Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-102
§3609 Void Lease or Contract Provisions
Title 15 › CHAPTER 62 — CONDOMINIUM AND COOPERATIVE CONVERSION PROTECTION AND ABUSE RELIEF › § 3609
Summary
Makes invalid any lease or contract clause that, in condominium conversion projects that meet federal requirements, forces unit owners or their association to pay a developer, successor, or affiliate’s lawyer fees or money judgments in lawsuits, no matter the outcome.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §3609
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any provision in any lease or contract requiring unit owners or the owners’ association, in any conversion project involving a contract meeting the requirements of section 3607 of this title of in any project involving a lease meeting the requirements of section 3608 of this title, to reimburse, regardless of outcome, the developer, his successor, or affiliate of the developer for attorneys’ fees or money judgments, in a suit between unit owners or the owners’ association and the developer arising under the lease or agreement, is against public policy and void.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 8, 1980, except that prohibition included in this section as it relates to a lease with respect to which a cause of action may be established under section 3608 of this title, shall be effective one year after Oct. 8, 1980, see section 618 of Pub. L. 96–399, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 3609
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102