703.19 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.195
703.195
Acquisition of common elements by condemnors. 703.195(1)(a)
(a) "Acquire" means to obtain title to real property by purchase or condemnation.
703.195(1)(b)
(b) "Common elements" means all of a condominium except its units and any limited common elements.
703.195(1)(c)
(c) "Condemnor" means a person specified in
s. 32.01 (1) who has the authority to condemn property under
ch. 32.
703.195(2)
(2) Applicability. This section applies to the acquisition by a condemnor of a portion of the common elements of a condominium that is created 6 months or more after November 1, 2004. This section is in addition to any applicable provision in
ch. 32.
703.195(3)
(3) Notice to unit owners and association. A condemnor who seeks to acquire a portion of the common elements of a condominium and who wishes to negotiate with the association instead of with each unit owner shall notify the association and each unit owner of the proposed acquisition, in writing, at least 30 days before delivery of the appraisal required under
s. 32.05 (2) (b) or
32.06 (2) (b). The notice to the unit owners shall be sent by certified mail, requesting a return receipt signed by the addressee only. Notice is deemed complete on the date the addressee acknowledges receipt. The notice required under this subsection is in addition to any notice required under
s. 32.05 or
32.06 and shall be provided simultaneously with the pamphlets that are prepared under
s. 32.26 (6) and provided under
ss. 32.05 (2a) and
32.06 (2a). The condemnor is responsible for the expense of sending the notice under this subsection.
703.195(4)
(4) Content of notice to unit owners. The notice to the unit owners required under
sub. (3) shall, at a minimum, contain all of the following:
703.195(4)(b)
(b) The legal description of the property to be acquired.
703.195(4)(c)
(c) The public purpose for which the property is being acquired and a statement that the condemnor in good faith intends to use the property for that purpose.
703.195(4)(d)
(d) The following statement in substantially identical language, in at least 12-point bold type, if printed, or in capital letters, if typewritten:
THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY SECTION 703.195 OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES. SECTION 703.195 OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES PROVIDES THAT THE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION OF WHICH YOU ARE A MEMBER MUST ACT AS YOUR AGENT TO CONVEY YOUR INTEREST IN THE AFFECTED PORTION OF THE CONDOMINIUM'S COMMON ELEMENTS IF YOU WISH. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE .... (NAME OF ACQUIRING AGENCY) ON YOUR OWN AND MAY REFUSE TO BE REPRESENTED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO PROCEED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE .... (NAME OF ACQUIRING AGENCY) ON YOUR OWN, YOU MUST WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AT THE INDICATED LOCATION AND DEPOSIT IT IN THE UNITED STATES MAIL. .... (NAME OF ACQUIRING AGENCY) HAS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE A POSTAGE PRE-PAID, ADDRESSED ENVELOPE FOR THIS PURPOSE. FAILURE TO SIGN AND RETURN THIS NOTICE MEANS THAT YOU CONSENT TO THE ASSOCIATION ACTING AS YOUR AGENT TO NEGOTIATE AND CONVEY YOUR INTEREST IN THE AFFECTED PORTION OF THE CONDOMINIUM'S COMMON ELEMENTS.
IF THE ASSOCIATION ACTS AS YOUR AGENT, YOU WILL BE LEGALLY BOUND BY ANY DECISION OF THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE OF YOUR INTEREST IN THE AFFECTED PORTION OF THE CONDOMINIUM'S COMMON ELEMENTS. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO NEGOTIATE ON YOUR OWN OR TO ALLOW THE ASSOCIATION OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY TO NEGOTIATE ON YOUR BEHALF, YOU WILL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS TO CHALLENGE THE RIGHT OF CONDEMNATION, THE NECESSITY OF CONDEMNATION, OR ANY AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AVAILABLE TO YOU UNDER CHAPTER
32 OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES.
703.195(4)(e)
(e) A prominent place for the unit owner to sign his or her name to indicate the unit owner's objection to the association acting as the agent for the unit owner in the conveyance of the common elements at issue.
703.195(5)
(5) Method of objecting by unit owner. A unit owner who objects to the association acting as the agent for the owner shall indicate the objection as provided on the form under
sub. (4) (e) and send the form, within 30 days after the notice under
sub. (3) is received, to the condemnor by U.S. mail to the address indicated on the notice. The objection is made when the completed form is mailed to the condemnor. Before initiating negotiations with the unit owner under
s. 32.05 (2a) or
32.06 (2a), the condemnor shall provide the association and those unit owners who have objected a written list of all of the unit owners who have objected.
