Indiana § 32-25-4-3 - Common areas and facilities; undivided interest; repairs

§ 32-25-4-3. Common areas and facilities; undivided interest; repairs

Sec. 3. (a) Each condominium unit owner is entitled to an undivided interest in the common areas and facilities as designated in the declaration. Except as provided in subsection (b), the undivided interest must be expressed as a percentage interest based on:

(1) the size of the unit in relation to the size of all units in the condominium;

(2) the value of each condominium unit in relation to the value of all condominium units in the condominium; or

(3) the assignment of an equal percentage undivided interest to each condominium unit.

An undivided interest allocated to each condominium unit in accordance with this subsection must be indicated in a schedule of undivided interests in the declaration. However, if the declaration does not specify the method of allocating the percentage undivided interests, an equal percentage undivided interest applies to each condominium unit. The total undivided interests allocated in accordance with subdivision (1) or (2) must equal one hundred percent (100%).

(b) With respect to an expandable condominium, the declaration may allocate undivided interests in the common area on the basis of value if:

(1) the declaration prohibits the creation of any condominium units not substantially identical to the condominium units depicted on the recorded plans of the declaration; or

(2) the declaration:

(A) prohibits the creation of any condominium units not described in the initial declaration; and

(B) contains a statement on the value to be assigned to each condominium unit created after the date of the declaration.

(c) Interests in the common areas may not be allocated to any condominium units to be created within any additional land until the plats and plans and supplemental declaration depicting the condominium units to be created are recorded. Simultaneously with the recording of the plats and plans for the condominium units to be created, the declarant must execute and record an amendment to the initial declaration reallocating undivided interests in the common areas so that the future condominium units depicted on the plats and plans will be allocated undivided interests in the common areas on the same basis as the condominium units depicted in the prior recorded plats and plans.

(d) Except as provided in section 3.5 of this chapter and in IC 32-25-8-3, the undivided interest of the owner of the condominium unit in the common areas and facilities, as expressed in the declaration, is permanent and may not be altered without the consent of the co-owners. A consent to alteration must be stated in an amended declaration, and the amended declaration must be recorded. The undivided interest may not be transferred, encumbered, disposed of, or separated from the condominium unit to which it appertains, and any purported transfer, encumbrance, or other disposition is void. The undivided interest is considered to be conveyed or encumbered with the condominium unit to which it appertains even though the undivided interest is not expressly mentioned or described in the conveyance or other instrument.

(e) The common areas and facilities shall remain undivided. A condominium unit owner or any other person may bring an action for partition or division of any part of the common areas and facilities if the property has been removed from this chapter as provided in IC 32-25-8-12 and IC 32-25-8-16. Any covenant to the contrary is void.

(f) Each condominium unit owner:

(1) may use the common areas and facilities in accordance with the purpose for which the common areas and facilities were intended; and

(2) may not, in the owner's use of the common areas and facilities, hinder or encroach upon the lawful rights of the other co-owners.

(g) The:

(1) necessary work of:

(A) maintenance;

(B) repair; and

(C) replacement;

of the common areas and facilities; and

(2) making of any additions or improvements to the common areas and facilities;

may be carried out only as provided in this chapter and in the bylaws.

(h) The association of condominium unit owners has the irrevocable right, to be exercised by the manager or board of directors, to have access to each condominium unit from time to time during reasonable hours as is necessary for:

(1) the maintenance, repair, or replacement of any of the common areas and facilities:

(A) in the condominium unit; or

(B) accessible from the condominium unit; or

(2) making emergency repairs in the condominium unit necessary to prevent damage to:

(A) the common areas and facilities; or

(B) another condominium unit.

[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-1-6-7.]

As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.1-2003, SEC.84; P.L.181-2007, SEC.1.