Virginia Law

As used in this chapter or in the declaration and bylaws, unless provided otherwise or unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Affiliate of a declarant" means any person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a declarant. A person "controls" a declarant if the person (i) is a general partner, officer, director, or employer of the declarant; (ii) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than 20 percent of the voting interest in the declarant; (iii) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the declarant; or (iv) has contributed more than 20 percent of the capital of the declarant. A person "is controlled by" a declarant if the declarant (a) is a general partner, officer, director, or employer of the person; (b) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than 20 percent of the voting interest in the person; (c) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the person; or (d) has contributed more than 20 percent of the capital of the person. Control does not exist if the powers described in this definition are held solely as security for an obligation and are not exercised.

"Allocated interests" means the common expense liability and the ownership interest and votes in the association allocated to each cooperative interest.

"Association" or "proprietary lessees' association" means the proprietary lessees' association organized under § 55.1-2132.

"Capital components" means those items, whether or not a part of the common elements, for which the association has the obligation for repair, replacement, or restoration and for which the executive board determines funding is necessary.

"Common elements" means all portions of a cooperative other than the units of such cooperative.

"Common expenses" means any expenditures made by, or financial liabilities of, the association, together with any allocations to reserves.

"Common expense liability" means liability for common expenses allocated to each cooperative interest pursuant to § 55.1-2118.

"Conversion building" means a building that at any time before creation of the cooperative was occupied wholly or partially by persons other than purchasers and persons who occupy with the consent of purchasers.

"Cooperative" means real estate owned by an association, each of the members of which is entitled, by virtue of his ownership interest in the association, to exclusive possession of a unit.

"Cooperative interest" means an ownership interest in the association coupled with a possessory interest in a unit under a proprietary lease. For purposes of this chapter, a declarant is treated as the owner of any cooperative interests or potential cooperative interests to which allocated interests have been allocated pursuant to § 55.1-2118 until that cooperative interest has been created and conveyed to another person.

"Declarant" means any person or group of persons acting in concert that (i) as part of a common promotional plan, offers to dispose of its cooperative interest not previously disposed of; (ii) reserves or succeeds to any special declarant right; or (iii) applies for registration of a cooperative under Article 5 (§ 55.1-2173 et seq.).

"Declaration" means any instruments, however denominated, that create a cooperative and any amendments to those instruments.

"Development rights" means any right or combination of rights reserved by a declarant in the declaration to (i) add real estate to a cooperative; (ii) create units, common elements, or limited common elements within a cooperative; (iii) subdivide units or convert units into common elements; or (iv) withdraw real estate from a cooperative.

"Dispose" or "disposition" means a voluntary transfer to a purchaser of any legal or equitable interest in a cooperative interest, but does not include the transfer or release of a security interest.

"Executive board" means the body, regardless of name, designated in the declaration to act on behalf of the association.

"Identifying number" means a symbol or address that identifies only one unit in a cooperative.

"Leasehold cooperative" means a cooperative in which all or a portion of the real estate is subject to a lease the expiration or termination of which will terminate the cooperative or reduce its size.

"Limited common element" means a portion of the common elements allocated by the declaration or by operation of subdivision 2 or 4 of § 55.1-2113 for the exclusive use of at least one unit but fewer than all of the units.

"Master association" means an organization described in § 55.1-2130, whether or not it is also an association described in § 55.1-2132.

"Offering" means any advertisement, inducement, solicitation, or attempt to encourage any person to acquire any interest in a cooperative interest, other than as security for an obligation. An advertisement in a newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, or in any broadcast medium to the general public, of a cooperative not located in the Commonwealth is not an offering if the advertisement states that an offering may be made only in compliance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the cooperative is located.

"Person" means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity. In the case of a land trust, however, "person" means the beneficiary of the trust rather than the trust or the trustee.

"Proprietary lease" means an agreement with the association pursuant to which a proprietary lessee has a possessory interest in a unit.

"Proprietary lessee" means a person that owns a cooperative interest, other than as security for an obligation, and the declarant with respect to cooperative interests or potential cooperative interests to which allocated interests have been allocated pursuant to § 55.1-2118 until that cooperative interest has been created and conveyed to another person.

"Purchaser" means any person, other than a declarant or a person in the business of selling cooperative interests for his own account, that, by means of a voluntary transfer, acquires or contracts to acquire a cooperative interest other than as security for an obligation.

"Real estate" means any leasehold or other estate or interest in, over, or under land, including structures, fixtures, and other improvements and interests that, by custom, usage, or law, pass with a conveyance of land though not described in the contract of sale or instrument of conveyance. "Real estate" includes (i) parcels with or without upper or lower boundaries and (ii) spaces that may be filled with air or water.

"Residential purposes" means use for dwelling or recreational purposes, or both.

"Security interest" means an interest in real or personal property, created by contract or conveyance, that secures payment or performance of an obligation. "Security interest" includes a mortgage, deed of trust, trust deed, security deed, contract for deed, land sales contract, lease intended as security, assignment of lease or rents intended as security, pledge of an ownership interest in an association, and any other consensual lien or title retention contract intended as security for an obligation.

"Special declarant rights" means rights reserved for the benefit of a declarant to (i) complete improvements described in the public offering statement pursuant to subdivision A 2 of § 55.1-2155; (ii) exercise any development right pursuant to § 55.1-2120; (iii) maintain sales offices, management offices, signs advertising the cooperative, and models; (iv) use easements through the common elements for the purpose of making improvements within the cooperative or within real estate that may be added to the cooperative; (v) make the cooperative part of a larger cooperative or group of cooperatives; (vi) make the cooperative subject to a master association as specified in § 55.1-2130; or (vii) appoint or remove any officer of the association, any master association, or any executive board member during any period of declarant control.

"Time share" means a right to occupy a unit or any of several units during five or more separated time periods over a period of at least five years, including renewal options, whether or not coupled with an estate or interest in a cooperative or a specified portion of such estate or interest.

"Unit" means a physical portion of the cooperative designated for separate occupancy under a proprietary lease.

1982, c. 277, § 55-426; 2005, c. 436; 2019, c. 712.

A. This chapter applies to all cooperatives created within the Commonwealth after July 1, 1982. Unless the declaration provides that the entire chapter is applicable, such a cooperative is subject only to §§ 55.1-2104 and 55.1-2105 if the cooperative contains only units restricted to nonresidential use or contains no more than three units and is not subject to any development rights.

B. Except as provided in subsection C, §§ 55.1-2100, 55.1-2104, 55.1-2105, 55.1-2109, 55.1-2114, and 55.1-2131, subdivisions A 1 through 6 and 11 through 17 of § 55.1-2133, and §§ 55.1-2143, 55.1-2148, 55.1-2151, 55.1-2169, 55.1-2170, and 55.1-2309 apply to all cooperatives created in the Commonwealth before July 1, 1982. Those sections apply only with respect to events and circumstances occurring after July 1, 1982, and do not invalidate existing provisions of the cooperative documents of those cooperatives. With regard to any cooperative created before July 1, 1982, § 55.1-2104 applies only to real estate acquired by that cooperative's association on or after that date. For the purposes of this section, a cooperative was created before July 1, 1982, if the cooperative was conveyed to the association before that date.

C. If a cooperative created within the Commonwealth before July 1, 1982, contains no more than three units and is not subject to any development rights, it is subject only to §§ 55.1-2104 and 55.1-2105, unless the declaration is amended to make any or all of the sections enumerated in subsection B apply to that cooperative.

D. This chapter does not apply to cooperatives or cooperative interests located outside the Commonwealth, but the public offering statement provisions as given in §§ 55.1-2153 through 55.1-2160 apply to all contracts for the disposition of cooperative interests signed in the Commonwealth by any party, unless exempt under subsection B of § 55.1-2153. The Common Interest Community Board regulations provisions under Article 5 (§ 55.1-2173 et seq.) apply to any such offering in the Commonwealth.

E. This chapter does not apply to any cooperatives that receive federal funding pursuant to the public housing or § 8 program under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended.

F. This chapter does not apply to any cooperative that, when acquired by an association, is subject to a mortgage or deed of trust securing an indebtedness owed to any government or governmental authority to which the association has contractual obligations in addition to those set forth in such mortgage or deed of trust.

1982, c. 277, § 55-425; 1983, c. 312; 1986, cc. 368, 557; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 387, 388.

Except as expressly provided in this chapter, provisions of this chapter shall not be varied by agreement, and rights conferred by this chapter shall not be waived. A declarant shall not act under a power of attorney, or use any other device, to evade the limitations or prohibitions of this chapter or the declaration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-427; 2019, c. 712.

A. A cooperative interest is real estate for all purposes. Unless waived by a proprietary lessee, a cooperative interest is subject to the provisions of Title 34 (§ 34-1 et seq.), regarding the homestead exemption.

B. Any portion of the common elements for which the declarant has reserved any development right shall be separately taxed and assessed against the declarant, and the declarant alone is liable for the payment of those taxes.

C. When the highest and best use of any parcel improved by a multi-unit cooperative apartment complex is achieved by sale of the cooperative apartment units as individual units, the fair market value of the parcel shall be determined by aggregating the fair market value of all taxable real estate that is part of the parcel, including each cooperative apartment unit and common elements. The fair market value of each such cooperative apartment unit shall be established by determining its fair market value for sale as an individual unit, determined in the same manner, mutatis mutandis, as the fair market value of condominium units. Tax bills shall be issued for each individual cooperative apartment unit.

No assessment of any parcel improved by a multi-unit cooperative apartment complex, whether the assessment was made before or after the adoption of this subsection, shall be held to be invalid because of the use of the method described in this subsection to determine the assessment.

D. Any duly authorized real estate assessor, board of assessors, or department of real estate assessments may require that all declarants, associations, master associations, and proprietary lessees' associations in the county or city subject to local taxation furnish to such assessor, board, or department on or before a time specified a statement listing all transfers of the cooperative apartment units over a specified period of time and a statement listing all owners and proprietary lessees of the cooperative apartment units as of a specified date. Each such statement shall be certified as to its accuracy by the declarant, association, master association, or proprietary lessees' association for which the statement is furnished or by a duly authorized agent of such declarant or association. Any statement required by this subsection shall be kept confidential in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-3.

E. Subsections C and D apply to all cooperatives created in the Commonwealth, whether created before, on, or after July 1, 1982. However, subsections C and D do not apply to any multi-unit cooperative apartment complex the cooperative apartment units of which have been continually in use as such since December 31, 1967.

F. Any residential cooperative association the members of which are owners of cooperative interests in a cooperative under this chapter shall not be deemed to be a business for any state and local purposes, including liability for payment of sales, meals, hotel, motel, or gross receipts taxes and business licenses, to the extent that such residential cooperative association collects payments from residents of such cooperative.

G. Any tangible personal property owned by a residential cooperative association that would be considered household goods and personal effects if owned and used by an individual or by a family or household incident to maintaining an abode shall be considered household goods and personal effects owned and used by an individual or by a family or household incident to maintaining an abode for the purposes of § 58.1-3504 and any local ordinance authorized pursuant to § 58.1-3504.

1982, c. 277, § 55-428; 1988, c. 412; 2002, c. 34; 2003, c. 351; 2019, c. 712.

A. No zoning or other land use ordinance shall prohibit cooperatives as such by reason of their form of ownership. No cooperative shall be treated differently by any zoning or other land use ordinance that would permit a physically identical project or development under a different form of ownership.

B. Subdivision and site plan ordinances in any locality shall apply to any cooperative in the same manner as such ordinances would apply to a physically identical project or development under a different form of ownership. Nevertheless, the declarant need not apply for or obtain subdivision approval to record cooperative instruments against a portion of the land that may be submitted to the cooperative if the site plan approval for the land being submitted to the cooperative has first been obtained.

C. During development of a cooperative containing additional land or withdrawable land, phase lines created by the cooperative instruments shall not be considered property lines for purposes of subdivision. If the cooperative may no longer be expanded by the addition of additional land, the owner of the land not part of the cooperative shall subdivide such land prior to its conveyance, unless such land is subject to an approved site plan as provided in subsection B, or prior to modification of such approved site plan. In the event of any conveyance of land within phase lines of the cooperative, the cooperative and any lot created by such conveyance shall be deemed to comply with the local subdivision ordinance, provided that such land is subject to an approved site plan.

D. Localities may provide by ordinance that proposed cooperatives comprising conversion buildings and the use of such conversion buildings that do not conform to the zoning, land use, and site plan regulations of the respective county or city in which the property is located shall secure a special use permit, a special exception, or variance, as applicable, prior to such property's becoming a cooperative. The local authority shall grant a request for such a special use permit, special exception, or variance filed on or after July 1, 1982, if the applicant can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the local authority that the nonconformities are not likely to be adversely affected by the proposed conversion. The local authority shall not unreasonably delay action on any such request. In the event of an approved conversion, a locality, sanitary district, or other political subdivision may impose such charges and fees as are lawfully imposed by such locality, sanitary district, or other political subdivision as a result of construction of new structures to the extent that such charges and fees, or portions of such charges and fees, imposed upon property subject to such conversions may be reasonably related to greater or additional services provided by the locality, sanitary district, or political subdivision as a result of the conversion.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit application of any provision of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (§ 36-97 et seq.), or any local ordinances regulating the design and construction of roads, sewer and water lines, stormwater management facilities, or other public infrastructure, that is not expressly applicable to cooperatives by reason of their form of ownership to a cooperative in a manner different from the manner in which such provision is applied to other buildings of similar physical form and nature of occupancy.

1982, c. 277, § 55-429; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

A. If a unit is acquired by eminent domain, or if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain leaving the proprietary lessee with a remnant that may not practically or lawfully be used for any purpose permitted by the declaration, the award for such unit shall include compensation to the proprietary lessee for the value of his cooperative interest. Upon acquisition, unless the order otherwise provides, that cooperative interest's allocated interests are automatically reallocated to the remaining cooperative interests in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those cooperative interests before the taking, and the association shall promptly prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations. Any remnant of a unit remaining after part of a unit is taken under this subsection is thereafter a common element.

