Connecticut · HOAConnecticut HOA and condo liens: nine months of assessments ahead of the mortgage

Under Connecticut's Common Interest Ownership Act, the association has a statutory lien on a unit for any assessment attributable to it or fines imposed on its owner, along with attorney's fees, costs, late charges, interest and other sums due (C.G.S. §47-258(a)). Recording the declaration perfects the lien, and no separate claim of lien has to be recorded (§47-258(d)). The lien is prior to other liens except those recorded before the declaration, a first or second security interest recorded before the assessment became delinquent, and real property taxes (§47-258(b)). In a foreclosure of the association's lien or of such a security interest, the lien is also prior to the security interest for up to nine months of common expense assessments under the periodic budget, excluding late fees, interest and fines, plus the association's costs and reasonable attorney's fees (§47-258(b)). The lien is extinguished unless enforcement starts within three years after the full amount becomes due (§47-258(e)). The association must furnish a binding statement of unpaid assessments within ten business days of a request made in a record (§47-258(h)). Before foreclosing, the owner must owe at least two months of assessments, and holders of first and second security interests get at least 60 days' written notice (§47-258(m)).