Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (d) or (e), the co-owners are bound to contribute pro rata, in the percentages computed under section 3 of this chapter, toward:

(1) the expenses of administration and of maintenance and repair of the general common areas and facilities and, in the proper case, of the limited common areas and facilities of the building; and

(2) any other expense lawfully agreed upon.

     (b) A co-owner may not exempt the co-owner from contributing toward the expenses referred to in subsection (a) by:

(1) waiver of the use or enjoyment of the common areas and facilities; or

(2) abandonment of the condominium unit belonging to the co-owner.

     (c) All sums assessed by the association of co-owners shall be established by using generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis and shall include the establishment and maintenance of a replacement reserve fund. The replacement reserve fund may be used for capital expenditures and replacement and repair of the common areas and facilities and may not be used for usual and ordinary repair expenses of the common areas and facilities. The fund shall be:

(1) maintained in a separate interest bearing account with a bank or savings association authorized to conduct business in the county in which the condominium is established; or

(2) invested in the same manner and in the same types of investments in which the funds of a political subdivision may be invested:

(A) under IC 5-13-9; or

(B) as otherwise provided by law.

Assessments collected for contributions to the fund are not subject to adjusted gross income tax.

     (d) If permitted by the declaration, the declarant or a developer (or a successor in interest of either) that is a co-owner of unoccupied condominium units offered for the first time for sale is excused from contributing toward the expenses referred to in subsection (a) for those units for a period that:

(1) is stated in the declaration;

(2) begins on the day that the declaration is recorded; and

(3) terminates no later than the first day of the twenty-fourth calendar month following the month in which the closing of the sale of the first condominium unit occurs.

However, if the expenses referred to in subsection (a) incurred by the declarant, developer, or successor during the period referred to in this subsection exceed the amount assessed against the other co-owners, the declarant, developer, or successor shall pay the amount by which the expenses incurred by the declarant, developer, or successor exceed the expenses assessed against the other co-owners.

     (e) If the declaration does not contain the provisions referred to in subsection (d), the declarant or a developer (or a successor in interest of either) that is a co-owner of unoccupied condominium units offered for the first time for sale is excused from contributing toward the expenses referred to in subsection (a) for those units for a stated period if the declarant, developer, or successor:

(1) has guaranteed to each purchaser in the purchase contract, the declaration, or the prospectus, or by an agreement with a majority of the other co-owners that the assessment for those expenses will not increase over a stated amount during the stated period; and

(2) has obligated itself to pay the amount by which those expenses incurred during the stated period exceed the assessments at the guaranteed level under subdivision (1) receivable during the stated period from the other co-owners.

[Pre-2002 Recodification Citation: 32-1-6-22.]

As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.192-2002(ss), SEC.172.