Governor Approves Bill To Permit Suspension of Use of Facilities By Condo Owner Who Is Delinquent In Paying Assessments

Governor Larry Hogan has signed into law House Bill 575, which permits a condominium declaration to provide for the suspension of the use of parking or recreational facility common elements by a unit owner who is more that sixty (60) days in arrears in the payment of assessments.  The new law, which takes effect on October 1, 2018, will add new Section 11-103(d) to the Maryland Condominium Act, requiring that, prior to any suspension of privileges, the council of unit owners must first send a demand letter giving the unit owner ten  (10) days in which to pay the arrearage, or request a hearing to contest the suspension.  If a hearing is requested, the council must provide notice and hold the hearing before a suspension of privileges may be implemented.  The new law further provides that a condominium declaration may be amended to add or repeal such a provision for suspension of privileges by the affirmative vote of sixty percent (60%) of the unit owners.  House Bill 575 was passed unanimously by both the House of Delegates and State Senate.