46:8B-3 - Definitions

46:8B-3.  Definitions
    The following words and phrases as used in this act shall have the meanings  set forth in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

    a.   "Assigns"  means any person to whom rights of a unit owner have been validly transferred by lease, mortgage or otherwise.

    b.   "Association"  means the entity responsible for the administration of a  condominium, which entity may be incorporated or unincorporated.

    c.   "Bylaws"  means the governing regulations adopted under this act for the administration and management of the property.

    d.   "Common elements"  means:

     (i) the land described in the master deed;

      (ii) as to any improvement, the foundations, structural and bearing parts,  supports, main walls, roofs, basements, halls, corridors, lobbies, stairways,  elevators, entrances, exits and other means of access, excluding any  specifically reserved or limited to a particular unit or group of units;

     (iii) yards, gardens, walkways, parking areas and driveways, excluding any  specifically reserved or limited to a particular unit or group of units;

     (iv) portions of the land or any improvement or appurtenance reserved exclusively for the management, operation or maintenance of the common elements  or of the condominium property;

     (v) installations of all central services and utilities;

      (vi) all apparatus and installations existing or intended for common use;

      (vii) all other elements of any improvement necessary or convenient to the  existence, management, operation, maintenance and safety of the condominium  property or normally in common use;  and

      (viii) such other elements and facilities as are designated in the master deed as common elements.

    e.   "Common expenses"  means expenses for which the unit owners are proportionately liable, including but not limited to:

     (i) all expenses of administration, maintenance, repair and replacement of  the common elements;

     (ii) expenses agreed upon as common by all unit owners;  and

      (iii) expenses declared common by provisions of this act or by the master deed or by the bylaws.

    f.   "Common receipts"  means:

     (i) rent and other charges derived from leasing or licensing the use of common elements;

     (ii) funds collected from unit owners as common expenses or otherwise; and

     (iii) receipts designated as common by the provisions of this act or by the  master deed or the bylaws.

    g.   "Common surplus"  means the excess of all common receipts over all common expenses.

    h.   "Condominium"  means the form of ownership of real property under a master deed providing for ownership by one or more owners of units of improvements together with an undivided interest in common elements appurtenant  to each such unit.

    i.   "Condominium property"  means the land covered by the master deed, whether or not contiguous and all improvements thereon, all owned either in fee  simple or under lease, and all easements, rights and appurtenances belonging  thereto or intended for the benefit thereof.

    j.   "Developer"  means the person or persons who create a condominium or lease, sell or offer to lease or sell a condominium or units of a condominium in the ordinary course of business, but does not include an owner or lessee of a unit who has acquired his unit for his own occupancy.

    k.   "Limited common elements"  means those common elements which are for the use of one or more specified units to the exclusion of other units.

      l  .   "Majority"  or  "majority of the unit owners"  means the owners of  more than 50% of the aggregate in interest of the undivided ownership of the  common elements as specified in the master deed.  If a different percentage of  unit owners is required to be determined under this act or under the master  deed or bylaws for any purpose, such different percentage of owners shall mean  the owners of an equal percentage of the aggregate in interest of the undivided  ownership of the common elements as so specified.

    m.   "Master deed"  means the master deed recorded under the terms of section 8 of this act, as such master deed may be amended or supplemented from time to time, being the instrument by which the owner in fee simple or lessee of the property submits it to the provisions of this chapter.

    n.   "Person"  means an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other legal entity, or any combination thereof.

      o  .   "Unit"  means a part of the condominium property designed or intended for any type of independent use, having a direct exit to a public street or way or to a common element or common elements leading to a public street or way or to an easement or right of way leading to a public street or way, and includes the proportionate undivided interest in the common elements and in any limited common elements assigned thereto in the master deed or any amendment thereof.

    p.   "Unit deed"  means a deed of conveyance of a unit in recordable form.

     q.   "Unit owner"  means the person or persons owning a unit in fee simple.

     L.1969, c. 257, s. 3, eff. Jan. 7, 1970.  Amended by L.1973, c. 216, s. 1, eff. Aug. 23, 1973;  L.1979, c. 157, s. 1, eff. July 19, 1979.