Alabama Uniform Condominium Act — Lien for Assessments

Section 35-8A-316 Lien for Assessments. (a) The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment and any other moneys due the association for special assessments or services or charges, such as water or repairs, levied against that unit or fines imposed against its unit owner from the time the assessment or fine becomes due. The association’s lien may be foreclosed in like manner as a mortgage on real estate provided the declaration is in conformity with Article 1A of Chapter 10 of this title and subject to the rights under Article 14A of Chapter 5 of Title 6. The association shall send reasonable advance notice of its proposed action to the unit owner and all lienholders of record of the unit. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, fees, charges, late charges, fines, and interest charged pursuant to Section 35-8A-302(a)(10), (11), and (12) 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 thereof becomes due. (b) A lien under this section is prior to all other liens and encumbrances on a unit except: (i) liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration; (ii) a first security interest on the unit recorded 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 unit. The lien is also prior to the mortgages and deeds of trust described in clause (ii) above to the extent of the common expense assessments based on the periodic budget adopted by the association pursuant to Section 35-8A-315(a) which would have become due in the absence of acceleration during the six months immediately preceding: (i) the association’s institution of a civil action to enforce its lien; or (ii) a foreclosure of a mortgage or deed of trust described in clause (ii). The association’s six-month priority lien does not include the association’s costs or attorney fees in enforcing its lien under this subsection. Notwithstanding anything in Act 2018–403 to the contrary, upon a showing by the holder of a mortgage or deed of trust described in clause (ii) that the instrument has been assigned to or is owned or guaranteed by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Government National Mortgage Association, the six-month priority lien is subject to and shall not be interpreted to exceed any period of time or amount allowed for priority under regulations, rules, guidelines, or requirements adopted by or applicable to any of the above entities. This subsection does not affect the priority of mechanics’ or materialmen’s liens. The lien under this section is not subject to the provisions of 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 real estate, those liens have equal priority. (d) Recording of the declaration …

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