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Legislature Considers Amendments To Provisions For Termination Of Developer Contracts

Senate Bill 162, now pending in the Maryland General Assembly, would change the current provisions applicable to the rights of condominiums and homeowners associations to terminate contracts that were entered into by the developer prior to the property owners having assumed control of the community.  It would expand the developer contracts now subject to termination by a subsequently elected independent governing body to include contracts providing “telecommunications, internet, cable, or other video services” in addition to utility services and communications systems. (more…)

Maryland Senate Versions of House Bills

The following are Maryland General Assembly Senate versions of House bills discussed in previous posts:

Licensing and regulation of property managers – SB 794

Precluding limits on causes of action – SB 167

Limiting liens to delinquent assessments and not fine – SB 161

Resale notice of potential special assessment – SB 176

Closed meetings to consider business transactions – SB 197

Maryland Legislature Considers Limits On Attorney’s Fees Charged To Homeowners

Legislation pending in the Maryland General Assembly would limit attorney’s fees recoverable by condominiums from unit owners, and by homeowners associations from lot owners, in connection with collecting assessments or fines.  House Bill 1532 would add new Section 11-110.1 to the Maryland Condominium Act and new Section 11B-117.1 to the Homeowners Association Act.  It would prohibit a council of unit owners or homeowners association from demanding, collecting or seeking to recover attorney’s fees from a unit owner “unless the amount of the attorney’s fees is reasonable in relation to the amount in controversy or the nature of the non-monetary violation. (more…)

Maryland Legislature Considers Bill To Permit Certain Qualified Unit Owners To Rent Their Units Despite Restrictions On Rentals

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that would require that  condominium unit owners, under certain qualifying circumstances, be permitted to rent their units even where the condominium governing documents limit the number of units that can be rented.  House Bill 1195 would add new Section 11-111.4 to the Maryland Condominium Act, and provide that unit owners who had experienced a “financial event” be allowed to rent their units despite a provision in the governing documents limiting the number or percentage of units that can be rented. (more…)

Maryland General Assembly Considers Legislation Precluding Limits On Condominium Rights To Sue

House Bill 1141, now pending in the Maryland General Assembly, would prevent residential condominium developers from including provisions in declarations, bylaws and sales contracts  that limit the rights of condominium councils and unit owners  to bring claims, specifically targeting warranty claims against the developer.  It would add new Section 11-134.1 to the Maryland Condominium Act, which would make certain provisions in governing unenforceable, and would limit the scope of others. (more…)