B. Except as provided in subsection A, if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain, the award for such unit shall compensate the proprietary lessee for the reduction in value of his cooperative interest. Unless the order provides otherwise, upon acquisition (i) that cooperative interest's allocated interests are reduced in proportion to the reduction in the size of the unit, or on any other basis specified in the declaration, and (ii) the portion of the allocated interests divested from the cooperative interest of which the partially acquired unit is a part is automatically reallocated to that cooperative interest and the remaining units in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those cooperative interests before the taking, with the cooperative interest of which the partially acquired unit is a part participating in the reallocation on the basis of its reduced allocated interests.

C. If part of the common elements is acquired by eminent domain, the portion of the award attributable to the common elements taken shall be paid to the association. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, any portion of the award attributable to the acquisition of a limited common element shall be equally divided among the proprietary lessees of the units to which that limited common element was allocated at the time of acquisition.

D. The court order shall be recorded in every county or city in which any portion of the cooperative is located.

1982, c. 277, § 55-430; 2019, c. 712.

The principles of law and equity, including the law of corporations and unincorporated associations, the law of real property, and the law relative to capacity to contract, principal and agent, eminent domain, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, receivership, substantial performances, or other validating or invalidating cause supplement the provisions of this chapter, except to the extent inconsistent with this chapter.

1982, c. 277, § 55-431; 2019, c. 712.

This chapter, being a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter, shall not be impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if that construction can reasonably be avoided.

1982, c. 277, § 55-432; 2019, c. 712.

This chapter shall be applied and construed so as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to cooperatives in the Commonwealth.

1982, c. 277, § 55-433; 2019, c. 712.

A. The court, upon finding as a matter of law that a contract or contract clause was unconscionable at the time the contract was made, may (i) refuse to enforce the contract, (ii) enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or (iii) limit the application of any unconscionable clause in order to avoid an unconscionable result.

B. Whenever it is claimed, or appears to the court, that a contract or any contract clause is or may be unconscionable, the parties, in order to aid the court in making the determination, shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to:

1. The commercial setting of the negotiations;

2. Whether a party has knowingly taken advantage of the inability of the other party to reasonably protect his interests by reason of physical or mental infirmity, illiteracy, or inability to understand the language of the agreement or similar factors;

3. The effect and purpose of the contract or clause; and

4. If a sale, any gross disparity at the time of contracting between the amount charged for the cooperative interest and the value of the cooperative interest measured by the price at which similar cooperative interests were readily obtainable in similar transactions; however, a disparity between the contract price and the value of the cooperative interest measured by the price at which similar cooperative interests were readily obtainable in similar transactions does not, of itself, render the contract unconscionable.

1982, c. 277, § 55-434; 2019, c. 712.

Every contract or duty governed by this chapter imposes an obligation of good faith in its performance or enforcement.

1982, c. 277, § 55-435; 2019, c. 712.

A. The remedies provided by this chapter shall be liberally administered to the end that the aggrieved party is put in a position as good as its position had the other party fully performed. However, consequential, special, or punitive damages may not be awarded except as specifically provided in this chapter or by other rule of law.

B. Any right or obligation declared by this chapter is enforceable by judicial proceeding.

1982, c. 277, § 55-436; 2019, c. 712.

A cooperative may be created pursuant to this chapter only by recording a declaration executed in the same manner as a deed and by conveying to the association the real estate subject to that declaration. The declaration shall be recorded in every county or city in which any portion of the cooperative is located, indexed in the grantee's index in the name of the cooperative and the association, and indexed in the grantor's index in the name of each person executing the declaration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-438; 2019, c. 712.

Except as otherwise provided by the declaration:

1. If walls, floors, or ceilings are designated as boundaries of a unit, all lath, furring, wallboard, plasterboard, plaster, paneling, tiles, wallpaper, paint, and finished flooring and any other materials constituting any part of the finished surfaces of such walls, floors, or ceilings are a part of the unit, and all other portions of the walls, floors, or ceilings are a part of the common elements.

2. If any chute, flue, duct, wire, conduit, bearing wall, bearing column, or other fixture lies partially within and partially outside of the designated boundaries of a unit, any portion of such fixture serving only that unit is a limited common element allocated solely to that unit, and any portion of such fixture serving more than one unit or any portion of the common elements is a part of the common elements.

3. Subject to the provisions of subdivision 2, all spaces, interior partitions, and other fixtures and improvements within the boundaries of a unit are a part of the unit.

4. Any shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, or patios and all exterior doors and windows or other fixtures designed to serve a single unit, but located outside the unit's boundaries, are limited common elements allocated exclusively to that unit.

1982, c. 277, § 55-439; 2019, c. 712.

A. All provisions of the declaration and bylaws are severable.

B. The rule against perpetuities shall not be applied to defeat any provision of the declaration, bylaws, or rules and regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 55.1-2133.

C. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the declaration and the bylaws, the declaration prevails except to the extent that the declaration is inconsistent with this chapter.

D. Title to a cooperative interest is not rendered unmarketable or otherwise affected by reason of an insubstantial failure of the declaration to comply with this chapter. Whether a substantial failure impairs marketability is not affected by this chapter.

1982, c. 277, § 55-440; 2019, c. 712.

A description of a unit that sets forth the name of the cooperative, the recording data for the declaration, the county or city in which the cooperative is located, and the identifying number of the unit is a legally sufficient description of that unit and all rights, obligations, and interests appurtenant to that unit that were created by the declaration or bylaws.

1982, c. 277, § 55-441; 2019, c. 712.

A. The declaration shall contain:

1. The name of the cooperative, which shall include the word "cooperative" or be followed by the words "a cooperative," and the association;

2. The name of every county or city in which any part of the cooperative is situated;

3. A legally sufficient description of the real estate included in the cooperative;

4. A statement of the maximum number of units that the declarant reserves the right to create;

5. A description, which may be by plats or plans, of each unit created by the declaration, including the unit's identifying number, its size or number of rooms, and its location within a building if it is within a building containing more than one unit;

6. A description of any limited common elements, other than those specified in subdivisions 2 and 4 of § 55.1-2113;

7. A description of any real estate, except real estate subject to development rights, that may be allocated subsequently as limited common elements, other than limited common elements specified in subdivisions 2 and 4 of § 55.1-2113, together with a statement that they may be so allocated;

8. A description of any development rights and other special declarant rights reserved by the declarant, together with a legally sufficient description of the real estate to which each of those rights applies, and a time limit within which each of those rights are required to be exercised;

9. If any development right may be exercised with respect to different parcels of real estate at different times, a statement to that effect together with (i) either a statement fixing the boundaries of those portions and regulating the order in which those portions may be subjected to the exercise of each development right or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards and (ii) a statement as to whether, if any development right is exercised in any portion of the real estate subject to that development right, that development right is required to be exercised in all or in any other portion of the remainder of that real estate;

10. Any other conditions or limitations under which the rights described in subdivision 8 may be exercised or will lapse;

11. An allocation to each cooperative interest of the allocated interests in the manner described in § 55.1-2118;

12. Any restrictions on (i) use and occupancy of the units, (ii) alienation of the cooperative interests, and (iii) the amount for which a cooperative interest may be sold or the amount that may be received by a proprietary lessee upon sale of, condemnation of, or casualty loss to the unit or the cooperative or termination of the cooperative;

13. The recording data for recorded easements and licenses appurtenant to, or included in, the cooperative or to which any portion of the cooperative is or may become subject by virtue of a reservation in the declaration; and

14. All matters required by §§ 55.1-2117, 55.1-2118, 55.1-2119, 55.1-2125, and 55.1-2126 and subsection D of § 55.1-2134.

B. The declaration may contain any other matters the declarant deems appropriate.

1982, c. 277, § 55-442; 2019, c. 712.

A. The expiration or termination of any lease that may terminate the cooperative or reduce its size, or a memorandum of such lease, shall be recorded. The declaration shall state:

1. The recording data for the lease or a statement of where the complete lease may be inspected;

2. The date on which the lease is scheduled to expire;

3. A legally sufficient description of the real estate subject to the lease;

4. Any right of the proprietary lessees to redeem the reversion and how those rights may be exercised, or a statement that they do not have those rights;

5. Any right of the proprietary lessees to remove any improvements within a reasonable time after the expiration or termination of the lease, or a statement that they do not have those rights; and

6. Any rights of the proprietary lessees to renew the lease and the conditions, if any, of any renewal, or a statement that they do not have those rights.

B. Acquisition of the leasehold interest of any proprietary lessee by the owner of the reversion or remainder does not merge the leasehold and fee simple interests unless the leasehold interests of all proprietary lessees subject to that reversion or remainder are acquired.

C. If the expiration or termination of a lease decreases the number of units in a cooperative, the allocated interests shall be reallocated in accordance with subsection A of § 55.1-2118 as though those units had been taken by eminent domain. Reallocations shall be confirmed by an amendment to the declaration prepared, executed, and recorded by the association.

1982, c. 277, § 55-443; 2019, c. 712.

A. The declaration shall allocate an ownership interest in the association a fraction or percentage of the common expenses of the association and a portion of the votes in the association, or to each cooperative interest in the cooperative, and state the formulas used to establish those allocations. Those allocations shall not discriminate in favor of cooperative interests owned by the declarant or an affiliate of the declarant.

B. If units may be added to or withdrawn from the cooperative, the declaration shall state the formulas to be used to reallocate the allocated interests among all cooperative interests included in the cooperative after the addition or withdrawal.

C. The declaration may provide (i) that different allocations of votes shall be made to the cooperative interests on particular matters specified in the declaration, (ii) for cumulative voting only for the purpose of electing members of the executive board, and (iii) for class voting on specified issues affecting the class if necessary to protect valid interests of the class. No declarant shall utilize cumulative or class voting for the purpose of evading any limitation imposed on declarants by this chapter, nor shall cooperative interests constitute a class because they are owned by a declarant.

D. Except for minor variations due to rounding, the sum of the common expense liabilities allocated at any time to all the cooperative interests must equal one if stated as a fraction or 100 percent if stated as a percentage. In the event of a discrepancy between an allocated interest and the result derived from application of the pertinent formula, the allocated interest prevails.

E. Any purported conveyance, encumbrance, judicial sale, or other voluntary or involuntary transfer of the ownership interest in the association made without the possessory interest in the unit to which that interest is related is void.

1982, c. 277, § 55-444; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except for the limited common elements described in subdivisions 2 and 4 of § 55.1-2113, the declaration shall specify to which of the units each limited common element is allocated. That allocation may not be altered without the consent of the proprietary lessees whose units are affected.

B. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, a limited common element may be reallocated by an amendment to the declaration executed by the proprietary lessees between or among whose units the reallocation is made. The persons executing the amendment shall provide a copy to the association, which shall record it. The amendment shall be recorded in the names of the parties and the cooperative.

C. A common element not previously allocated as a limited common element shall not be so allocated except pursuant to provisions in the declaration made in accordance with subdivision A 7 of § 55.1-2116. The allocations shall be made by amendments to the declaration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-445; 2019, c. 712.

A. To exercise any development right reserved under subdivision A 8 of § 55.1-2116, the declarant shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration as specified in § 55.1-2127. The amendment to the declaration must assign an identifying number to each new unit created and, except in the case of subdivision or conversion of units described in subsection B, reallocate the allocated interests among all cooperative interests. The amendment must describe any common elements and any limited common elements created by such amendment and, in the case of limited common elements, designate to which of the units each is allocated to the extent required by § 55.1-2119.

B. Development rights may be reserved within any real estate added to the cooperative if the amendment adding that real estate includes all matters required by § 55.1-2116 or 55.1-2117, as appropriate. This provision does not extend the time limit on the exercise of development rights imposed by the declaration pursuant to subdivision A 8 of § 55.1-2116.

C. Whenever a declarant exercises a development right to subdivide or convert a unit previously created into additional units, common elements, or both:

1. If the declarant converts the unit entirely to common elements, the amendment to the declaration must reallocate all the allocated interests of the cooperative interest of which that unit is a part among the other cooperative interests as if that unit had been taken by eminent domain.

2. If the declarant subdivides the unit into two or more units, whether or not any part of the unit is converted into common elements, the amendment to the declaration must reallocate all the allocated interests of the cooperative interest of which that unit is a part among the cooperative interests created by the subdivision in any reasonable manner prescribed by the declarant.

D. If the declaration provides, pursuant to subdivision A 8 of § 55.1-2116, that all of or a portion of the real estate is subject to the development right of withdrawal:

1. If all the real estate is subject to withdrawal, and the declaration does not describe separate portions of real estate subject to that right, none of the real estate may be withdrawn after a cooperative interest has been conveyed to a purchaser; and

2. If a portion or portions are subject to withdrawal, no portion may be withdrawn after a cooperative interest in that portion has been conveyed to a purchaser.

1982, c. 277, § 55-446; 2019, c. 712.

Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a proprietary lessee:

1. May make any improvements or alterations to his unit that do not impair the structural integrity or the electrical or mechanical systems of any portion of the cooperative;

2. Shall not change the appearance of the common elements, or the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion of the cooperative, other than the interior of the unit, without permission of the association;

3. After acquiring a cooperative interest of which an adjoining unit or an adjoining part of an adjoining unit is a part, may remove or alter any intervening partition or create apertures therein, even if the partition in whole or in part is a common element, if those acts do not impair the structural integrity or electrical or mechanical systems of any portion of the cooperative. Removal of partitions or creation of apertures under this subdivision is not an alteration of boundaries.

1982, c. 277, § 55-447; 2019, c. 712.

A. Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, the boundaries between adjoining units may be relocated by an amendment to the declaration upon application to the association by the proprietary lessees of those units. If the proprietary lessees of the adjoining units have specified a reallocation between their cooperative interests of their allocated interests, the application shall state the proposed reallocations. Unless the executive board determines within 30 days that the reallocations are unreasonable, the association shall prepare an amendment that identifies the units involved, states the reallocations, is executed by those proprietary lessees, contains words of conveyance between them, and upon recordation is indexed in the name of the grantor and the grantee.

B. The association shall prepare and record amendments to the declaration, including any plans necessary to show or describe the altered boundaries between adjoining units and their sizes and identifying numbers. All costs for such preparation and recordation shall be borne by the proprietary lessees involved.

1982, c. 277, § 55-448; 2019, c. 712.

A. If the declaration expressly so permits, a unit may be subdivided into two or more units. Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, upon application of a proprietary lessee to subdivide a unit, the association shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration subdividing that unit. All costs for such preparation, execution, and recordation shall be borne by the proprietary lessees involved.

