Washington Code 64.32.050 – Common areas and facilities
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(1) Each apartment owner shall be entitled to an undivided interest in the common areas and facilities in the percentage expressed in the declaration. Such percentage shall be computed by taking as a basis the value of the apartment in relation to the value of the property.
Terms Used In Washington Code 64.32.050
- Apartment: means a part of the property intended for any type of independent use, including one or more rooms or spaces located on one or more floors (or part or parts thereof) in a building, or if not in a building, a separately delineated place of storage or moorage of a boat, plane, or motor vehicle, regardless of whether it is destined for a residence, an office, storage or moorage of a boat, plane, or motor vehicle, the operation of any industry or business, or for any other use not prohibited by law, and which has a direct exit to a public street or highway, or to a common area leading to such street or highway. See Washington Code 64.32.010
- Apartment owner: means the person or persons owning an apartment, as herein defined, in fee simple absolute or qualified, by way of leasehold or by way of a periodic estate, or in any other manner in which real property may be owned, leased or possessed in this state, together with an undivided interest in a like estate of the common areas and facilities in the percentage specified and established in the declaration as duly recorded or as it may be lawfully amended. See Washington Code 64.32.010
- Association of apartment owners: means all of the apartment owners acting as a group in accordance with the bylaws and with the declaration as it is duly recorded or as they may be lawfully amended. See Washington Code 64.32.010
- Declaration: means the instrument by which the property is submitted to provisions of this chapter, as hereinafter provided, and as it may be, from time to time, lawfully amended. See Washington Code 64.32.010
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trustee, or other legal entity. See Washington Code 64.32.010
- Property: means the land, the building, all improvements and structures thereon, all owned in fee simple absolute or qualified, by way of leasehold or by way of a periodic estate, or in any other manner in which real property may be owned, leased or possessed in this state, and all easements, rights and appurtenances belonging thereto, none of which shall be considered as a security or security interest, and all articles of personalty intended for use in connection therewith, which have been or are intended to be submitted to the provisions of this chapter. See Washington Code 64.32.010
(2) The percentage of the undivided interest of each apartment owner in the common areas and facilities as expressed in the declaration shall not be altered except in accordance with procedures set forth in the bylaws and by amending the declaration. The percentage of the undivided interest in the common areas and facilities shall not be separated from the apartment to which it appertains even though such interest is not expressly mentioned or described in the conveyance or other instrument. Nothing in this section or this chapter shall be construed to detract from or limit the powers and duties of any assessing or taxing unit or official which is otherwise granted or imposed by law, rule, or regulation.
(3) The common areas and facilities shall remain undivided and no apartment owner or any other person shall bring any action for partition or division of any part thereof, unless the property has been removed from the provisions of this chapter as provided in RCW 64.32.150 and 64.32.230. Any covenant to the contrary shall be void. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation on the right of partition by joint owners or owners in common of one or more apartments as to the ownership of such apartment or apartments.
(4) Each apartment owner shall have a nonexclusive easement for, and may use the common areas and facilities in accordance with the purpose for which they were intended without hindering or encroaching upon the lawful right of the other apartment owners.
(5) The necessary work of maintenance, repair and replacement of the common areas and facilities and the making of any addition or improvement thereto shall be carried out only as provided in this chapter and in the bylaws.
(6) The association of apartment owners shall have the irrevocable right, to be exercised by the manager or board of directors, to have access to each apartment from time to time during reasonable hours as may be necessary for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of any of the common areas and facilities therein or accessible therefrom, or for making emergency repairs therein necessary to prevent damage to the common areas and facilities or to another apartment or apartments.