46:8B-14. Responsibilities of association

14. The association, acting through its officers or governing board, shall be responsible for the performance of the following duties, the costs of which shall be common expenses:

(a) The maintenance, repair, replacement, cleaning and sanitation of the common elements.

(b) The assessment and collection of funds for common expenses and the payment thereof.

(c) The adoption, distribution, amendment and enforcement of rules governing the use and operation of the condominium and the condominium property and the use of the common elements, including but not limited to the imposition of reasonable fines, assessments and late fees upon unit owners, if authorized by the master deed or bylaws, subject to the right of a majority of unit owners to change any such rules.

(d) The maintenance of insurance against loss by fire or other casualties normally covered under broad-form fire and extended coverage insurance policies as written in this State, covering all common elements and all structural portions of the condominium property and the application of the proceeds of any such insurance to restoration of such common elements and structural portions if such restoration shall otherwise be required under the provisions of this act or the master deed or bylaws.

(e) The maintenance of insurance against liability for personal injury and death for accidents occurring within the common elements whether limited or general and the defense of any actions brought by reason of injury or death to person, or damage to property occurring within such common elements and not arising by reason of any act or negligence of any individual unit owner.

(f) The master deed or bylaws may require the association to protect blanket mortgages, or unit owners and their mortgagees, as their respective interest may appear, under the policies of insurance provided under clauses (d) and (e) of this section, or against such risks with respect to any or all units, and may permit the assessment and collection from a unit owner of specific charges for insurance coverage applicable to his unit.

(g) The maintenance of accounting records, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, open to inspection at reasonable times by unit owners. Such records shall include:

(i) A record of all receipts and expenditures.

(ii) An account for each unit setting forth any shares of common expenses or other charges due, the due dates thereof, the present balance due, and any interest in common surplus.

(h) Nothing herein shall preclude any unit owner or other person having an insurable interest from obtaining insurance at his own expense and for his own benefit against any risk whether or not covered by insurance maintained by the association.

(i) Such other duties as may be set forth in the master deed or bylaws.

(j) An association shall exercise its powers and discharge its functions in a manner that protects and furthers or is not inconsistent with the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the community.

(k) An association shall provide a fair and efficient procedure for the resolution of housing-related disputes between individual unit owners and the association, and between unit owners, which shall be readily available as an alternative to litigation. A person other than an officer of the association, a member of the governing board or a unit owner involved in the dispute shall be made available to resolve the dispute. A unit owner may notify the Commissioner of Community Affairs if an association does not comply with this subsection. The commissioner shall have the power to order the association to provide a fair and efficient procedure for the resolution of disputes.

L.1969,c.257,s.14; amended 1995, c.313, s.1; 1996, c.79, s.2.