64.34.348 - Common elements -- Conveyance -- Encumbrance. - Washington Statutes

Common elements — Conveyance — Encumbrance.

(1) Portions of the common elements which are not necessary for the habitability of a unit may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest by the association if the owners of units to which at least eighty percent of the votes in the association are allocated, including eighty percent of the votes allocated to units not owned by a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, agree to that action; but all the owners of units to which any limited common element is allocated must agree in order to convey that limited common element or subject it to a security interest. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage, but not less than sixty-seven percent of the votes not held by a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant, only if all of the units are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses. Proceeds of the sale or financing are an asset of the association. The declaration may provide for a special allocation or distribution of the proceeds of the sale or refinancing of a limited common element.

     (2) An agreement to convey common elements or subject them to a security interest must be evidenced by the execution of an agreement, or ratifications thereof, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of unit owners. The agreement must specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless recorded before that date. The agreement and all ratifications thereof must be recorded in every county in which a portion of the condominium is situated and is effective only upon recording.

     (3) The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract to convey common elements or subject them to a security interest, but the contract is not enforceable against the association until approved pursuant to subsections (1) and (2) of this section. Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the conveyance or encumbrance, including the power to execute deeds or other instruments.

     (4) Any purported conveyance, encumbrance, or other voluntary transfer of common elements, unless made pursuant to this section, is void.

     (5) A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section shall not deprive any unit of its rights of access and support.

     (6) A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section shall not affect the priority or validity of preexisting encumbrances.

[1989 c 43 § 3-113.]