From time to time, the Lark will provide information to unit owners and tenants that highlights and, hopefully, clarifies Meadow Hill (MH) governance practices, policies, and procedures. This information is meant to establish a general understanding of the items being discussed. These articles do not supersede or replace any element of the MH Declaration, MH Rules, or decisions by the Board of Directors. The articles will not be specific to individual owner/tenant issues. Today’s article addresses the three property classes provided for within the MH Declaration (see Declaration Sections D02 – Definitions; D05 – #Units, Boundaries; and D06 – Limited Common Elements).
MH Property Types
MH has three property categories: Units, Common Elements, and Limited Common Elements.
- Units include living spaces plus garages. Units are generally defined to be the space on and within the inner surfaces of perimeter walls and finished ceilings. Units also include window glass, principal doors, floors, fireplace dampers, and other similar items. Unit owners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep on their Units.
- Common Elements, sometimes referred to as Common Interest Elements, include almost everything that is not a Unit. Common Elements are generally accessible and usable by every Unit owner and tenant. MH is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of Common Elements.
- Limited Common Elements (LCEs) are pieces of the Common Elements where use has been restricted to a single Unit or a group of Units. LCEs lie outside the Unit perimeter. LCEs are authorized by MH, are assigned to particular Units or groups of Units, and are maintained by the designated Units. MH retains oversight over LCEs, including evaluating their appearance. Examples of LCEs include patios and balconies, pad-mounted air conditioners, and furnaces.
These distinctions in property category determine what Unit owners are responsible for and what MH is responsible for. Hence, a Unit owner who wants to put a light on an outside wall has to ask the BOD for permission, since the outside wall is a Common Element, and once the light is installed, it becomes a LCE. By tradition, the attic area of a single-home Unit is considered part of the Unit, but the attic of a multiple Unit dwelling is a LCE.
Suggestions for future topics are welcome. Potential future topics include: Insurance, High Risk Components, Maintenance and Repair, and Voting Rights.