B. The amendment to the declaration must (i) be executed by the proprietary lessee of the unit to be subdivided, (ii) assign an identifying number to each unit created, and (iii) reallocate the allocated interests formerly allocated to the cooperative interest of which the subdivided unit is a part to the new cooperative interests in any reasonable manner prescribed by the proprietary lessee of the cooperative interest of which the subdivided unit is a part.

1982, c. 277, § 55-449; 2019, c. 712.

To the extent that any unit or common element encroaches on any other unit or common element, a valid easement for the encroachment exists. The easement does not relieve a proprietary lessee of liability in case of his willful misconduct or relieve a declarant or any other person of liability for failure to adhere to any representation in the public offering statement.

1982, c. 277, § 55-450; 2019, c. 712.

A declarant may maintain sales offices, management offices, and models in units or on common elements in the cooperative only if the declaration so provides and specifies the rights of a declarant with regard to the number, size, location, and relocation of such offices or models. Any sales office, management office, or model not designated a unit by the declaration is a common element, and if a declarant ceases to have an ownership interest in the association, he ceases to have any rights with regard to such offices or models, unless it is removed promptly from the cooperative in accordance with a right to remove reserved in the declaration. Subject to any limitations in the declaration, a declarant may maintain signs on the common elements advertising the cooperative. The provisions of this section are subject to the provisions of other state law and to local ordinances.

1982, c. 277, § 55-451; 2019, c. 712.

Subject to the provisions of the declaration, a declarant has an easement through the common elements as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of discharging a declarant's obligations or exercising special declarant rights, whether arising under this chapter or reserved in the declaration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-452; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except in cases of amendments that may be executed by a declarant under § 55.1-2120, the association under § 55.1-2105, subsection C of § 55.1-2117, subsection C of § 55.1-2119, subsection A of § 55.1-2122, or § 55.1-2123, or certain proprietary lessees under subsection B of § 55.1-2119, subsection A of § 55.1-2122, subsection B of § 55.1-2123, or subsection B of § 55.1-2128 and except as limited by subsection D, the declaration may be amended only by vote or agreement of proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which at least two-thirds of the votes in the association are allocated, or a larger percentage if the declaration so specifies. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units are restricted exclusively to nonresidential use.

B. No action to challenge the validity of an amendment adopted by the association pursuant to this section may be brought more than one year after the amendment is recorded.

C. Every amendment to the declaration must be recorded in every county or city in which any portion of the cooperative is located and is effective only upon recordation. An amendment shall be indexed in the grantee's index in the name of the cooperative and the association and in the grantor's index in the name of the parties executing the amendment.

D. The declaration may be amended to extend the time limit within which special declarant rights imposed by the declaration pursuant to subdivision A 8 of § 55.1-2116 may be exercised only by vote or agreement of proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which at least two-thirds of the votes in the association are allocated to cooperative interests not owned by a declarant, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies. Except to the extent expressly permitted or required by this subsection or other provisions of this chapter, no amendment may create or increase special declarant rights, increase the number of units, or change the boundaries of any unit, the allocated interests of a cooperative interest, or the uses to which any unit is restricted, in the absence of unanimous consent of the proprietary lessees.

E. If the time limit specified in the declaration for the creation of cooperative interests or the exercise of special declarant rights has expired, with the approval of the persons entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes in the association, other than any votes allocated to cooperative interests owned by the declarant, or any larger percentage as the declaration specifies, the declaration may be amended to (i) revive and reinstate any or all of the expired rights to create additional cooperative interests and any or all of the expired special declarant rights and (ii) vest in any person, including the original declarant, any or all of the powers, rights, privileges, and authority to which a declarant is entitled under this chapter regarding the exercise of the revived and reinstated rights with respect to any parcel of real estate that is a common element or any additional real estate that such amendment permits to be added to the cooperative. In no event, however, shall any such amendment extend or renew a period of declarant control of the association or provide a new period of declarant control.

F. Amendments to the declaration required by this chapter to be recorded by the association shall be prepared, executed, recorded, and certified on behalf of the association by any officer of the association designated for that purpose or, in the absence of such designation, by the president of the association.

1982, c. 277, § 55-453; 2008, c. 628; 2009, c. 221; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except in the case of a taking of all the units by eminent domain, or in the case of foreclosure of a security interest against the entire cooperative that has priority over the declaration, cooperative ownership may be terminated only by agreement of proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which at least four-fifths of the votes in the association are allocated or any larger percentage the declaration specifies. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units in the cooperative are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses.

B. An agreement to terminate must be evidenced by the execution of a termination agreement or ratification of such agreement in the same manner as a deed by the requisite number of proprietary lessees. The termination agreement must specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless it is recorded before that date. A termination agreement and all such ratifications must be recorded in every county or city in which a portion of the cooperative is situated and is effective only upon recordation.

C. The association, on behalf of the proprietary lessees, may contract for the sale of real estate in the cooperative, but the contract is not binding until approved pursuant to subsections A and B. After such approval, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the sale. Until the sale has been concluded, and the proceeds of such sale are distributed, the association continues in existence with all powers it had before termination. Except to the extent that any provisions in the declaration limit the amount that may be received by a proprietary lessee upon termination, as set forth in subdivision A 12 of § 55.1-2116, proceeds of the sale must be distributed to holders of liens against the association and against the cooperative interests and to proprietary lessees, all as their interests may appear, in accordance with subsections D and E. Unless otherwise specified in the termination agreement, as long as the association holds title to the real estate, each proprietary lessee and his successors in interest have an exclusive right to occupancy of the portion of the real estate that formerly constituted his unit. During the period of such occupancy, each proprietary lessee and his successors in interest remain liable for all assessments and other obligations imposed on proprietary lessees by this chapter or the declaration.

D. Following termination of the cooperative, the proceeds of any sale of real estate, together with the assets of the association, are held by the association as trustee for proprietary lessees and holders of liens against the association and the cooperative interests, as their interests may appear. The declaration may provide that all creditors of the association have priority over any interests of proprietary lessees and creditors of proprietary lessees. Where the declaration provides such a priority, following termination, creditors of the association holding liens on the cooperative that were recorded or docketed before termination may enforce their liens in the same manner as any lienholder, and all other creditors of the association are to be treated as if they had perfected liens against the cooperative immediately before termination. Unless the declaration provides that all creditors of the association have such priority:

1. The lien of each creditor of the association that was perfected against the association before termination becomes a lien against each cooperative interest upon termination as of the date the lien was perfected;

2. All other creditors of the association are to be treated as if they had perfected liens against the cooperative interests immediately before termination;

3. The amounts of the liens of the association's creditors described in subdivisions 1 and 2 against each of the cooperative interests must be proportionate to the ratio that that cooperative interest's common expense liability bears to the common expense liability of all the cooperative interests;

4. The lien of each creditor of each proprietary lessee that was perfected before termination continues as a lien against that proprietary lessee's cooperative interest as of the date the lien was perfected; and

5. The assets of the association shall be distributed to all proprietary lessees and all lienholders against their cooperative interests as their interests may appear in the order described in subdivisions 1 through 4, and creditors of the association are not entitled to payment from any proprietary lessee in excess of the amount of the creditor's lien against that proprietary lessee's cooperative interest.

E. The respective interests of proprietary lessees referred to in subsections C and D are as follows:

1. Except as provided in subdivision 2, the respective interests of proprietary lessees are the fair market values of their cooperative interests immediately before the termination, as determined by one or more independent appraisers selected by the association. Appraisers selected shall hold a designation awarded by a major, nationwide testing or certifying professional appraisal society or association. The decision of the independent appraisers shall be distributed to the proprietary lessees and becomes final unless disapproved within 30 days after distribution by proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which 25 percent of the votes in the association are allocated. The proportion of any proprietary lessee's interest to that of all proprietary lessees is determined by dividing the fair market value of that proprietary lessee's cooperative interest by the total fair market values of all the cooperative interests.

2. If any unit or any limited common element is destroyed to the extent that an appraisal of the fair market value of the unit or limited common element before destruction cannot be made, the interests of all proprietary lessees are their respective ownership interests in the association immediately before the termination.

1982, c. 277, § 55-454; 1983, c. 96; 2019, c. 712.

The declaration may require that all or a specified number or percentage of the lenders holding security interests encumbering the cooperative interests approve specified actions of the proprietary lessees or the association as a condition to the effectiveness of those actions, but no requirement for approval shall operate to (i) deny or delegate control over the general administrative affairs of the association by the proprietary lessees or the executive board; (ii) prevent the association or the executive board from commencing, intervening in, or settling any litigation or proceeding; or (iii) receive and distribute any insurance proceeds except pursuant to § 55.1-2145.

1982, c. 277, § 55-455; 2019, c. 712.

A. If the declaration provides that any of the powers described in § 55.1-2134 are to be exercised by or may be delegated to a for-profit or nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association that exercises those or other powers on behalf of one or more cooperatives or for the benefit of the proprietary lessees of one or more cooperatives, all provisions of this chapter applicable to associations apply to any such corporation or unincorporated association, except as modified by this section.

B. Unless a master association is acting in the capacity of an association described in § 55.1-2132, it may exercise the powers set forth in subdivision A 2 of § 55.1-2133 only to the extent expressly permitted in the declarations of the cooperatives that are part of the master association or expressly described in the delegations of power from those cooperatives to the master association.

C. If the declaration of any cooperative provides that the executive board may delegate certain powers to a master association, the members of the executive board have no liability for the acts or omissions of the master association with respect to the delegated powers.

D. The rights and responsibilities of proprietary lessees with respect to the association set forth in §§ 55.1-2134, 55.1-2140, 55.1-2141, 55.1-2142, and 55.1-2144 apply in the conduct of the affairs of a master association only to those persons who elect the board of a master association, whether or not those persons are otherwise proprietary lessees within the meaning of this chapter.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection F of § 55.1-2134, with respect to the election of the executive board of an association by all proprietary lessees after the period of declarant control ends, and even if a master association is also an association as described in § 55.1-2132, the certificate of incorporation or other instrument creating the master association and the declaration of each cooperative, the powers of which are assigned by the declaration or delegated to the master association, may provide that the executive board of the master association must be elected after the period of declarant control in any of the following ways:

1. All proprietary lessees of all cooperatives subject to the master association may elect all members of that executive board.

2. All members of the executive boards of all cooperatives subject to the master association may elect all members of that executive board.

3. All proprietary lessees of each cooperative subject to the master association may elect specified members of that executive board.

4. All proprietary lessees of the executive board of each cooperative subject to the master association may elect specified members of that executive board.

1982, c. 277, § 55-456; 2019, c. 712.

A. Any two or more cooperatives, by agreement of the proprietary lessees as provided in subsection B, may be merged or consolidated into a single cooperative. In the event of a merger or consolidation, unless the agreement otherwise provides, the resultant cooperative is, for all purposes, the legal successor of all of the preexisting cooperatives. The operations and activities of all associations of the preexisting cooperatives shall be merged or consolidated into a single association, which shall hold all powers, rights, obligations, assets, and liabilities of all preexisting associations.

B. An agreement of two or more cooperatives to merge or consolidate pursuant to subsection A must be evidenced by an agreement prepared, executed, recorded, and certified by the president of the association of each of the preexisting cooperatives following approval by proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which are allocated the percentage of votes in each cooperative required to terminate that cooperative. Any such agreement must be recorded in every county or city in which a portion of the cooperative is located and is not effective until recorded.

C. Every merger or consolidation agreement must provide for the reallocation of the allocated interests in the new association among the cooperative interests of the resultant cooperative either (i) by stating the reallocations or the formulas upon which they are based or (ii) by stating the percentage of overall allocated interest of the new cooperative that are allocated to all of the cooperative interests comprising each of the preexisting cooperatives and providing that the portion of the percentages allocated to each cooperative interest formerly comprising a part of the preexisting cooperative must be equal to the percentages of allocated interests allocated to that cooperative interest by the declaration of the preexisting cooperative.

1982, c. 277, § 55-457; 2019, c. 712.

An association must be organized no later than the date the first cooperative interest in the cooperative is conveyed. The membership of the association at all times shall consist exclusively of all the proprietary lessees or, following termination of the cooperative, of all former proprietary lessees entitled to distributions of proceeds under § 55.1-2128 or their heirs, successors, or assigns. The association shall be organized as a stock or nonstock corporation, trust, trustee, unincorporated association, or partnership.

1982, c. 277, § 55-458; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except as provided in subsection B, and subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association, even if unincorporated, may:

1. Adopt and amend bylaws and rules and regulations;

2. Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures, and reserves and collect assessments for common expenses from proprietary lessees;

3. Hire and discharge managing agents and other employees, agents, and independent contractors;

4. Institute, defend, or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more proprietary lessees on matters affecting the cooperative;

5. Make contracts and incur liabilities;

6. Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement, and modification of common elements;

7. Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common elements;

8. Acquire, hold, encumber, and convey in its own name any right, title, or interest to real or personal property, but part of the cooperative may be conveyed, or all or part of the cooperative may be subjected to, a security interest only pursuant to § 55.1-2144;

9. Grant easements, leases, licenses, and concessions through or over the common elements;

10. Impose and receive any payments, fees, or charges for the use, rental, or operation of the common elements, other than limited common elements described in subdivisions 2 and 4 of § 55.1-2113, and for services provided to proprietary lessees;

11. Impose charges for late payment of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy fines not to exceed $50 for each instance for violations of the declaration, bylaws, and rules and regulations of the association;

12. Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and recordation of amendments to the declaration, resale certificates required by § 55.1-2309, or statements of unpaid assessments;

13. Provide for the indemnification of its officers and executive board and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance;

14. Assign its right to future income, including the right to receive common expense assessments, but only to the extent the declaration expressly so provides;

15. Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or bylaws;

16. Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in the Commonwealth by legal entities of the same type as the association; and

17. Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association.

B. The declaration shall not impose limitations on the power of the association to deal with the declarant that are more restrictive than the limitations imposed on the power of the association to deal with other persons.

1982, c. 277, § 55-459; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 387, 388.

A. As used in this section, "solar energy collection device" means any device manufactured and sold for the sole purpose of facilitating the collection and beneficial use of solar energy, including passive heating panels or building components and solar photovoltaic apparatus.