703.195(6)
(6) No objection by unit owner; association as agent. If a unit owner does not timely object under
sub. (5), the unit owner is deemed to have consented to the association acting as the unit owner's agent in the conveyance of the common elements at issue and the association shall act as the agent for the unit owner in the conveyance to the condemnor of the unit owner's interest in the common elements at issue. Failure of the unit owner to object within the required time does not affect any other rights of the unit owner under
ch. 32.
703.195(7)
(7) Method of conveyance. The association shall execute any conveyance under this section as the agent for each of the unit owners who did not timely object under
sub. (5). Those unit owners shall be identified, by name, on the conveyance.
703.195(8)
(8) Objection by unit owner; unit owner retains rights. A unit owner who timely objects under
sub. (5) retains all of his or her rights under
ch. 32 with regard to the acquisition of the common elements at issue and to unit ownership.
703.195 History
History: 2003 a. 283.
703.195 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.20
703.20
Books of receipts and expenditures. 703.20(1)(1)
Record keeping; availability for examination. An association shall keep detailed, accurate records using standard bookkeeping procedures of the receipts and expenditures affecting the common elements, specifying and itemizing the maintenance and repair expenses of the common elements and any other expenses incurred. The records and the vouchers authorizing the payments shall be available for examination by the unit owners at convenient hours.
703.20(2)
(2) Disclosure information. Within 10 days after a request by a seller other than the declarant, an association shall furnish the information necessary for the seller to comply with
s. 703.33. The seller shall pay the association the actual costs of furnishing the information.
703.20(3)
(3) Declarant responsibilities for records. During the period of declarant control under
s. 703.15 (2) (c), the declarant is responsible for creating and maintaining the financial and operational records of the association and shall turn the records over to the directors elected under
s. 703.15 (2) (f). During the period of declarant control under
s. 703.15 (2) (c) and for one year thereafter, upon written request to the association by the lesser of 3 unit owners or the owners of 10% of the units, not including units owned by the declarant, the association shall arrange for an independent audit of its financial records at the association's expense. The cost of any audit requested within 36 months after the completion of a previous audit shall be paid for by the requesting unit owners.
703.20 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.21
703.21
Separate taxation. 703.21(1)(1) Every unit and its percentage of undivided interest in the common elements shall be deemed to be a parcel and shall be subject to separate assessments and taxation by each assessing unit and special district for all types of taxes authorized by law including, but not limited to, special levies based on the value of property and special assessments. Neither the building, the property nor any of the common elements shall be deemed to be a parcel separate from the unit.
703.21(2)
(2) The rights, duties and obligations of unit owners under this chapter shall inure to and be binding upon grantees under tax deeds and persons acquiring title by foreclosure of tax liens and their successors in interest.
703.21 History
History: 1977 c. 407;
1979 c. 110.
703.22
703.22
Mechanics' and suppliers' liens. 703.22(1)
(1) Subsequent to recording a declaration under this chapter and while the property remains subject to this chapter, any and all liens will exist only against individual units and the percentage of undivided interest in the common elements appurtenant to such unit, in the same manner and under the same conditions in every respect as liens or encumbrances may arise or be created upon or against any other separate parcel of real property subject to individual ownership.
703.22(2)
(2) Any mechanics' lien or suppliers' lien under
subch. I of ch. 779 arising as a result of repairs to or improvements of a unit by a unit owner shall be a lien only against the unit.
703.22(3)
(3) Any mechanics' or suppliers' lien under
subch. I of ch. 779 arising as a result of repairs to or improvements of the common elements, if authorized in writing by the association, shall be paid by the association as a common expense and until paid shall be a lien against each unit in proportion to its percentage interest in the common elements. On payment of the proportionate amount by any unit owner to the lienor or on the filing of a written undertaking in the manner specified by
s. 779.08, the unit owner shall be entitled to a release of his or her unit from the lien and the association shall not be entitled to assess his or her unit for payment of the remaining amount due for the repairs or improvements.
703.22 Annotation
Because the statute is silent as to the amount each unit should pay when a blanket lien is filed, application of the equitable principal that the lien should be applied proportionately against each unit was appropriate. Torke/Wirth/Pujara v. Lakeshore Towers,
192 Wis. 2d 481,
531 N.W.2d 419 (Ct. App. 1995).
703.23
703.23
Resident agent; exemption of unit owners from liability. 703.23(1)(1)
Appointment of resident agent; change in name or address. When any property is submitted to a condominium declaration, the declarant shall appoint a resident agent for the condominium who shall be a citizen and actual resident of the state or corporation duly registered or qualified to do business in the state. The declarant shall file the name and address of the resident agent with the department of financial institutions. The name or address of the resident agent may be changed by the association or other proper authority of the condominium in the same manner and to the same extent that names and addresses of registered agents may be changed by corporations. If the association is incorporated, the registered agent for the association shall be the registered agent for the condominium.
