2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 35-A: PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part 6: WATER › Chapter 61: GENERAL PROVISIONS AND RATES › 35-A §6111-A. Liens for unpaid rates; multiunit residential rental property

§6111-A. Liens for unpaid rates; multiunit residential rental property
1.  Liens for unpaid rates; water utilities.
A water utility has a lien on real estate served by that water utility to secure the payment of unpaid rates.
[PL 2011, c. 97, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Rental property; water utilities.
Notwithstanding section 706, when a landlord has applied for and is granted water utility service to a multiunit residential rental property, the water utility has a lien on the property and on any interest the landlord has in the multiunit residential rental property to secure payment for the water utility's service to that property with costs and with interest at a rate not to exceed the highest lawful rate set by the Treasurer of State for municipal taxes.
[PL 2005, c. 7, §2 (NEW).]
3.  Method and procedure.
The method for obtaining, enforcing and receiving payment on a lien created under this section must be performed in the same manner and has the same effect and creates the same rights as provided in Title 38, section 1208 pertaining to the collection of unpaid rates by a sanitary district, except that a sanitary district lien created under Title 38, section 1208 continues with priority over a lien created under this section. The notice of impending automatic foreclosure must be substantially in the following form:
STATE OF MAINE
(insert name of water utility)
NOTICE OF IMPENDING AUTOMATIC FORECLOSURE
WATER LIEN
Title 35-A M.R.S.A., section 6111-A
IMPORTANT: DO NOT DISREGARD THIS NOTICE
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PROPERTY UNLESS
YOU PAY THE CHARGES, COSTS AND INTEREST FOR WHICH
A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE
(insert name of water utility)
TO: .................................
You are the party named on the Water Lien Certificate filed on .............., 20. and recorded in Book .........., Page ......... in the .......... County Registry of Deeds. This (insert name of water utility) filing created a lien mortgage on the real estate described in the Water Lien Certificate.
On ............., 20..., the water lien mortgage will be foreclosed and your right to redeem the mortgage and recover your property by paying the charges and interest of the (insert name of water utility) that are owed will expire.
IF THE LIEN FORECLOSES,
THE (insert name of water utility) WILL OWN
YOUR PROPERTY, SUBJECT ONLY TO
SANITARY DISTRICT AND MUNICIPAL TAX LIENS.
If you cannot pay the outstanding charges, costs and interest that are the subject of this notice or the subject of installment payment arrangements that you have made with the (insert name of water utility), please contact me immediately to discuss this notice.
..............................................................
(insert name of water utility) Treasurer
[PL 2005, c. 7, §2 (NEW).]
4.  Waiver of water lien foreclosure.
The treasurer of a water utility, when authorized by the trustees or directors of the utility, may waive the foreclosure of a lien mortgage created pursuant to this section by recording in the registry of deeds a waiver of foreclosure before the period for the right of redemption from the lien mortgage has expired. The lien mortgage remains in full effect after the recording of a waiver. Other methods established by law for the collection of any unpaid rate, toll, rent or other charges are not affected by the filing of a waiver under this section. The waiver of foreclosure must be substantially in the following form:
The foreclosure of the water lien mortgage on real estate for charges against .......... (NAME) to .......... (NAME OF WATER UTILITY) dated .......... and recorded in the .......... County Registry of Deeds in Book .........., Page .......... is hereby waived.
The form must be dated, signed by the treasurer of the water utility and notarized. A copy of the form must be provided to the party named on the lien mortgage and each record holder of a mortgage on the real estate.
[PL 2011, c. 97, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2005, c. 7, §2 (NEW). PL 2009, c. 490, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 97, §§1, 2 (AMD).