Rhode Island General Laws
Article III - Management of Condominium
Section 34-36.1-3.12. - Conveyance or encumbrance of common elements.

§ 34-36.1-3.12. Conveyance or encumbrance of common elements.
(a) Portions of the common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest or mortgage by the association if persons entitled to cast at least eighty percent (80%) of the votes in the association, including eighty percent (80%) of the votes allocated to units not owned by 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 or mortgage. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses. Proceeds of the sale are an asset of the association.
(b) 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 municipality in which a portion of the condominium is situated, and is effective only upon recordation.
(c) 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 (a) and (b). Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the conveyance or encumbrance, including the power to execute deeds or other instruments.
(d) Any purported conveyance, encumbrance, judicial sale or other voluntary transfer of common elements, unless made pursuant to this section, is void.
(e) A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not deprive any unit of its rights of access and support.
(f) Unless the declaration otherwise provides, a conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not affect the priority or validity of preexisting encumbrances.
History of Section.P.L. 1982, ch. 329, § 2.

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