Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) A marina has a lien on a floating cabin for any assessment levied against the floating cabin pursuant to a writtenlease or service contract between the marina and the owner of the floating cabin from the time the assessment becomes due, which lien may be enforced by judicial action.(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), a written lease or service contract between a marina and the owner of a floating cabin may provide that the marina’s lien may be enforced in like manner as a security interest under title 47, chapter 9, if the marina gives notice of its action to the owner and to all lienholders of record.(3) Notice shall be deemed sufficient if sent by United States mail, postage prepaid:
(A) If to the owner, at the address of the floating cabin, or, if different, the last address for the owner on file with the marina; or(B) If to a lienholder, other interested party, or the nominee of record, at the address set forth in an instrument of record; or, if different, at such other address as the lienholder or other interested party may have on file with the marina.(4) Notice shall be deemed received three (3) days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid. Fees, service charges, late charges, fines, and interest are enforceable as assessments under this section unless the written lease or service contract between the marina and the owner of the floating cabin provides otherwise. If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment of the assessment becomes due.(b)(1) A lien under this section is prior to all other liens and encumbrances on a floating cabin, except:
(A) Liens and encumbrances recorded before the date of the written lease or service contract between the marina and the owner of the floating cabin;(B) A first or purchase money lien recorded before the date on which the assessment sought to be enforced became delinquent; and(C) Liens for taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the floating cabin.(2) Upon a foreclosure action initiated by a lienholder or the marina under title 47, chapter 9, the marina is entitled to a priority in the proceeds from the foreclosure sale to satisfy the lien under subsection (a) up to the extent of the assessments that are past due during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding institution of an action to enforce the lien. However, notwithstanding this subsection (b) or any law to the contrary:
(A) Any foreclosure by the marina of its lien for assessments shall be subject to any prior lien encumbering the floating cabin and shall not extinguish such lien;(B) Upon any foreclosure and sale by the holder of a security interest, the sale and foreclosure will be subject to the marina lien up to the payment priority amount set forth in this subdivision (b)(2); and(C) Any right of foreclosure or priority of the marina shall not be transferable and shall be extinguished if assigned or transferred to a third party.(c) If two (2) or more marinas have liens for assessments at any time on the same floating cabin, the priority of the liens shall be determined based on the date that each lien was created, with an earlier created lien having priority over a later created lien.(d) A lien for any delinquent assessment under this section up to the priority in payment provided in subdivision (b)(2) is perfected without recording. Any other delinquent amount above the priority of payment provided in subdivision (b)(2) is perfected by filing a financing statement with the secretary of state, and shall have priority over any subsequently filed liens.(e) A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within one (1) year after the date the lien for the assessment becomes effective.(f) A judgment or decree in any action brought under this section may include costs and reasonable attorney’s fees for the prevailing party.(g) The marina, upon written request, shall furnish to an owner or to a holder of any security interest encumbering the floating cabin, or the owner’s or holder’s respective authorized agents, a written statement setting forth the amount of unpaid assessments against the floating cabin. The statement must be furnished within seven (7) days after receipt of the written request and is binding on the marina.(h) As used in this section:
(1) “Floating cabin” means a watercraft or other floating structure:
(A) Primarily designed and used for human habitation or occupation; and(B) Not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water; and(2) “Marina” means a marina, boat dock, dry dock, or dry storage facility.
