In Pennsylvania, homeowner associations (HOAs) are governed by specific state laws to maintain order and regulate affairs within planned communities. These regulations are primarily outlined in the Uniform Planned Community Act (UPCA), codified in Title 68, Chapters 51-54 of the Pennsylvania statutes.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted Act 115, which amends Title 68 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and impacts the governance of homeowners associations (also known as planned communities), inium associations and cooperatives in the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Uniform inium Act C.S. §§ 3101 to. 3414) was adopted in 1980 to govern the formation and operation of iniums. Prior to the UCA, iniums in Pennsylvania were governed by the since-repealed Unit Property Act. By definition, a inium is a form of real estate ownership.
Pennsylvania Uniform inium Act §§ 3101 to. 3414) was adopted in 1980 to govern the formation and operation of iniums. Prior to the UCA, iniums in Pennsylvania were governed by the since-repealed Unit Property Act. By definition, a inium is a form of real estate ownership.
In a inium, the common facilities are owned directly by the unit owners as an interest appurtenant to the units. In a planned community, the common facilities are owned by the association, and each unit owner has a membership interest in that association because they hold the title to their unit.
Iniums in Pennsylvania are governed by the Uniform inium Act, 68 Pa. Stat. §§ 3101 to 3414 (the “UCA”). Although “inium” is a term generally used to refer to an individually-owed unit, it is also a form of ownership where property other than the individual unit is deemed to be common property.
Pennsylvania's inium property acts require that a registered land surveyor prepare a plat showing the elevations of floors and ceilings on a vertical plane and the boundaries of a inium unit with reference to an official datum.
With PUDs, the owner owns the actual lot or ground underneath the unit. With condos, the owner owns an equal and undivided interest in the entire condo project's lot (and common areas).