Wis. Stat. § 703.195 — WI Code / Chapter 703 / Section 703.195
Acquisition of common elements by condemnors.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Acquire” means to obtain title to real property by purchase or condemnation.

(b) “Common elements” means all of a condominium except its units and any limited common elements.

(c) “Condemnor” means a person who has the authority to condemn property under ch. 32 .

(2) Applicability. This section applies to the acquisition by a condemnor of a portion of the common elements of a condominium that is created 6 months or more after November 1, 2004. This section is in addition to any applicable provision in ch. 32 .

(3) Notice to unit owners and association. A condemnor who seeks to acquire a portion of the common elements of a condominium and who wishes to negotiate with the association instead of with each unit owner shall notify the association and each unit owner of the proposed acquisition, in writing, at least 30 days before delivery of the appraisal required under s. 32.05 (2) (b) or 32.06 (2) (b) . The notice to the unit owners shall be sent by certified mail, requesting a return receipt signed by the addressee only. Notice is deemed complete on the date the addressee acknowledges receipt. The notice required under this subsection is in addition to any notice required under s. 32.05 or 32.06 and shall be provided simultaneously with the pamphlets that are prepared under s. 32.26 (6) and provided under ss. 32.05 (2a) and 32.06 (2a) . The condemnor is responsible for the expense of sending the notice under this subsection.

(4) Content of notice to unit owners. The notice to the unit owners required under sub. (3) shall, at a minimum, contain all of the following:

(a) The name and address of the condemnor.

(b) The legal description of the property to be acquired.

(c) The public purpose for which the property is being acquired and a statement that the condemnor in good faith intends to use the property for that purpose.

(d) The following statement in substantially identical language, in at least 12-point bold type, if printed, or in capital letters, if typewritten:

(e) A prominent place for the unit owner to sign his or her name to indicate the unit owner’s objection to the association acting as the agent for the unit owner in the conveyance of the common elements at issue.

(5) Method of objecting by unit owner. A unit owner who objects to the association acting as the agent for the owner shall indicate the objection as provided on the form under sub. (4) (e) and send the form, within 30 days after the notice under sub. (3) is received, to the condemnor by U.S. mail to the address indicated on the notice. The objection is made when the completed form is mailed to the condemnor. Before initiating negotiations with the unit owner under s. 32.05 (2a) or 32.06 (2a) , the condemnor shall provide the association and those unit owners who have objected a written list of all of the unit owners who have objected.

(6) No objection by unit owner; association as agent. If a unit owner does not timely object under sub. (5) , the unit owner is deemed to have consented to the association acting as the unit owner’s agent in the conveyance of the common elements at issue and the association shall act as the agent for the unit owner in the conveyance to the condemnor of the unit owner’s interest in the common elements at issue. Failure of the unit owner to object within the required time does not affect any other rights of the unit owner under ch. 32 .

(7) Method of conveyance. The association shall execute any conveyance under this section as the agent for each of the unit owners who did not timely object under sub. (5) . Those unit owners shall be identified, by name, on the conveyance.

(8) Objection by unit owner; unit owner retains rights. A unit owner who timely objects under sub. (5) retains all of his or her rights under ch. 32 with regard to the acquisition of the common elements at issue and to unit ownership.

History: 2003 a. 283 ; 2015 a. 55 .