§35-8-17. Liens in favor of association.
-
The association shall have a lien on each unit for any unpaid assessment duly made by the association for a share of common expenses, limited common expenses or otherwise, together with interest thereon and, if authorized by the declaration or bylaws, reasonable attorney's fees. Such lien shall be effective from and after the time of recording in the public records of the county in which the unit is located of a claim of lien stating the description of the unit, the name of the record owner, the amount due and the date when due. Such claim of lien shall include only sums which are due and payable when the claim of lien is recorded and shall be signed and verified by an officer or agent of the association. Upon full payment of all sums secured by the lien, the party making payment shall be entitled to a recordable satisfaction of lien. All such liens shall be subordinate to any lien for taxes, the lien of any mortgage of record and any other lien recorded prior to the time of recording of the claim of the association's lien.
(1) Upon any voluntary conveyance of a unit, the grantor and grantee of such unit shall be jointly and severally liable for all unpaid assessments pertaining to such unit duly made by the association or accrued up to the date of such conveyance without prejudice to the right of the grantee to recover from the grantor any amounts paid by the grantee, but the grantee shall be exclusively liable for those accruing while he is the unit owner.
(2) Any unit owner or any purchaser of a unit prior to completion of a voluntary sale may require from the association a certificate showing the amount of unpaid assessments pertaining to such unit, and the association shall provide such certificate within 10 days after request therefor. The holder of a mortgage or other lien on any unit may request a similar certificate with respect to such unit. Any person other than the unit owner at the time of issuance of any such certificate who relies upon such certificate shall be entitled to rely thereon, and his liability for such unpaid assessments shall be limited to the amounts set forth in such certificate.
(3) If a holder of a first lien of record or other purchaser of a unit obtains title to such unit as a result of foreclosure of the first lien, such acquirer of title, his successors and assigns shall not be fully liable for the share of common expenses, limited common expenses or other assessments by the association pertaining to such unit or chargeable to the former unit owner which became due prior to acquisition of title as a result of the foreclosure. Such unpaid share of common expenses, limited common expenses or other assessments shall be deemed to be common expenses or limited common expenses collectable from all of the remaining unit owners including such acquirer, his successors and assigns.
(4) Liens for unpaid assessments may be foreclosed by an action brought in the name of the association in the same manner as a foreclosure of a mortgage on real property. The association shall have the power, unless prohibited by the declaration or bylaws, to bid in the unit at foreclosure sale and to acquire, hold, lease, mortgage and convey the same. An action to recover a money judgment for unpaid assessments may be maintained without waiving the lien securing the same.