B. No association shall prohibit an owner from installing a solar energy collection device on that owner's property unless the recorded declaration for the association establishes such a prohibition. However, an association may establish reasonable restrictions concerning the size, place, and manner of placement of such solar energy collection devices on property designated and intended for individual ownership and use. Any resale certificate pursuant to § 55.1-2309 given to a purchaser shall contain a statement setting forth any restriction, limitation, or prohibition on the right of an owner to install or use solar energy collection devices on his property.

C. A restriction shall be deemed not to be reasonable if application of the restriction to a particular proposal (i) increases the cost of installation of the solar energy collection device by five percent over the projected cost of the initially proposed installation or (ii) reduces the energy production by the solar energy collection device by 10 percent below the projected energy production of the initially proposed installation. The owner shall provide documentation prepared by an independent solar panel design specialist, who is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and is licensed in Virginia, that is satisfactory to the association to show that the restriction is not reasonable according to the criteria established in this subsection.

D. The association may prohibit or restrict the installation of solar energy collection devices on the common elements or common area within the real estate development served by the association. An association may establish reasonable restrictions as to the number, size, place, and manner of placement or installation of any solar energy collection device installed on the common elements or common area.

2006, c. 939, §§ 67-700, 67-701; 2008, c. 881; 2009, c. 866; 2013, c. 357; 2014, c. 525; 2020, cc. 272, 795; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387; 2023, cc. 387, 388.

A. Except as provided in the declaration, the bylaws, subsection B, or other provisions of this chapter, the executive board may act in all instances on behalf of the association. In the performance of their duties, the officers and members of the executive board are required to exercise (i) the care required of fiduciaries of the proprietary lessees if appointed by the declarant and (ii) ordinary and reasonable care if elected by the proprietary lessees.

B. The executive board may not act on behalf of the association to amend the declaration; to terminate the cooperative; to elect members of the executive board, except as provided in the declaration pursuant to subsection F; or to determine the qualifications, powers, and duties or terms of office of executive board members. The executive board may fill vacancies in its membership for the unexpired portion of any term.

C. Within 30 days after adoption of any proposed budget for the cooperative, the executive board shall provide a summary of the budget to all the proprietary lessees and shall set a date for a meeting of the proprietary lessees to consider ratification of the budget. Such meeting shall be held not less than 14 nor more than 30 days after mailing of the summary. The meeting place, date, and time shall be provided with the budget summary. Unless at that meeting a majority of all the proprietary lessees or any larger vote specified in the declaration reject the budget, the budget is ratified, whether or not a quorum is present. In the event the proposed budget is rejected, the periodic budget last ratified by the proprietary lessees shall be continued until such time as the proprietary lessees ratify a subsequent budget proposed by the executive board.

D. Subject to subsection E, the declaration may provide for a period of declarant control of the association, during which period a declarant, or persons designated by him, may appoint and remove the officers and members of the executive board. Regardless of the period provided in the declaration, a period of declarant control terminates no later than the earlier of (i) 60 days after conveyance of 75 percent of the cooperative interests that may be created to proprietary lessees other than a declarant, (ii) two years after all declarants have ceased to offer cooperative interests for sale in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) two years after any development right to add new units was last exercised. A declarant may voluntarily surrender the right to appoint and remove officers and members of the executive board before termination of that period, but in that event he may require, for the duration of the period of declarant control, that specified actions of the association or executive board, as described in a recorded instrument executed by the declarant, be approved by the declarant before they become effective.

E. No later than 60 days after conveyance of 25 percent of the cooperative interests that may be created to proprietary lessees other than a declarant, at least one member and at least 25 percent of the members of the executive board must be elected by proprietary lessees other than the declarant. No later than 60 days after conveyance of 50 percent of the cooperative interests that may be created to proprietary lessees other than a declarant, at least one-third of the members of the executive board must be elected by proprietary lessees other than the declarant.

F. Unless the declaration provides for the selection of one or more independent members of the executive board, no later than the termination of any period of declarant control the proprietary lessees shall elect an executive board of at least three members, at least a majority of whom must be proprietary lessees. To the extent that the declaration so provides, the members of the executive board appointed by the declarant may continue to serve out their terms, and the declarant may continue to appoint a minority of the members of the executive board until all of the development rights reserved by the declarant have been exercised or have expired. In addition, the declaration may provide for the selection of one or more independent members of the executive board, who are neither proprietary lessees nor affiliated directly or indirectly in any way with the declarant, by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the executive board. The executive board shall elect the officers. The executive board members and officers shall take office upon election.

G. Notwithstanding any provision of the declaration or bylaws to the contrary, the proprietary lessees, by a two-thirds vote of all persons entitled to vote at any meeting of the proprietary lessees at which a quorum is present, may remove any member of the executive board with or without cause, other than a member appointed by the declarant.

1982, c. 277, § 55-460; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

A. No special declarant rights created or reserved under this chapter may be transferred except by an instrument evidencing the transfer recorded in every county or city in which any portion of the cooperative is located. The instrument is not effective unless executed by the transferee.

B. Upon transfer of any special declarant right, the liability of a transferor declarant is as follows:

1. A transferor is not relieved of any obligation or liability arising before the transfer and remains liable for warranty obligations imposed upon him by this chapter. Lack of privity does not deprive any proprietary lessee of standing to maintain an action to enforce any obligation of the transferor.

2. If a successor to any special declarant right is an affiliate of a declarant, the transferor is jointly and severally liable with the successor for any obligations or liabilities of the successor relating to the cooperative.

3. If a transferor retains any special declarant rights, but transfers other special declarant rights to a successor who is not an affiliate of the declarant, the transferor is liable for any obligations or liabilities imposed on a declarant by this chapter or by the declaration relating to the retained special declarant rights and arising after the transfer.

4. A transferor has no liability for any act or omission or any breach of a contractual or warranty obligation arising from the exercise of a special declarant right by a successor declarant who is not an affiliate of the transferor.

C. Unless otherwise provided in a security agreement, in case of foreclosure of a security agreement, tax sale, judicial sale, sale by a trustee under a security agreement or sale under receivership proceedings or the Bankruptcy Code as codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, of any cooperative interests owned by a declarant or of real estate in a cooperative subject to development rights:

1. A person acquiring all the cooperative interests or real estate being foreclosed or sold shall succeed, but only upon his request, to all special declarant rights related to that property held by that declarant or only to any rights reserved in the declaration pursuant to § 55.1-2125 and held by that declarant to maintain models, sales offices, and signs.

2. The judgment or instrument conveying title shall provide for transfer of only the special declarant rights requested.

D. Upon foreclosure, tax sale, judicial sale, sale by a trustee under a security agreement, or sale under receivership proceedings or the Bankruptcy Code as codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, of all cooperative interests or real estate in a cooperative owned by a declarant:

1. The declarant ceases to have any special declarant rights, and

2. The period of declarant control as provided in subsection D of § 55.1-2134 terminates unless the judgment or instrument conveying title provides for transfer of all special declarant rights held by that declarant to a successor declarant.

E. The liabilities and obligations of a person who succeeds to special declarant rights are as follows:

1. A successor to any special declarant right who is an affiliate of a declarant is subject to all obligations and liabilities imposed on the transferor by this chapter or by the declaration.

2. A successor to any special declarant right, other than a successor described in subdivision 3 or 4, who is not an affiliate of a declarant is subject to all obligations and liabilities imposed by this chapter or the declaration:

a. On a declarant that relate to his exercise or non-exercise of special declarant rights; or

b. On his transferor, other than:

(1) Misrepresentations by any previous declarant;

(2) Warranty obligations on improvements made by any previous declarant or made before the cooperative was created;

(3) Breach of any fiduciary obligation by any previous declarant or his appointees to the executive board; or

(4) Any liability or obligation imposed on the transferor as a result of the transferor's acts or omissions after the transfer.

3. A successor to only a right reserved in the declaration to maintain models, sales offices, and signs pursuant to § 55.1-2125, if he is not an affiliate of a declarant, may not exercise any other special declarant right and is not subject to any liability or obligation as a declarant, except the obligation to provide a current public offering statement, any liability arising as a result of providing a public offering statement, and obligations under Article 5 (§ 55.1-2173 et seq.).

4. A successor to all special declarant rights held by his transferor who is not an affiliate of that declarant and who succeeded to those rights pursuant to a deed or other instrument of conveyance in lieu of foreclosure or a judgment or instrument conveying title to cooperative interests or real estate subject to development rights under subsection C may declare his intention in a recorded instrument to hold those rights solely for transfer to another person. After declaring such an intention in a recorded instrument, until transferring all special declarant rights to any person acquiring title to any cooperative interest or real estate subject to development rights owned by the successor, or until recording an instrument permitting exercise of all those rights, that successor may not exercise any of those rights other than any right held by his transferor to control the executive board in accordance with the provisions of subsection D of § 55.1-2134 for the duration of any period of declarant control, and any attempted exercise of those rights is void. So long as a successor declarant may not exercise special declarant rights under this subsection, he is not subject to any liability or obligation as a declarant other than liability for his acts and omissions under subsection D of § 55.1-2134.

F. Nothing in this section subjects any successor to a special declarant right to any claims against or other obligations of a transferor declarant, other than claims and obligations arising under this chapter or the declaration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-461; 2019, c. 712.

If entered into before the executive board elected by the proprietary lessees pursuant to subsection F of § 55.1-2134 takes office, (i) any management contract, employment contract, or lease of recreational or parking areas or facilities, (ii) any other contract or lease between the association and a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant, or (iii) any contract or lease that is not bona fide or was unconscionable to the proprietary lessees at the time entered into under the circumstances then prevailing may be terminated without penalty by the association at any time after the executive board elected by the proprietary lessees pursuant to subsection F of § 55.1-2134 takes office after giving at least 90 days' notice to the other party. However, a management contract that is not unconscionable between an association directly or indirectly providing assisted living or nursing services to proprietary lessees and a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant may not be terminated while a member of the executive board appointed by the declarant continues to serve unless such termination is approved by a vote of a majority of the members of the executive board and a majority vote of the proprietary lessees, other than the declarant.

This section does not apply to any proprietary lease or any lease the termination of which would terminate the cooperative or reduce its size, unless the real estate subject to that lease was included in the cooperative for the purpose of avoiding the right of the association to terminate a lease under this section. This section does not apply to any contract, incidental to the disposition of a cooperative interest, to provide to a proprietary lessee for the duration of such proprietary lessee's life, or for any term in excess of one year, nursing services, medical services, other health-related services, board and lodging, and care as necessary, or any combination of such services. The rule of property law known as the rule restricting unreasonable restraints on alienation shall not be applied to defeat any provision of the declaration, bylaws, or proprietary leases requiring that the proprietary lessees be parties to such contracts.

1982, c. 277, § 55-462; 1985, c. 83; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

A. The bylaws of the association shall provide for:

1. The number of members of the executive board and the titles of the officers of the association;

2. Election by the executive board of a president, treasurer, secretary, and any other officers of the association the bylaws specify;

3. The qualifications, powers and duties, terms of office, and manner of electing and removing executive board members and officers and filling vacancies;

4. Which, if any, of its powers and responsibilities the executive board or officers may delegate to other persons or to a managing agent;

5. Which of its officers may prepare, execute, certify, and record amendments to the declaration on behalf of the association; and

6. The method of amending the bylaws.

B. Subject to the provisions of the declaration, the bylaws may provide for any other matters the association deems necessary and appropriate, including a provision for the arbitration of disputes or other means of alternative dispute resolution in accordance with subsection B of § 55.1-2169.

1982, c. 277, § 55-463; 1993, c. 849; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except to the extent otherwise provided by the declaration, by subsection B, or by subsection G of § 55.1-2145, the association is responsible for maintenance, repair, and replacement of the common elements, and each proprietary lessee is responsible for maintenance, repair, and replacement of his unit. Each proprietary lessee shall afford to the association and the other proprietary lessees, and to their agents or employees, access through his unit reasonably necessary for those purposes. If damage is inflicted on the common elements or on any unit through which access is taken, the proprietary lessee responsible for the damage, or the association if it is responsible, is liable for the prompt repair and all costs associated with such repair.

B. In addition to the liability that a declarant as a proprietary lessee has under this chapter, the declarant alone is liable for all expenses in connection with real estate subject to development rights. No other proprietary lessee and no other portion of the cooperative is subject to a claim for payment of those expenses. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, any income or proceeds from real estate subject to development rights inures to the declarant.

1982, c. 277, § 55-464; 2019, c. 712.

Associations shall post notification of all pesticide applications in or upon the common elements. Such notice shall consist of conspicuous signs placed in or upon the common elements where the pesticide will be applied at least 48 hours prior to the application.

1999, c. 65, § 55-464.1; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except to the extent that the declaration provides otherwise, no association shall prohibit any proprietary lessee from installing an electric vehicle charging station for the proprietary lessee's personal use within the boundaries of a unit or limited common element parking space appurtenant to the unit owned by the proprietary lessee.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or the declaration, the association may prohibit a proprietary lessee from installing an electric vehicle charging station if installation of the electric vehicle charging station is not technically feasible or practicable due to safety risks, structural issues, or engineering conditions.

C. The association may require as a condition of approving installation of an electric vehicle charging station that the proprietary lessee:

1. Provide detailed plans and drawings for installation of an electric vehicle charging station prepared by a licensed and registered electrical contractor or engineer familiar with the installation and core requirements of an electric vehicle charging station.

2. Comply with applicable building codes or recognized safety standards.

3. Comply with reasonable architectural standards adopted by the association that govern the dimensions, placement, or external appearance of the electric vehicle charging station.

4. Pay the costs of installation, maintenance, operation, and use of the electric vehicle charging station.

5. Indemnify and hold the association harmless from any claim made by a contractor or supplier pursuant to Title 43.

6. Pay the cost of removal of the electric vehicle charging station if the proprietary lessee decides there is no longer a need for the electric vehicle charging station.

7. Separately meter, at the proprietary lessee's sole expense, the utilities associated with such electric vehicle charging station and pay the cost of electricity and other associated utilities.

8. Engage the services of a licensed electrician or engineer familiar with the installation and core requirements of an electric vehicle charging station to install the electric vehicle charging station.

9. Obtain and maintain insurance covering claims and defenses of claims related to the installation, maintenance, operation, and use of the electric vehicle charging station and provide a certificate of insurance naming the association as an additional insured on the proprietary lessee's insurance policy for any claim related to the installation, maintenance, operation, or use of the electric vehicle charging station within 14 days after receiving the association's approval to install such charging station.

