Condo Media - May 2021 - 40
The Region
NEW HAMPSHIRE
When Is a Condominium
Not a Condominium?
The Role of Legislators Versus Owners
[by Gary M. Daddario, Esq., CCAL]
My title this time around is neither
meant to be the start of a funny joke nor
a clever riddle. Unfortunately, it is more
of a practical question arising as a result
of an analysis of recent condominiumrelated legislation in New Hampshire.
First, the old news - between 2016
and now, legislation has taken the ultimate result of the budget process, the
special assessment process, certain aspects of voting and proxies, components
of executive session and even the definition of " emergency " out of the hands of
the governing boards of condominiums
in New Hampshire.
Next, the present - as set forth in last
month's article, bills in this legislative
session, if passed, create a state-run
condominium dispute resolution
board, allow amateur radio antennae
(notwithstanding restrictions in the
governing documents) and allow solar
40
CONDOMEDIA May 2021
panels (notwithstanding restrictions in
the governing documents). While I am
not opposed to resolution of disputes,
amateur radio, or solar panels, for
the reasons explained below, I, as a
condominium law practitioner, find it
concerning whenever the outcome of
an issue or question diverges from the
applicable language in an association's
governing documents.
Now, the analysis - it appears to me
that the consistent thread running
through recent condominium-related
legislation is to remove from condominium associations their control over
a number of issues. So, to answer my
own question, a condominium is not
a condominium when the governing
documents no longer govern the association. Please don't get me wrong;
I am not suggesting that the law has no
place in condominiums. After all, con-
dominiums are what we call " creatures
of statute " that simply would not exist
but for state law. That said, in much the
same way that different states within
the United States have their own " flavors, " so too should associations be able
to define themselves through their own
governing documents.
GOVERNING DOCUMENTS'
PURPOSE AND POWER
The governing documents of an association constitute the creation of that
community (legally, anyway). These
documents are typically carefully
crafted to produce the declarant's vision
of the neighborhood being created.
Further, these documents are recorded
at the registry of deeds (and therefore
available for inspection by the general
public) prior to the sales of any units.
So, practically speaking, every pur-
Condo Media - May 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - May 2021
Contents
Condo Media - May 2021 - Cover1
Condo Media - May 2021 - Cover2
Condo Media - May 2021 - Contents
Condo Media - May 2021 - 2
Condo Media - May 2021 - 3
Condo Media - May 2021 - 4
Condo Media - May 2021 - 5
Condo Media - May 2021 - 6
Condo Media - May 2021 - 7
Condo Media - May 2021 - 8
Condo Media - May 2021 - 9
Condo Media - May 2021 - 10
Condo Media - May 2021 - 11
Condo Media - May 2021 - 12
Condo Media - May 2021 - 13
Condo Media - May 2021 - 14
Condo Media - May 2021 - 15
Condo Media - May 2021 - 16
Condo Media - May 2021 - 17
Condo Media - May 2021 - 18
Condo Media - May 2021 - 19
Condo Media - May 2021 - 20
Condo Media - May 2021 - 21
Condo Media - May 2021 - 22
Condo Media - May 2021 - 23
Condo Media - May 2021 - 24
Condo Media - May 2021 - 25
Condo Media - May 2021 - 26
Condo Media - May 2021 - 27
Condo Media - May 2021 - 28
Condo Media - May 2021 - 29
Condo Media - May 2021 - 30
Condo Media - May 2021 - 31
Condo Media - May 2021 - 32
Condo Media - May 2021 - 33
Condo Media - May 2021 - 34
Condo Media - May 2021 - 35
Condo Media - May 2021 - 36
Condo Media - May 2021 - 37
Condo Media - May 2021 - 38
Condo Media - May 2021 - 39
Condo Media - May 2021 - 40
Condo Media - May 2021 - 41
Condo Media - May 2021 - 42
Condo Media - May 2021 - 43
Condo Media - May 2021 - 44
Condo Media - May 2021 - 45
Condo Media - May 2021 - 46
Condo Media - May 2021 - 47
Condo Media - May 2021 - 48
Condo Media - May 2021 - 49
Condo Media - May 2021 - 50
Condo Media - May 2021 - 51
Condo Media - May 2021 - 52
Condo Media - May 2021 - 53
Condo Media - May 2021 - 54
Condo Media - May 2021 - 55
Condo Media - May 2021 - 56
Condo Media - May 2021 - Cover3
Condo Media - May 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201911_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcneill/condomedia_200908
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com