
I have never seen a Condo Declaration that required a project manager for any maintenance or repair. But if I were to look, I would look at the maintenance provisions, the authority of the board provisions and the damage and destruction provision. The damage and destruction provision often provides the OPTION of hiring architects and…
Costs to Maintain Limited Common Elements Assessed to All Owners
A Washington Appeals court ruled that condos subject to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (the “Old” condo Act; RCW 64.32) must assess repairs for limited common areas as common expenses against all owners based on their percentage ownership interest. The Act makes no exceptions to that rule. An association had assessed individual owners for repairs…
Procedure Matters
One piece of advice we often give our community association boards is that the procedure used by an association to take any given action is often more susceptible to challenge than the action itself. In other words, how you do things is often easier to attack – successfully – than the actual action taken by…
“Rent-Free” Living During Redemption Period
The Washington State Court of Appeals recently held that the owner of a condominium unit could not be forced to move out or pay rent during the redemption period after a judicial foreclosure by the Association. Viewcrest Condo. Ass’n v. Robertson, No. 74115-2-I, 2016 WL 7470025 (Wash. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2016) In the case,…
Associations Not Required to Disclose Privileged Information
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that the Maryland Condominium Act did not require disclosure of information related to legal advice or attorney work product (privileged information) to owners. Although this case was decided in Maryland, and it is not binding in Washington, it could indicate how Washington courts would decide a similar issue…
Don’t Disregard the Formalities of Due Process
The formalities of the law and due process are in place to protect the rights of individuals. When the procedures of due process are skirted it can strip a community association of the ability to enforce its rules or levy fines. A condo association in Connecticut alleged that an owner violated the condominium’s declaration by…
Category Archives: Condominium Laws
What are Limited Common Elements? Part Two
Limited common elements: spaces or things? “Limited common elements” can be spaces or things. Parking spots are an example of “spaces” that are frequently defined as “limited common elements” in an association’s Governing Documents. Parking spaces are essentially blocks of air surrounded by common elements and lines drawn on pavement. In most cases, the boundary…
What are Limited Common Elements? Part One
Under the New Act (RCW 64.34 et seq., Washington’s Condominium Act) and Old Act (RCW 64.32 et seq., the Horizontal Property Regimes Act), limited common elements or areas are defined as a subset of common elements or areas. Specifically, limited common elements are the portion of common elements (owned by everyone) that are designated in…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part Two
Methods of enacting a no-smoking rule There are three ways we have seen clients enact (or attempt to enact) a no-smoking rule: 1) Amendment to Declaration/CC&Rs: This method is likely the most difficult and costly way to enact a smoking ban, but it will be given the most deference by courts and be relatively strong…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part One
An association may enact a rule banning smoking in common areas, and can probably ban it in individual units/homes as well. However, an association must consider several potential risks and benefits before enacting such a rule. We generally treat tobacco, marijuana, and vaping any substance the same way in adopting and enforcing community association rules….
When a Project Manager is Needed
I have never seen a Condo Declaration that required a project manager for any maintenance or repair. But if I were to look, I would look at the maintenance provisions, the authority of the board provisions and the damage and destruction provision. The damage and destruction provision often provides the OPTION of hiring architects and…
Costs to Maintain Limited Common Elements Assessed to All Owners
A Washington Appeals court ruled that condos subject to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (the “Old” condo Act; RCW 64.32) must assess repairs for limited common areas as common expenses against all owners based on their percentage ownership interest. The Act makes no exceptions to that rule. An association had assessed individual owners for repairs…
Procedure Matters
One piece of advice we often give our community association boards is that the procedure used by an association to take any given action is often more susceptible to challenge than the action itself. In other words, how you do things is often easier to attack – successfully – than the actual action taken by…
“Rent-Free” Living During Redemption Period
The Washington State Court of Appeals recently held that the owner of a condominium unit could not be forced to move out or pay rent during the redemption period after a judicial foreclosure by the Association. Viewcrest Condo. Ass’n v. Robertson, No. 74115-2-I, 2016 WL 7470025 (Wash. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2016) In the case,…
Associations Not Required to Disclose Privileged Information
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that the Maryland Condominium Act did not require disclosure of information related to legal advice or attorney work product (privileged information) to owners. Although this case was decided in Maryland, and it is not binding in Washington, it could indicate how Washington courts would decide a similar issue…
Don’t Disregard the Formalities of Due Process
The formalities of the law and due process are in place to protect the rights of individuals. When the procedures of due process are skirted it can strip a community association of the ability to enforce its rules or levy fines. A condo association in Connecticut alleged that an owner violated the condominium’s declaration by…