10. Reimburse the association for any increase in common expenses specifically attributable to the electric vehicle charging station installation, including the actual cost of any increased insurance premium amount, within 14 days' notice from the association.

D. The conditions imposed pursuant to this section on a proprietary lessee for installation of an electric vehicle charging station shall run with title to the unit to which the limited common element parking space is appurtenant.

E. Any proprietary lessee installing an electric vehicle charging station in a unit or on a limited common element parking space appurtenant to the unit owned by the proprietary lessee shall indemnify and hold the association harmless from all liability, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the association resulting from a claim, arising out of the installation, maintenance, operation, or use of such electric charging station. An association may require the proprietary lessee to obtain and maintain insurance covering claims and defenses of claims related to the installation, maintenance, operation, or use of the electric vehicle charging station and require the association to be included as a named insured on such policy.

2020, c. 1012.

A meeting of the association must be held at least once each year. Special meetings of the association may be called by (i) the president, (ii) a majority of the executive board, or (iii) 20 percent, or any lower percentage if so specified in the bylaws, of the proprietary lessees. No less than 10 or more than 60 days in advance of any meeting, the secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws shall cause notice to be hand delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing address of each unit or to any other mailing address designated in writing by the proprietary lessee. The notice of any meeting shall state the time and place of the meeting and the items on the agenda including the general nature of any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws, any budget changes, and any proposal to remove a director or officer.

1982, c. 277, § 55-465; 2019, c. 712.

A. Unless the bylaws provide otherwise, a quorum is present throughout any meeting of the association if persons entitled to cast 20 percent of the votes that may be cast for election of the executive board are present in person or by proxy at the beginning of the meeting.

B. Unless the bylaws specify a larger percentage, a quorum is deemed present throughout any meeting of the executive board if persons entitled to cast 50 percent of the votes on that board are present at the beginning of the meeting.

1982, c. 277, § 55-466; 2019, c. 712.

A. If only one of the multiple proprietary lessees of a unit is present at a meeting of the association, he is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to the cooperative interest of which that unit is a part. If more than one of the multiple proprietary lessees are present, the votes allocated to that cooperative interest may be cast only in accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the multiple proprietary lessees, unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise. There is majority agreement if any one of the multiple proprietary lessees casts the votes allocated to that cooperative interest without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other proprietary lessees of the cooperative interest.

B. Votes allocated to a cooperative interest may be cast pursuant to a proxy duly executed by a proprietary lessee. If there is more than one proprietary lessee of a unit, each proprietary lessee of the unit may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other proprietary lessees of the unit through a duly executed proxy. A proprietary lessee may not revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section except by actual notice of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the association. A proxy is void if it is not dated or purports to be revocable without notice. A proxy terminates one year after its date, unless a shorter term is specified.

C. If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters affecting the cooperative be cast by lessees other than proprietary lessees of leased units: (i) the provisions of subsections A and B apply to lessees as if they were proprietary lessees; (ii) proprietary lessees who have leased their units to other persons may not cast votes on those specified matters; and (iii) lessees are entitled to notice of meetings, access to records, and other rights respecting those matters as if they were proprietary lessees. Proprietary lessees must also be given notice, in the manner provided in § 55.1-2140, of all meetings at which such lessees may be entitled to vote.

D. All votes allocated to a cooperative interest owned by the association shall be deemed present for quorum purposes at all duly called meetings of the association and shall be deemed cast in the same proportions as the votes cast by proprietary lessees, other than the association.

1982, c. 277, § 55-467; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

Neither the association nor any proprietary lessee except the declarant is liable for that declarant's torts in connection with any part of the cooperative that that declarant has the responsibility to maintain. Otherwise, an action alleging wrongdoing by the association shall be brought against the association and not against any proprietary lessee. If such wrongdoing occurred during any period of declarant control, and the association gives the declarant reasonable notice of and an opportunity to defend against the action, the declarant who then controlled the association is liable to the association or to any proprietary lessee (i) for all tort losses not covered by insurance suffered by the association or that proprietary lessee and (ii) for all costs that the association would not have incurred but for a breach of contract or other wrongful act or omission. Whenever the declarant is liable to the association under this section, the declarant is also liable for all litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the association. Any statute of limitation affecting the association's right of action under this section is tolled until the period of declarant control terminates.

A proprietary lessee is not precluded from bringing an action contemplated by this section because he is a proprietary lessee or a member or officer of the association. Liens resulting from judgments against the association are governed by § 55.1-2151.

1982, c. 277, § 55-468; 2019, c. 712.

A. Part of the cooperative may be conveyed, and all or part of the cooperative may be subjected to a security interest, by the association if persons entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes in the association, including a simple majority of the votes allocated to cooperative interests not owned by a declarant, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, agree to that action. If fewer than all the units or limited common elements are to be conveyed or subjected to a security interest, then all the proprietary lessees of those units, or the units to which those limited common elements are allocated, must agree in order to convey those units or limited common elements or subject them to a security interest. 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 a part of the cooperative or subject it to a security interest must be evidenced by the execution of an agreement, or ratifications of such an agreement, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of proprietary lessees. The agreement must specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless recorded before that date. The agreement and such ratifications must be recorded in every county or city in which a portion of the cooperative is situated and is effective only upon recordation.

C. The association, on behalf of the proprietary lessees, may contract to convey a part of the cooperative or subject it to a security interest, but the contract is not enforceable against the association until approved pursuant to subsections A and B. After such approval, 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, or other voluntary transfer of the cooperative, unless made pursuant to this section or pursuant to subsection C of § 55.1-2128, is void.

E. A conveyance or encumbrance of the cooperative pursuant to this section does not deprive any unit of its rights of access and support.

1982, c. 277, § 55-469; 2019, c. 712.

A. Commencing not later than the time of the first conveyance of a cooperative interest to a person other than a declarant, the association shall maintain to the extent reasonably available:

1. Property insurance on the common elements and units insuring against all risks of direct physical loss commonly insured against or, in the case of a conversion building, against fire and extended coverage perils. The total amount of insurance after application of any deductibles shall be not less than 80 percent of the actual cash value of the insured property at the time the insurance is purchased and at each renewal date, exclusive of land, excavations, foundations, and other items normally excluded from property policies; and

2. Liability insurance, including medical payments insurance, in an amount determined by the executive board but not less than any amount specified in the declaration, covering all occurrences commonly insured against for death, bodily injury, and property damage arising out of or in connection with the use, ownership, or maintenance of the common elements and units.

B. If the insurance described in subsection A is not reasonably available, the association shall notify all proprietary lessees by hand delivery or by United States mail, sent prepaid. The declaration may require the association to carry any other insurance, and the association may carry any other insurance it deems appropriate to protect the association or the proprietary lessees.

C. Insurance policies carried pursuant to subsection A must provide that:

1. Each proprietary lessee is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising out of his interest in the common elements or membership in the association;

2. The insurer waives its right to subrogation under the policy against any proprietary lessee or member of his household;

3. No act or omission by any proprietary lessee, unless acting within the scope of his authority on behalf of the association, will void the policy or be a condition to recovery under the policy; and

4. If, at the time of a loss under the policy, there is other insurance in the name of a proprietary lessee covering the same risk covered by the policy, the association's policy provides primary insurance.

D. Any loss covered by the property policy under subdivision A 1 must be adjusted with the association, but the insurance proceeds for that loss are payable to any insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the association, and not to any mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust. The insurance trustee or the association shall hold any insurance proceeds in trust for the association, proprietary lessees, and lien holders as their interests may appear. Subject to the provisions of subsection G, the proceeds must be disbursed first for the repair or restoration of the damaged property. The association, proprietary lessees, and lien holders are not entitled to receive payment of any portion of the proceeds unless there is a surplus of proceeds after the property has been completely repaired or restored, or the cooperative is terminated.

E. An insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a proprietary lessee from obtaining insurance for his own benefit.

F. An insurer that has issued an insurance policy under this section shall issue certificates or memoranda of insurance to the association and, upon written request, to any proprietary lessee or holder of a security interest. The insurer issuing the policy may not cancel or refuse to renew it until 30 days after notice of the proposed cancellation or nonrenewal has been mailed to the association, each proprietary lessee, and each holder of a security interest to whom a certificate or memorandum of insurance has been issued at their respective last known address.

G. Any portion of the cooperative for which insurance is required under this section that is damaged or destroyed shall be repaired or replaced promptly by the association unless (i) the cooperative is terminated; (ii) repair or replacement would be illegal under any state or local health or safety statute or ordinance; or (iii) 80 percent of the proprietary lessees, including every proprietary lessee of a unit or assigned limited common element that will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild. The cost of repair or replacement in excess of insurance proceeds and reserves is a common expense. If the entire cooperative is not repaired or replaced, (a) the insurance proceeds attributable to the damaged common elements must be used to restore the damaged area to a condition compatible with the remainder of the cooperative and (b) except to the extent that other persons will be distributees, the insurance proceeds attributable to units and limited common elements that are not rebuilt must be distributed to the proprietary lessees of those units and the proprietary lessees of the units to which those limited common elements were allocated, or to lien holders, as their interests may appear, and the remainder of the proceeds must be distributed to all the proprietary lessees or lien holders, as their interests may appear, in proportion to the common expense liabilities of all the cooperative interests. If the proprietary lessees vote not to rebuild any unit, the allocated interests of the cooperative interest of which that unit is a part are automatically reallocated upon the vote as if the unit had been condemned under subsection A of § 55.1-2105, and the association shall promptly prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, § 55.1-2128 governs the distribution of insurance proceeds if the cooperative is terminated.

H. The provisions of this section may be varied or waived in the case of a cooperative whose units are all restricted to nonresidential use.

1982, c. 277, § 55-470; 2019, c. 712.

A. Until the association makes a common expense assessment, the declarant shall pay all common expenses. After any assessment has been made by the association, assessments must be made at least annually, based on a budget adopted at least annually by the association.

B. Except for assessments under subsections C, D, E, and F, all common expenses shall be assessed against all the cooperative interests in accordance with the allocations set forth in the declaration pursuant to subsection A of § 55.1-2118.

Any past-due common expense assessment or installment bears interest at the rate established by the association not exceeding 18 percent per year.

C. To the extent required by the declaration:

1. Any common expense associated with the maintenance, repair, or replacement of a limited common element must be assessed equally against the cooperative interests for the units to which that limited common element is assigned, or in any other proportion that the declaration provides;

2. Any common expense or portion benefiting fewer than all of the units must be assessed exclusively against the cooperative interests for the units benefited; and

3. The costs of insurance must be assessed in proportion to risk, and the costs of utilities must be assessed in proportion to usage.

D. Assessments to pay a judgment against the association may be made only against the cooperative interests in the cooperative at the time the judgment was entered, in proportion to their common expense liabilities.

E. If any common expense is caused by the negligence or other misconduct of any proprietary lessee, or of his family members, tenants, or other invitees, the association may assess that expense exclusively against his cooperative interest.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, in any cooperative where permanent residency is, in general, restricted to individuals age 55 and over, and the primary purpose of the association is to provide services and amenities to the residents of the cooperative that are consistent with the services and amenities typically provided to residents of full service senior housing communities in the United States, the declaration may provide, or may be amended to provide by vote or agreement of proprietary lessees of cooperative interests to which at least two-thirds of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger percentage if so specified in the declaration, that:

1. Common expenses may be assessed against all cooperative interests in accordance with the standards in general use from time to time among full-service senior housing communities in the United States for the purpose of fairly and equitably establishing the fees and charges imposed on their residents to pay for all common expenses of such senior housing communities, including the expenses of providing services and amenities, such standards to be determined by the executive board of the association, acting reasonably;

2. Common expenses may be assessed against any cooperative interest that has been created pursuant to the declaration but as to which construction of the unit appurtenant to such cooperative interest has not been completed, provided that nothing contained in this subdivision shall relieve the declarant of its obligations under subsection B of § 55.1-2138; and

3. Common expenses may be assessed against any cooperative interest as to which the unit appurtenant to such cooperative interest has been completed until the unit is initially permanently occupied, provided, however, that all such cooperative interests shall pay all direct expenses of the association related to such cooperative interests and any common expenses that directly benefit such cooperative interest, in each case, determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the declaration or the association's bylaws, provided, however, that if neither the declaration nor the bylaws contain such provisions, then such expenses shall be paid in accordance with the allocations set forth in the declaration pursuant to subsection A of § 55.1-2118.

G. If common expense liabilities are reallocated, common expense assessments and any installment not yet due shall be recalculated in accordance with the reallocated common expense liabilities.

1982, c. 277, § 55-471; 2008, c. 627; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except to the extent provided in the declaration, the board of directors shall, prior to the commencement of the fiscal year, make available to lot owners either (i) the annual budget of the association or (ii) a summary of such annual budget.

B. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the declaration, the executive board shall:

1. Conduct at least once every five years a study to determine the necessity and amount of reserves required to repair, replace, and restore the capital components as defined in § 55.1-2100;

2. Review the results of that study at least annually to determine if reserves are sufficient; and

3. Make any adjustments the executive board deems necessary to maintain reserves, as appropriate.

C. To the extent that the reserve study conducted in accordance with this section indicates a need to budget for reserves, the association budget shall include:

1. The current estimated replacement cost, estimated remaining life, and estimated useful life of the capital components as defined in § 55.1-2100;

2. As of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the budget is prepared, the current amount of accumulated cash reserves set aside to repair, replace, or restore the capital components and the amount of the expected contribution to the reserve fund for that fiscal year;

3. A statement describing the procedures used for estimation and accumulation of cash reserves pursuant to this section and the extent to which the association is funding its reserve obligations consistent with the study currently in effect; and

4. A statement of the amount of reserves recommended in the study and the amount of current cash for replacement reserves.

2005, c. 436, § 55-471.1; 2019, cc. 33, 44, 712.

A. The association has a lien on a cooperative interest for any assessment levied against that cooperative interest or fines imposed against its owner from the time the assessment or fines become due. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, fees, charges, late charges, fines, and interest charged pursuant to subdivisions A 11 and 12 of § 55.1-2133 are enforceable as assessments under this section. If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment becomes due. Upon nonpayment of the assessment, the proprietary lessee may be evicted in the same manner as provided by law in the case of an unlawful holdover by a commercial tenant, and the lien may be foreclosed as provided by this section. The association's lien may be foreclosed (i) by judicial sale in like manner as a mortgage on real estate or (ii) by power of sale as provided in subsection I.