703.23(2)
(2) Index of names and address of resident agents. The department of financial institutions shall keep an index of the names and addresses of resident agents and shall make the information available to the public on request.
703.23(3)
(3) Suits brought by service on resident agent. Suit may be brought by service on the resident agent in actions against an association, or which arise through any cause relating to the common elements.
703.23(4)
(4) Exemption of unit owners from liability for certain claims. Except in proportion to his or her percentage interest in the common elements, no unit owner personally is liable for damages as a result of injuries arising in connection with the common elements solely by virtue of his or her ownership of a percentage interest in the common elements, or for liabilities incurred by the association.
703.23 History
History: 1977 c. 407;
1995 a. 27.
703.24
703.24
Remedies for violations by unit owner or tenant of a unit owner. 703.24(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "violation" means failure to comply with this chapter or the declaration, bylaws, or association rules.
703.24(2)
(2) Liability for unit owner violation. A unit owner who commits a violation is liable for any charges, fines, or assessments imposed by the association pursuant to the bylaws or association rules as a result of the violation and may be subject to a temporary or permanent injunction.
703.24(3)
(3) Liability for violation by tenant. 703.24(3)(a)(a) If a tenant of a unit commits a violation that results in a charge, fine, or assessment imposed by the association pursuant to the bylaws or association rules, the tenant is liable for the charge, fine, or assessment.
703.24(3)(b)
(b) If the association complies with the notice requirement of
sub. (4), the owner of the unit occupied by the tenant when the violation occurred is liable for any charges, fines, or assessments imposed by the association for which the tenant is liable under
par. (a) that are not paid by the tenant within 30 days after receiving the notice under
sub. (4). This paragraph does not affect the liability of the tenant to the unit owner for any charges, fines, or assessments paid by the unit owner under this paragraph.
703.24(4)
(4) Notice requirement for violation by tenant. If an association imposes a charge, fine, or assessment as a result of a violation by a tenant of a unit in the condominium, the association shall give notice to the tenant by any method under
s. 704.21 (1) (a) to
(e) and to the owner of the unit occupied by the tenant by any method under
s. 704.21 (2) (a) to
(d). The notice shall include all of the following:
703.24(4)(a)
(a) The amount of charges, fines, or assessments for which the tenant is liable.
703.24(4)(b)
(b) Notice that if the tenant fails to pay the association the amount for which the tenant is liable within 30 days after the tenant receives the notice, the owner is liable to the association for the amount unpaid by the tenant although the tenant may be liable to the unit owner for any amounts the unit owner pays.
703.24(5)
(5) Other liability not affected. This section does not otherwise affect the liability of a unit owner or tenant who commits a violation.
703.24 History
History: 1977 c. 407;
2003 a. 283.
703.24 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.25
703.25
Tort and contract liability. 703.25(1)
(1) An action for tort alleging a wrong done by any agent or employee of a declarant or of an association, or in connection with the condition of any portion of a condominium which a declarant or an association has the responsibility to maintain, shall be brought against the declarant or the association, as the case may be. No unit owner shall be precluded from bringing such an action by virtue of its ownership of an undivided interest in the common elements or by reason of its membership in the association or its status as an officer.
703.25(2)
(2) An action arising from a contract made by or on behalf of an association shall be brought against the association, or against the declarant if the cause of action arose during the exercise by the declarant of control reserved under the declaration. No unit owner shall be precluded from bringing such an action by reason of its membership in the association or its status as an officer.
703.25(3)
(3) A judgment for money against an association shall be a lien against any property owned by the association, and against each of the condominium units in proportion to the liability of each unit owner for common expenses as established under the declaration in an amount not exceeding the market value of the unit, but not against any other property of any unit owner.
703.25 History
History: 1977 c. 407.
703.25 Annotation
Sections 703.25 (3) and 840.10 (1) permit the filing of a lis pendens in an action for a money judgment against a condominium association as a judgment will be a lien against each condominium unit although their owners are not defendants in the action. Interlaken Service Corporation v. Interlaken Condominium Association,
222 Wis. 2d 299,
588 N.W.2d 262 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-1107.
703.26
703.26
Expanding condominiums. 703.26(1)
(1)
Declarant may reserve right to expand. A declarant may reserve the right to expand a condominium by subjecting additional property to the condominium declaration in such a manner that as each additional property is subjected to the condominium declaration, the percentage of undivided interests in the common elements of the preceding and new property shall be reallocated between the unit owners on the basis of the aggregate undivided interest in the common elements appertaining to the property.
703.26(2)
(2) Conditions to which reservation subject. A reservation of the right to expand a condominium is subject to the conditions provided in this subsection.