B. A lien under this section is prior to all other liens and encumbrances on a cooperative interest except (i) liens and encumbrances on the cooperative that the association creates, assumes, or takes subject to; (ii) any first security interest encumbering only the cooperative interest of a proprietary lessee and perfected before the date on which the assessment sought to be enforced became delinquent; and (iii) liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the cooperative or the cooperative interest. The lien is also prior to the security interests described in clause (ii) to the extent of the common expense assessments based on the periodic budget adopted by the association pursuant to subsection A of § 55.1-2133 that would have become due in the absence of acceleration during the six months immediately preceding institution of an action to enforce the lien. This subsection does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association. The lien under this section is not subject to homestead or other exemptions.

C. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same property, those liens have equal priority.

D. Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien. No further recordation or filing of any claim of lien for assessment under this section is required.

E. A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within 120 months after the full amount of the assessment becomes due.

F. This section does not prohibit actions to recover sums for which subsection A creates a lien or prohibit an association from taking a transfer in lieu of foreclosure.

G. A judgment in any action brought under this section shall include costs and reasonable attorney fees for the prevailing party.

H. Upon written request, the association shall furnish to a proprietary lessee a statement setting forth the amount of unpaid assessments against his cooperative interest. The statement shall be in recordable form. The statement shall be furnished within 10 business days after receipt of the request and is binding on the association, the executive board, and every proprietary lessee.

I. The association may conduct a judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure sale of the cooperative interest against which the association has perfected one or more liens pursuant to this section if the total sums secured are in excess of $5,000, exclusive of attorney fees and costs. Sale may be at a public sale or by private negotiation and at any time and place, but every aspect of the sale, including the method, advertising, time, place, and terms, must be reasonable. The association shall give to the proprietary lessee and any sublessees of the proprietary lessee reasonable written notice of the time and place of any public sale or, if a private sale is intended, of the intention of entering into a contract to sell and of the time after which a private disposition may be made. The same notice must also be sent to any other person who has a recorded interest in the cooperative interest that would be cut off by the sale, but only if the interest was on record seven weeks before the date specified in the notice as the date of any public sale or seven weeks before the date specified in the notice as the date after which a private sale may be made. The notices required by this subsection may be sent to any address reasonable in the circumstances. Sale may not be held until five weeks after the sending of the notice. The association may buy at any public sale and, if the sale is conducted by a fiduciary or other person not related to the association, at a private sale.

J. The proceeds of a sale under subsection I shall be applied in the following order:

1. The reasonable expenses of sale;

2. The reasonable expenses of securing possession before sale; holding, maintaining, and preparing the cooperative interest for sale, including payment of taxes and other governmental charges, premiums on hazard and liability insurance, and, to the extent provided for by agreement between the association and the proprietary lessee, reasonable attorney fees and other legal expenses incurred by the association;

3. Satisfaction in the order of priority of any prior claims of record;

4. Satisfaction of the association's lien;

5. Satisfaction in the order of priority of any subordinate claim of record; and

6. Remittance of any excess to the proprietary lessee. Unless otherwise agreed, the proprietary lessee is liable for any deficiency.

K. If a cooperative interest is sold under subsection I, a good faith purchaser for value acquires the proprietary lessee's interest in the cooperative interest free of the association's debt that gave rise to the lien under which the sale occurred and any subordinate interest, even though the association or other person conducting the sale failed to comply with the requirements of this section. The person conducting the sale under subsection I shall execute a conveyance to the purchaser sufficient to convey the cooperative interest that states that the conveyance is executed by him, after a foreclosure by power of sale of the association's lien and that he has power to make the sale. Signature and title or authority of the person signing the conveyance as grantor and a recital of the facts of nonpayment of the assessment and of the giving of the notices required by subsection I are sufficient proof of the facts recited and of his authority to sign. Further proof of authority is not required even though the association is named as grantee in the conveyance.

L. At any time before the association has disposed of the cooperative interest or entered into a contract for its disposition under the power of sale, the proprietary lessee or the holder of any subordinate security interest may cure the proprietary lessee's default and prevent sale or other disposition by tendering the performance due under the security agreement, including any amounts due because of exercise of a right to accelerate, plus the reasonable expenses of proceeding to foreclosure incurred to the time of tender, including reasonable attorney fees of the creditor.

1982, c. 277, § 55-472; 1990, c. 831; 2019, c. 712; 2024, cc. 55, 349.

A. Regardless of whether his cooperative interest is subject to the claims of the association's creditors, no property of a proprietary lessee other than his cooperative interest is subject to those claims.

B. If the association receives notice of an impending foreclosure on all or any portion of the association's real estate, the association shall promptly transmit a copy of that notice to each proprietary lessee of a unit located within the real estate to be foreclosed. Failure of the association to transmit the notice does not affect the validity of the foreclosure.

1982, c. 277, § 55-473; 2019, c. 712.

Unless approved by persons entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes in the association, including a simple majority of the votes allocated to cooperative interests not owned by a declarant or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, (i) the association shall not assume or take subject to any debt, inclusive of any principal and interest accrued thereon, incurred in the original acquisition, development, or construction of or the conversion of the cooperative in excess of the amounts disclosed in the public offering statement pursuant to § 55.1-2155 or 55.1-2156, nor shall the cooperative or any proprietary lessee's interest be encumbered by a security interest for any greater amount incurred for such purposes, and (ii) the declarant shall not amend the public offering statement to change the amounts disclosed after conveyance of the first unit to a proprietary lessee. However, the amounts disclosed shall not be subject to adjustment such that the association or the proprietary lessees are subjected to the construction or market risks of the declarant.

2004, c. 242, § 55-473.1; 2019, c. 712.

The association shall keep financial records sufficiently detailed to enable the association to comply with § 55.1-2309. All financial and other records shall be made reasonably available for examination by any proprietary lessee and his authorized agents. The association shall maintain a record of any recorded lien at least as long as the lien remains effective.

1982, c. 277, § 55-474; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 387, 388; 2024, cc. 55, 349.

With respect to a third person dealing with the association in the association's capacity as a trustee, the existence of trust powers and their proper exercise by the association may be assumed without inquiry. A third person is not bound to inquire whether the association has power to act as trustee or is properly exercising trust powers. A third person, without actual knowledge that the association is exceeding or improperly exercising its powers, is fully protected in dealing with the association as if it possessed and properly exercised the powers it purports to exercise. A third person is not bound to assure the proper application of trust assets paid or delivered to the association in its capacity as trustee.

1982, c. 277, § 55-475; 2019, c. 712.

A. This article applies to all cooperative interests subject to this chapter, except as provided in subsection B or as modified or waived by agreement of purchasers of cooperative interests in a cooperative in which all units are restricted to nonresidential use.

B. Neither a public offering statement nor a resale certificate need be prepared or delivered in the case of:

1. A gratuitous disposition of a cooperative interest;

2. A disposition pursuant to court order;

3. A disposition by a government or governmental agency;

4. A disposition by foreclosure or transfer in lieu of foreclosure;

5. A disposition to a person in the business of selling cooperative interests who intends to offer those cooperative interests to purchasers; or

6. A disposition that may be canceled at any time and for any reason by the purchaser without penalty.

1982, c. 277, § 55-476; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except as provided in subsection B, a declarant, prior to the offering of any cooperative interest to the public, shall prepare a public offering statement conforming to the requirements of §§ 55.1-2155, 55.1-2156, 55.1-2157, and 55.1-2158.

B. A declarant may transfer responsibility for preparation of all or a part of the public offering statement to a successor declarant or to a person in the business of selling cooperative interests who intends to offer cooperative interests in the cooperative for his own account. In the event of any such transfer, the transferor shall provide the transferee with any information necessary to enable the transferee to fulfill the requirements of subsection A.

C. Any declarant or other person in the business of selling cooperative interests who offers a cooperative interest for his own account to a purchaser shall deliver a public offering statement in the manner prescribed in subsection A of § 55.1-2160. The person who prepared all or a part of the public offering statement is liable under §§ 55.1-2160, 55.1-2169, 55.1-2178, and 55.1-2179 for any false or misleading statement set forth in such public offering statement or for any omission of material fact from such public offering statement with respect to that portion of the public offering statement that he prepared. If a declarant did not prepare any part of a public offering statement that he delivers, he is not liable for any false or misleading statement set forth in such public offering statement or for any omission of material fact from such public offering statement unless he had actual knowledge of the statement or omission or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have known of the statement or omission.

D. If a unit is part of a cooperative and is part of any other real estate regime in connection with the sale of which the delivery of a public offering statement is required under the laws of the Commonwealth, a single public offering statement, conforming to the requirements of §§ 55.1-2155, 55.1-2156, 55.1-2157, and 55.1-2158 as those requirements relate to each regime in which the unit is located and to any other requirements imposed under the laws of the Commonwealth, may be prepared and delivered in lieu of providing two or more public offering statements.

1982, c. 277, § 55-477; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except as provided in subsection B, a public offering statement shall contain or fully and accurately disclose:

1. The name and principal address of the declarant and of the cooperative;

2. A general description of the cooperative, including to the extent possible the types, number, declarant's schedule of commencement, and completion of construction of buildings and amenities that the declarant anticipates including in the cooperative;

3. The number of units in the cooperative;

4. Copies and a brief narrative description of the significant features of the declaration and any other recorded covenants, conditions, restrictions, and reservations affecting the cooperative; the bylaws and any rules or regulations of the association; copies of any contracts and leases to be signed by purchasers at closing; and a brief narrative description of any contracts or leases that will or may be subject to cancellation by the association under § 55.1-2136;

5. Any current balance sheet and a projected budget for the association, either within or as an exhibit to the public offering statement, for one year after the date of the first conveyance to a purchaser, and thereafter the current budget of the association, a statement of who prepared the budget, and a statement of the budget's assumptions concerning occupancy and inflation factors. The budget shall include:

a. A description of provisions made in the budget for reserves for repairs and replacement;

b. A statement of any other reserves;

c. The projected common expense assessment by category of expenditures for the association;

d. The projected monthly common expense assessment for each type of unit; and

e. The projected debt, inclusive of principal and any accrued interest, loan fees, and other similar charges, assumed or to be assumed by the association and an estimate of the payments necessary to service such debt.

6. Any services not reflected in the budget that the declarant provides, or expenses that he pays and that he expects may become at any subsequent time a common expense of the association, and the projected common expense assessment attributable to each of those services or expenses for the association and for each type of unit;

7. Any initial or special fee due from the purchaser at closing, together with a description of the purpose and method of calculating the fee;

8. A description of any liens, defects, or encumbrances on or affecting the title to the cooperative;

9. A description of any financing offered or arranged by the declarant;

10. The terms and significant limitations of any warranties provided by the declarant, including statutory warranties and limitations on the enforcement of such warranties or on damages;

11. A statement that:

a. Within 10 days after receipt of a public offering statement a purchaser, before conveyance, may cancel any contract for purchase of a cooperative interest from a declarant; and

b. If a declarant fails to provide a public offering statement to a purchaser before conveying a cooperative interest, that purchaser may recover from the declarant 10 percent of the sales price of the cooperative interest, plus 10 percent of the share, proportionate to his common expense liability, of the indebtedness of the association secured by mortgages or deeds of trust encumbering the cooperative;

12. A statement of any unsatisfied judgments or pending actions against the association and the status of any pending actions material to the cooperative of which a declarant has actual knowledge;

13. A statement that any deposit made in connection with the purchase of a cooperative interest will be held in an escrow account until closing and will be returned to the purchaser if the purchaser cancels the contract pursuant to § 55.1-2160, together with the name and address of the escrow agent;

14. Any restrictions on (i) use and occupancy of the units; (ii) alienation of the cooperative interests; (iii) the amount for which a cooperative interest may be sold; or (iv) the amount that may be received by a proprietary lessee upon sale, condemnation, or casualty loss to the unit or the cooperative or termination of the cooperative;

15. A description of the insurance coverage provided for the benefit of proprietary lessees;

16. Any current or expected fees or charges to be paid by proprietary lessees for the use of the common elements and other facilities related to the cooperative;

17. The extent to which financial arrangements have been provided for completion of all improvements labeled "MUST BE BUILT" pursuant to § 55.1-2171;

18. A brief narrative description of any zoning and other land use requirements affecting the cooperative;

19. A specified or maximum amount, if any, of acquisition, development, or construction debt, inclusive of principal and any accrued interest, loan fees, and other similar charges, assumed or to be assumed by the association and whether there will be a security interest encumbering the cooperative to secure repayment;

20. All unusual and material circumstances, features, and characteristics of the cooperative and the units;

21. Whether the proprietary lessees will be entitled, for federal, state, and local income tax purposes, to a pass-through of deductions for payments made by the association for real estate taxes and interest paid the holder of a security interest encumbering the cooperative; and

22. A statement as to the effect on every proprietary lessee if the association fails to pay real estate taxes or payments due the holder of a security interest encumbering the cooperative.

B. If a cooperative composed of not more than three units is not subject to any development rights, and no power is reserved to a declarant to make the cooperative part of a larger cooperative, a group of cooperatives, or other real estate, a public offering statement may include the information otherwise required by subdivisions A 9 and 10 and 15 through 19 and the narrative descriptions of documents required by subdivision A 4.

C. A declarant promptly shall amend the public offering statement to report any material change in the information required by this section.

D. The declarant shall provide a copy of the public offering statement and all amendments to the association, and the association shall maintain them in its records.

1982, c. 277, § 55-478; 2004, c. 242; 2005, c. 436; 2019, c. 712.

If the declaration provides that a cooperative is subject to any development rights, the public offering statement shall disclose, in addition to the information required by § 55.1-2155:

1. The maximum number of units and the maximum number of units per acre that may be created;

2. A statement of how many or what percentage of the units that may be created will be restricted exclusively to residential use, or a statement that no representations are made regarding use restrictions;

3. If any of the units that may be built within real estate subject to development rights are not to be restricted exclusively to residential use, a statement, with respect to each portion of that real estate, of the maximum percentage of the real estate areas and the maximum percentage of the floor areas of all units that may be created therein that are not restricted exclusively to residential use;

4. A brief narrative description of any development rights reserved by a declarant and of any conditions relating to or limitations upon the exercise of development rights;

5. A statement of the maximum extent to which each cooperative interest's allocated interests may be changed by the exercise of any development right described in subdivision 4;

6. A statement of the extent to which any buildings may be erected or other improvements that may be made pursuant to any development right in any part of the cooperative will be compatible with existing buildings and improvements in the cooperative in terms of architectural style, quality of construction, and size, or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards;

7. General descriptions of all other improvements that may be made, and limited common elements that may be created within any part of the cooperative pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

8. A statement of any limitations as to the locations of any building or other improvement that may be made within any part of the cooperative pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

9. A statement that any limited common elements created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant will be of the same general types and sizes as the limited common elements within other parts of the cooperative, a statement of the types and sizes planned, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

10. A statement that the proportion of limited common elements to units created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant will be approximately equal to the proportion existing within other parts of the cooperative, a statement of any other assurances in that regard, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

11. A statement that all restrictions in the declaration affecting use and occupancy of units and alienation of cooperative interests will apply to any units and cooperative interests created pursuant to any development right reserved by the declarant, a statement of any differentiations that may be made as to those units and cooperative interests, or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard;

12. A specified or maximum amount, if any, of acquisition, development, or construction debt, inclusive of principal and any accrued interest, loan fees, and other similar charges, assumed or to be assumed by the association for each phase of the development and whether there will be a security interest encumbering the cooperative to secure repayment. If no such amount can be specified, a statement that no amount may be assumed unless approved by persons entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes in the association, including a simple majority of the votes allocated to cooperative interests not owned by a declarant, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies; and

13. A statement of the extent to which any assurances made pursuant to this section apply or do not apply in the event that any development right is not exercised by the declarant.

1982, c. 277, § 55-479; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

If the declaration provides that ownership of cooperative interests or occupancy of any units is or may be in time-shares, the public offering statement shall disclose, in addition to the information required by § 55.1-2155:

1. The number and identity of units in which time-shares may be created;

2. The total number of time-shares that may be created;

3. The minimum duration of any time-shares that may be created; and

4. The extent to which the creation of time-shares will or may affect the enforceability of the association's lien for assessments provided in § 55.1-2149.

1982, c. 277, § 55-480; 2019, c. 712.

A. In addition to the information required by § 55.1-2155, the public offering statement of a cooperative containing any conversion building shall contain:

1. A statement by the declarant, based on a report prepared by an independent, registered architect or engineer, describing the present condition of all structural components and mechanical and electrical installations material to the use and enjoyment of the building;

2. A statement by the declarant of the expected useful life of each item reported on in subdivision 1, or a statement that no representations are made in that regard; and

3. A list of any outstanding notices of uncured violations of building code or other municipal regulations, together with the estimated cost of curing those violations.

B. This section applies only to buildings containing units that may be occupied for residential use.

1982, c. 277, § 55-481; 2019, c. 712.

If an interest in a cooperative is currently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, a declarant satisfies all requirements relating to the preparation of a public offering statement of this chapter if he delivers to the purchaser and files with the agency a copy of the public offering statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A cooperative interest is not a security under the provisions of the Securities Act, §§ 13.1-501 through 13.1-527.3.

1982, c. 277, § 55-482; 2019, c. 712.

A. A person required to deliver a public offering statement pursuant to subsection C of § 55.1-2154 shall provide a purchaser with a copy of the public offering statement and all amendments to the public offering statement before conveyance of that cooperative interest and not later than the date of any contract of sale. The purchaser may cancel the contract within 10 days after signing the contract.

B. If a purchaser elects to cancel a contract pursuant to subsection A, he may do so by hand delivering notice of such cancellation to the offeror or by mailing notice of such cancellation by prepaid United States mail to the offeror or to his agent for service of process. Cancellation is without penalty, and all payments made by the purchaser before cancellation shall be refunded promptly.

C. If a person required to deliver a public offering statement pursuant to subsection C of § 55.1-2154 fails to provide to a purchaser to whom a cooperative interest is conveyed that public offering statement and all amendments as required by subsection A, the purchaser, in addition to any rights to damages or other relief, is entitled to receive from that person an amount equal to 10 percent of the sales price of the cooperative interest, plus 10 percent of the share, proportionate to his common expense liability, of the indebtedness of the association secured by mortgages or deeds of trust encumbering the cooperative. Execution of a purchase agreement for a cooperative interest that makes reference to the public offering statement and in which the purchaser acknowledges receipt of the public offering statement shall be sufficient proof that the declarant has fully satisfied this requirement.

1982, c. 277, § 55-483; 2019, c. 712.

Repealed by Acts 2023, cc. 387 and 388, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2023.

A. Any deposit made in connection with the purchase or reservation of a cooperative interest from a person required to deliver a public offering statement pursuant to subsection C of § 55.1-2154 shall be placed in escrow and held either in the Commonwealth or in the state in which the unit that is a part of that cooperative interest is located in an account designated solely for that purpose by a title insurance company, attorney, or real estate broker licensed under the laws of the Commonwealth, an independent bonded escrow company, or an institution whose accounts are insured by a governmental agency or instrumentality until (i) delivered to the declarant at closing, (ii) delivered to the declarant because of the purchaser's default under a contract to purchase the cooperative interest, or (iii) refunded to the purchaser.

B. Any deposit made in connection with the purchase of a cooperative interest from a person not required to deliver a public offering statement shall be placed in escrow in the same manner as prescribed in subsection A. Upon receipt of the resale certificate called for in § 55.1-2309, should the purchaser elect to void the contract, the seller may deduct the actual charges by the association for preparation of the certificate. Otherwise, the deposit shall be promptly returned to the purchaser.

1982, c. 277, § 55-485; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 387, 388.

A. In the case of a sale of a cooperative interest where delivery of a public offering statement is required pursuant to subsection C of § 55.1-2154, a seller shall, before conveying a cooperative interest, record or furnish to the purchaser releases of all liens affecting the unit that is a part of that cooperative interest and any limited common element assigned to such unit, except liens solely against the unit and any limited common element assigned to such unit, that the purchaser expressly agrees to take subject to or assume. Releases of liens shall be made pursuant to §§ 55.1-339 through 55.1-345. This subsection does not apply to any real estate that a declarant has the right to withdraw.

B. Before conveying real estate to the association, the declarant shall have that real estate released from (i) all liens the foreclosure of which would deprive proprietary lessees of any right of access to or easement of support of their units and (ii) all other liens on such real estate unless the public offering statement describes certain real estate that may be conveyed subject to liens in specified amounts.

1982, c. 277, § 55-486; 2004, c. 242; 2019, c. 712.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Disabled" means suffering from a severe, chronic physical or mental impairment that results in substantial functional limitations.

"Elderly" means not less than 62 years of age.

B. A declarant of a cooperative containing conversion buildings shall give each of the tenants of a conversion building formal notice of the conversion at the time the cooperative is registered by the Common Interest Community Board. This notice shall advise each tenant of (i) the offering price of the cooperative interests for the unit he occupies; (ii) the projected common expense assessments against that cooperative interest for at least the first year of the cooperative's operation; (iii) any relocation services, public or private, of which the declarant is aware; (iv) any measure taken or to be taken by the declarant to reduce the incidence of tenant dislocation; and (v) the details of the relocation plan, if any is provided by the declarant, to assist tenants in relocating. No tenant or subtenant may be required to vacate upon less than 120 days' notice, except by reason of nonpayment of rent, waste, or conduct that disturbs other tenants' peaceful enjoyment of the premises, and the terms of the tenancy may not be altered during that period. Until the expiration of the 120-day period, the declarant shall have no right of access to the unit except as provided in this section and in subsection A of § 55.1-1229 except that, upon 45 days' written notice to the tenant, the declarant may enter the unit in order to make additional repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements, provided that (a) the making of the same does not constitute an actual or constructive eviction of the tenant and (b) such entry is made either with the consent of the tenant or only at times when the tenant is absent from the unit. Failure to give notice as required by this section is a defense to an action for possession. The declarant shall also provide general notice to the tenants of the cooperative or proposed cooperative at the time of application to the Common Interest Community Board, in addition to the formal notice required by this subsection.

C. For 60 days after delivery or mailing of the formal notice described in subsection B, the person required to give the notice shall offer to convey the cooperative interest for each unit or proposed unit occupied for residential use to the tenant who leases the unit associated with that cooperative interest. A specific statement of the purchase price and the amount of any initial or special cooperative fee due from the purchaser on or before settlement of the purchase contract and the basis of such fee shall be given to the tenant. If a tenant fails to purchase the cooperative interest during that 60-day period, the offeror shall not offer to dispose of an interest in that cooperative interest during the following 180 days at a price or on terms more favorable to the offeree than the price or terms offered to the tenant. This subsection does not apply to any cooperative interest in a conversion building if the unit that is part of that cooperative interest will be restricted exclusively to nonresidential use or the boundaries of the converted unit do not substantially conform to the dimensions of the residential unit before conversion.

D. If a seller, in violation of subsection C, conveys a cooperative interest to a purchaser for value who has no knowledge of the violation, that conveyance extinguishes any right a tenant may have under subsection C to purchase that cooperative interest if the deed states that the seller has complied with subsection C but does not affect the right of a tenant to recover damages from the seller for a violation of subsection C.

E. If a notice of conversion specifies a date by which a unit or proposed unit must be vacated, and otherwise complies with the provisions of §§ 55.1-1202 and 55.1-1225, the notice also constitutes a notice to vacate as specified by §§ 55.1-1410, 55.1-1202, and 55.1-1225. The details of the relocation plan, if any is provided by the declarant for assisting tenants in relocating, shall also be provided to the tenant.

F. Any locality may require by ordinance that the declarant of a conversion cooperative file with that governing body all information required by the Common Interest Community Board pursuant to § 55.1-2176 and a copy of the formal notice required by subsection B. Such information shall be filed with that governing body when the application for registration is filed with the Common Interest Community Board, and such copy of the formal notice shall be filed with that governing body whenever it is sent to tenants. No fee shall be imposed for such filings with a governing body.

G. The governing body of any county utilizing the urban county executive form of optional government (§§ 15.2-800 through 15.2-858) or the county manager plan of optional government (§§ 15.2-702 through 15.2-749), or of any city or town adjoining any such county, may require by ordinance that the declarant of any residential cooperative containing conversion buildings converted from multi-family rental use shall reimburse any tenant displaced by the conversion for amounts actually expended to relocate as a result of such dislocation. The reimbursement shall not be required to exceed the amount that the tenant would have been entitled to receive under §§ 25.1-407 and 25.1-415 if the real estate comprising the condominium had been condemned by the Department of Highways and Transportation.

H. Any locality may require by ordinance that elderly or disabled tenants, occupying as their residence up to 20 percent of the apartments or units in a cooperative containing conversion buildings at the time of issuance of the general notice required by subsection B, be offered leases or extensions of leases on the apartments or units they occupy or on other apartments or units of at least equal size and overall quality for up to three years beyond the date of such notice.

The terms and conditions of such leases or extensions of leases shall be as agreed upon by the lessor and the lessee, provided that the rent for such apartment or unit shall not be in excess of reasonable rent for comparable apartments or units in the same market area as such conversion building.

Such leases or extensions shall not be required, however, in the case of any apartments or units that will, in the course of the conversion, be substantially altered in physical layout, restricted exclusively to nonresidential use, or be converted in such a manner as to require relocation of the tenant in premises outside of the project being converted.

I. Nothing in this section permits termination of a lease by a declarant in violation of its terms.

1982, c. 277, § 55-487; 1983, c. 310; 1984, c. 321; 1985, c. 69; 1993, c. 634; 2008, cc. 851, 871; 2019, c. 712.

A. Express warranties made by any seller to a purchaser of a cooperative interest, if relied upon by the purchaser, are created as follows:

1. Any affirmation of fact or promise that relates to the unit, its use, or rights appurtenant to such unit, area improvements to the cooperative that would directly benefit the unit, or the right to use or have the benefit of facilities not located in the cooperative creates an express warranty that the unit and related rights and uses will conform to the affirmation or promise;

2. Any model or description of the physical characteristics of the cooperative, including plans and specifications of or for improvements, creates an express warranty that the cooperative will conform to the model or description;

3. Any description of the quantity or extent of the real estate comprising the cooperative, including plats or surveys, creates an express warranty that the cooperative will conform to the description, subject to customary tolerances; and

4. A provision that a buyer of a cooperative interest may put a unit that is part of that cooperative interest only to a specified use is an express warranty that the specified use is lawful.

B. Neither formal words, such as "warranty" or "guarantee," nor a specific intention to make a warranty is necessary to create an express warranty of quality, but a statement purporting to be merely an opinion or commendation of the real estate or its value does not create a warranty.

C. Any conveyance of a cooperative interest transfers to the purchaser all express warranties of quality made by previous sellers.

1982, c. 277, § 55-488; 2019, c. 712.

A. A declarant and any person in the business of selling cooperative interests for his own account warrant that a unit will be in at least as good condition at the earlier of the time of the conveyance of a cooperative interest or delivery of possession as it was at the time of contracting, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

B. A declarant and any person in the business of selling cooperative interests for his own account impliedly warrant that a unit and the common elements in the cooperative are suitable for the ordinary uses of real estate of its type and that any improvements made or contracted for by him or made by any person before the creation of the cooperative will be:

1. Free from defective materials; and

2. Constructed in accordance with applicable law, according to sound engineering and construction standards, and in a workmanlike manner.

C. In addition, a declarant and any person in the business of selling cooperative interests for his own account warrant to a purchaser of a cooperative interest for a unit that may be used for residential use that an existing use, continuation of which is contemplated by the parties, does not violate applicable law at the earlier of the time of conveyance or delivery of possession.

D. Warranties imposed by this section may be excluded or modified as specified in § 55.1-2167.

E. For purposes of this section, improvements made or contracted for by an affiliate of a declarant are made or contracted for by the declarant.

F. Any conveyance of a cooperative interest transfers to the purchaser all of the declarant's implied warranties of quality.

1982, c. 277, § 55-489; 2019, c. 712.

A. Except as limited by subsection B with respect to a purchaser of a cooperative interest for a unit that may be used for residential use, implied warranties of quality (i) may be excluded or modified by agreement of the parties and (ii) are excluded by expression of disclaimer, such as "as is," "with all faults," or other language that in common understanding calls the buyer's attention to the exclusion of warranties.