703.26(2)(a)
(a) A declaration establishing a condominium shall describe each parcel of property which may be added to the condominium.
703.26(2)(b)
(b) A declaration establishing a condominium shall show the maximum number of units which may be added, and the percentage interests in the common elements, the liabilities for common expenses and the rights to common surpluses, and the number of votes appurtenant to each unit following the addition of property to the condominium, if added. The percentage interests in the common elements, the liabilities for common expenses and the rights to common surpluses, and the number of votes that each unit owner will have may be shown by reference to a formula or other appropriate method of determining them following each expansion of the condominium.
703.26(2)(c)
(c) A condominium plat for an original condominium shall include, in general terms, the outlines of the land, buildings, and common elements of new property that may be added to the condominium.
703.26(2)(d)
(d) In a declaration establishing a condominium, a right to expand the condominium may be reserved in the declaration for a period not exceeding 10 years from the date of recording of the declaration.
703.26(3)
(3) Recordation of amendments to declaration and plat. 703.26(3)(a)(a) If the conditions of
sub. (2) are complied with, property may be added to a condominium if the declarant records an amendment to the declaration, showing the new percentage interests of the unit owners, and the votes which each unit owner may cast in the condominium as expanded, and records an addendum to the condominium plat that includes the detail and information concerning the new property as required in the original condominium plat.
703.26(3)(b)
(b) On recording of an amendment of a declaration and an addendum to a plat, each unit owner, by operation of law, has the percentage interests in the common elements, liabilities in the common expenses, rights to common surpluses, and shall have the number of votes, set forth in the amendment to the declaration. Following any expansion, the interest of any mortgagee shall attach, by operation of law, to the new percentage interests in the common elements appurtenant to the unit on which it is a lien.
703.26 History
History: 1977 c. 407;
1997 a. 333.
703.26 Annotation
Substantial compliance with formal requirements as permitted by s. 703.30 (2) is limited to the condominium status of the property and title of the unit owners. It does not apply to a project's status as an expanding condominium under this section. Rock Lake Estates Unit Owners Association, Inc. v. Town of Lake Mills,
195 Wis. 2d 348,
536 N.W.2d 415 (Ct. App. 1995),
94-2488.
703.265
703.265
Addendum to plat to reflect changes in building codes or zoning ordinances. 703.265(1)
(1) If the revision or adoption of a building code or zoning ordinance prevents or substantially affects the construction of a unit or common elements as platted, the declarant may reasonably modify the condominium plat, by addendum, to the extent necessary to comply with the code or ordinance in order to construct the unit or common elements.
703.265(2)
(2) If the revision or adoption of a building code or zoning ordinance prevents or substantially affects the reconstruction of a unit or common element as platted, the declarant, unit owner, or association, as appropriate, may reasonably modify the condominium plat, by addendum, to the extent necessary to comply with the code or ordinance in order to reconstruct the unit or common elements.
703.265(3)
(3) An addendum made under this section shall be recorded as provided under
s. 703.095.
703.265 History
History: 2003 a. 283.
703.265 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.27
703.27
Zoning and building regulations. 703.27(1)
(1) A zoning or other land use ordinance or regulations may not prohibit the condominium form of ownership or impose any requirements upon a condominium that it would not impose if the development were under a different form of ownership. No provision of a state or local building code may be applied differently to a building in a condominium than it would be applied if the building were under a different form of ownership unless the different application is expressly permitted in that provision and the different application is reasonably related to the nature of condominium ownership. No subdivision ordinance may apply to any condominium unless the ordinance is, by its express terms, applicable to condominiums and the application is reasonably related to the nature of condominium ownership.
703.27(2)
(2) No county, city, or other jurisdiction may enact any law, ordinance, or regulation that would impose a greater burden or restriction on a condominium or provide a lower level of services to a condominium than would be imposed or provided if the condominium were under a different form of ownership.
703.27 History
History: 1977 c. 407;
2003 a. 283.
703.27 Note
NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 283, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.
703.275
703.275
Merger or consolidation of condominiums. 703.275(1)(1)
Agreement; legal effect. Any 2 or more condominiums, including 2 or more small condominiums or any combination of small condominiums and other condominiums, by agreement of the unit owners as provided in this section, may be merged or consolidated into a single condominium. Unless the agreement otherwise provides, the condominium resulting from a merger or consolidation is, for all purposes, the legal successor of all of the preexisting condominiums and the operations and activities of all associations of the preexisting condominiums shall be merged or consolidated into a single association which shall hold all powers, rights, obligations, assets and liabilities of the preexisting associations. The resultant condominium must bear the name of one of the preexisting condominiums.