B. With respect to a purchaser of a cooperative interest for a unit that may be occupied for residential use, no general disclaimer of implied warranties of quality is effective, nor shall any disclaimer of implied warranties of quality be effective as to defects in materials or construction as to any unit, brought to the attention of the declarant within two years from the date of the first conveyance of the cooperative interest associated with such unit, or as to any such defect in the common elements brought to the attention within two years (i) after that common element has been completed or, if later, (ii) after the first cooperative interest has been conveyed in the cooperative. The first conveyance of a cooperative interest associated with a unit situated in real estate subject to development rights shall be treated as the first conveyance of a cooperative interest in the cooperative for the purposes of the preceding sentence as to any such defects in the common elements within that real estate. A declarant, and any person in the business of selling cooperative interests for his own account, may disclaim liability in an instrument signed by the purchaser for a specified defect or specified failure to comply with applicable law, if the defect or failure entered into became a part of the basis of the bargain.

1982, c. 277, § 55-490; 2019, c. 712.

A. A judicial proceeding for breach of any obligation arising under § 55.1-2165 or 55.1-2166 must be commenced within six years after the cause of action accrues, but the parties may agree to reduce the period of limitation to not less than two years. With respect to a unit that may be occupied for residential use, an agreement to reduce the period of limitation must be evidenced by a separate instrument executed by the purchaser of the cooperative interest for that unit.

B. Subject to subsection C, a cause of action for breach of warranty of quality, regardless of the purchaser's lack of knowledge of the breach, accrues:

1. As to a unit, at the time the purchaser to whom the warranty is first made enters into possession if a possessory interest was conveyed, or at the time of acceptance of the instrument of conveyance if a nonpossessory interest was conveyed; and

2. As to each common element, at the time the common element is completed or, if later, (i) as to a common element that may be added to the cooperative or portion of the cooperative, at the time the first cooperative interest for a unit in such cooperative interest is conveyed to a bona fide purchaser, or (ii) as to a common element within any other portion of the cooperative, at the first time a cooperative interest in the cooperative is conveyed to a bona fide purchaser.

C. If a warranty of quality explicitly extends to future performance or duration of any improvement or component of the cooperative, the cause of action accrues at the time the breach is discovered or at the end of the period for which the warranty explicitly extends, whichever is earlier.

1982, c. 277, § 55-491; 2019, c. 712.

A. If a declarant or any other person subject to this chapter fails to comply with any provision of this chapter or any provision of the declaration or bylaws, any person or class of persons adversely affected by the failure to comply has a claim for appropriate relief. Punitive damages may be awarded for a willful failure to comply with this chapter. The court, in an appropriate case, may award reasonable attorney fees.

B. A declaration may provide for the arbitration of disputes or other means of alternative dispute resolution. Any such arbitration held in accordance with this subsection shall be consistent with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 21 (§ 8.01-577 et seq.) of Title 8.01. The place of any such arbitration or alternative dispute resolution shall be held in the county or city in which the development is located or as mutually agreed by the parties.

1982, c. 277, § 55-492; 1993, c. 849; 2019, c. 712.

No promotional material may be displayed or delivered to prospective purchasers that describes or portrays improvements that are not in existence, unless the description or portrayal of the improvement in the promotional material is conspicuously labeled or identified either as "MUST BE BUILT" or "NEED NOT BE BUILT."

1982, c. 277, § 55-493; 2019, c. 712.

A. The declarant shall complete all improvements depicted on any site plan or other graphic representation included in the public offering statement or in any promotional material distributed by or for the declarant unless that improvement is labeled "NEED NOT BE BUILT."

B. The declarant is subject to liability for the prompt repair and restoration, to a condition compatible with the remainder of the cooperative, of any portion of the cooperative affected by the exercise of rights reserved pursuant to or created by §§ 55.1-2120, 55.1-2121, 55.1-2122, 55.1-2123, 55.1-2125, and 55.1-2126.

1982, c. 277, § 55-494; 2019, c. 712.

In the case of a sale of a cooperative interest where delivery of a public offering statement is required, a contract of sale may be executed, but no interest in that cooperative interest may be conveyed, except pursuant to subsection B of § 55.1-2176, until the declaration is recorded and the unit that is a part of that cooperative interest is substantially completed, as evidenced by a recorded certificate of substantial completion executed by an independent, registered architect, surveyor, or engineer or by issuance of a certificate of occupancy authorized by law.

1982, c. 277, § 55-495; 2019, c. 712.

This chapter shall be administered by the Common Interest Community Board.

1982, c. 277, § 55-496; 2008, cc. 851, 871; 2019, c. 712.

A. The Common Interest Community Board may adopt, amend, and repeal regulations and issue orders consistent with and in furtherance of the objectives of this chapter, but the Common Interest Community Board shall not intervene in the internal activities of an association except to the extent necessary to prevent or cure violations of this chapter. The Common Interest Community Board may prescribe forms and procedures for submitting information to the Common Interest Community Board.

B. If it appears that any person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in any act or practice in violation of this chapter or any of the Common Interest Community Board's regulations or orders, the Common Interest Community Board without prior administrative proceedings may bring an action in the appropriate court to enjoin that act or practice or for other appropriate relief. The Common Interest Community Board is not required to post a bond or prove that no adequate remedy at law exists.

C. The Common Interest Community Board may intervene in any action involving the powers or responsibilities of a declarant in connection with any cooperative for which an application for registration is on file.

D. The Common Interest Community Board may accept grants-in-aid from any governmental source and may contract with agencies charged with similar functions in this or other jurisdictions in furtherance of the objectives of this chapter.

E. The Common Interest Community Board may cooperate with agencies performing similar functions in this and other jurisdictions to develop uniform filing procedures and forms, uniform disclosure standards, and uniform administrative practices and may develop information that may be useful in the discharge of the agency's duties.

F. In issuing any cease and desist order or order rejecting or revoking registration of a cooperative, the Common Interest Community Board shall state the basis for the adverse determination and the underlying facts.

G. The Common Interest Community Board, in its sound discretion, may require bonding, escrow of portions of sales proceeds, or other safeguards it may prescribe by its regulations to guarantee completion of all improvements labeled "MUST BE BUILT" pursuant to § 55.1-2171.

1982, c. 277, § 55-502; 2019, c. 712.

A declarant shall not offer or dispose of a cooperative interest intended for residential use unless the cooperative and the cooperative interest are registered with the Common Interest Community Board. A cooperative consisting of no more than three units that is not subject to development rights is exempt from the requirements of this section.

1982, c. 277, § 55-497; 2019, c. 712.

A. An application for registration must contain the information and be accompanied by any reasonable fees required by the Common Interest Community Board's regulations. A declarant promptly shall file amendments to report any factual or expected material change in any document or information contained in his application.

B. If a declarant files with the Common Interest Community Board a declaration or proposed declaration, or an amendment or proposed amendment to a declaration, creating units for which he proposes to convey cooperative interests before the units are substantially completed in the manner required by § 55.1-2172, the declarant shall also file with the Common Interest Community Board:

1. A verified statement showing all costs involved in completing the buildings containing those units;

2. A verified estimate of the time of completion of construction of the buildings containing those units;

3. Satisfactory evidence of sufficient funds to cover all costs to complete the buildings containing those units;

4. A copy of the executed construction contract and any other contracts for the completion of the buildings containing those units;

5. A 100 percent payment and performance bond covering the entire cost of construction of the buildings containing those units;

6. Plans for the units;

7. If purchasers' funds are to be utilized for the construction of the cooperative, an executed copy of the escrow agreement with an escrow company or financial institution authorized to do business within the state that provides:

a. That disbursements of purchasers' funds may be made from time to time to pay for construction of the cooperative, architectural, and engineering costs, finance and legal fees, and other costs for the completion of the cooperative in proportion to the value of the work completed by the contractor as certified by an independent, registered architect or engineer, on bills submitted and approved by the lender of construction funds or the escrow agent;

b. That disbursement of the balance of purchasers' funds remaining after completion of the cooperative shall be made only when the escrow agent or lender receives satisfactory evidence that the period for filing mechanic's and materialman's liens has expired, or that the right to claim those liens has been waived, or that adequate provision has been made for satisfaction of any claimed mechanic's or materialman's lien; and

c. Any other restriction relative to the retention and disbursement of purchasers' funds required by the Common Interest Community Board; and

8. Any other materials or information the agency may require by its regulations.

The Common Interest Community Board shall not register the units described in the declaration or the amendment unless the Common Interest Community Board determines, on the basis of the material submitted by the declarant and any other information available to the Common Interest Community Board, that there is a reasonable basis to expect that the cooperative interests to be conveyed will be completed by the declarant following conveyance.

1982, c. 277, § 55-498; 2019, c. 712.

A. The Common Interest Community Board shall acknowledge receipt of an application for registration within five business days after receiving it. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the Common Interest Community Board shall determine whether:

1. The application and the proposed public offering statement satisfy the requirements of this chapter and the Common Interest Community Board's regulations;

2. The declaration and bylaws comply with this chapter; and

3. It is likely that the improvements the declarant has undertaken to make can be completed as represented.

B. If the Common Interest Community Board makes a favorable determination, it shall issue promptly an order registering the cooperative. Otherwise, unless the declarant has consented in writing to a delay, the Common Interest Community Board shall issue promptly an order rejecting registration.

1982, c. 277, § 55-499; 2019, c. 712.

If the Common Interest Community Board determines, after notice and hearing, that any person has disseminated or caused to be disseminated orally or in writing any false or misleading promotional materials in connection with a cooperative or that any person has otherwise violated any provision of this chapter or the Common Interest Community Board's regulations or orders, the Common Interest Community Board may issue an order to cease and desist from that conduct or to take such affirmative action as may be appropriate to the Common Interest Community Board.

1982, c. 277, § 55-500; 2019, cc. 467, 712.

A. The Common Interest Community Board, after providing notice stating the deficiency complained of and holding a hearing, may issue an order revoking the registration of a cooperative upon determination that a declarant or any officer or principal of a declarant has:

1. Failed to comply with a cease and desist order issued by the Common Interest Community Board affecting that cooperative;

2. Concealed, diverted, or disposed of any funds or assets of any person in a manner impairing rights of purchasers of cooperative interests in that cooperative;

3. Failed to perform any stipulation or agreement made to induce the Common Interest Community Board to issue an order relating to that cooperative;

4. Intentionally misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in the application for registration; or

5. Failed to meet any of the conditions described in §§ 55.1-2176 and 55.1-2177 necessary to qualify for registration.

B. Without the consent of the Common Interest Community Board, a declarant shall not convey, cause to be conveyed, or contract for the conveyance of any cooperative interest while an order revoking the registration of the cooperative is in effect.

C. In appropriate cases, the Common Interest Community Board may issue a cease and desist order in lieu of an order of revocation.

1982, c. 277, § 55-501; 2019, c. 712.

A. The Common Interest Community Board may initiate public or private investigations within or outside the Commonwealth to determine whether any representation in any document or information filed with the Common Interest Community Board is false or misleading or whether any person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in any unlawful act or practice.

B. In the course of any investigation or hearing, the Common Interest Community Board may subpoena witnesses and documents, administer oaths and affirmations, and adduce evidence. If a person fails to comply with a subpoena or to answer questions propounded during the investigation or hearing, the Common Interest Community Board may apply to the appropriate court for a contempt order or for injunctive or other appropriate relief to secure compliance.

1982, c. 277, § 55-503; 2019, c. 712.

A. A declarant, within 30 days after the anniversary date of the order of registration, shall file annually a report to bring up to date the material contained in the application for registration and the public offering statement. This provision does not relieve the declarant of the obligation to file amendments pursuant to subsection B.

B. A declarant shall file promptly amendments to the public offering statement with the Common Interest Community Board.

C. If an annual report reveals that a declarant owns or controls cooperative interests representing less than 25 percent of the voting power in the association and that a declarant has no power to increase the number of units in the cooperative or to cause a merger or confederation of the cooperative with other cooperatives, the Common Interest Community Board shall issue an order relieving the declarant of any further obligation to file annual reports. After such order is issued, so long as the declarant is offering any cooperative interests for sale, the Common Interest Community Board has jurisdiction over the declarant's activities but has no other authority to regulate the cooperative.

1982, c. 277, § 55-504; 2019, c. 712.

A. The association shall file an annual report in a form and at such time as prescribed by regulations of the Common Interest Community Board. The filing of the annual report required by this section shall commence upon the termination of any declarant control period reserved pursuant to § 55.1-2134. The annual report shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by the Common Interest Community Board, which shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Common Interest Community Management Information Fund established pursuant to § 54.1-2354.2.

B. The agency may accept copies of forms submitted to other state agencies to satisfy the requirements of this section if such forms contain substantially the same information required by the Common Interest Community Board.

1993, c. 958, § 55-504.1; 2008, cc. 851, 871; 2009, c. 557; 2012, cc. 481, 797; 2019, cc. 391, 712.

A. The Common Interest Community Board at any time may require a declarant to alter or supplement the form or substance of a public offering statement to assure adequate and accurate disclosure to prospective purchasers.

B. The public offering statement shall not be used for any promotional purpose before registration and shall be used afterwards only if it is used in its entirety. No person shall advertise or represent that the Common Interest Community Board has approved or recommended the cooperative, the disclosure statement, or any of the documents contained in the application for registration.

C. In the case of a cooperative situated wholly outside of the Commonwealth, no application for registration or proposed public offering statement filed with the Common Interest Community Board that has been approved by an agency in the state where the cooperative is located and substantially complies with the requirements of this chapter shall be rejected by the Common Interest Community Board on the grounds of noncompliance with any different or additional requirements imposed by this chapter or by the Common Interest Community Board's regulations. However, the Common Interest Community Board may require additional documents or information in particular cases to assure adequate and accurate disclosure to prospective purchasers.

1982, c. 277, § 55-505; 2019, c. 712.

Any person who willfully violates § 55.1-2155, 55.1-2158, 55.1-2159, 55.1-2162, 55.1-2164, 55.1-2176, or 55.1-2181 or any regulation adopted under, or order issued pursuant to, § 55.1-2174, or any person who willfully in an application for registration makes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact, is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be (i) fined not less than $1,000 or double the amount of gain from the transaction, whichever is larger, but not more than $50,000 or (ii) imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, for each offense.

1982, c. 277, § 55-506; 2019, c. 712.