Putting up solar panels

[rljohnsufl]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

I live in a two-family house; each unit is an owner-occupied condo. I would like to put solar panels on the roof. We've already had a site visit from a solar contractor offering us a lease deal and we know it's legal with our town and state (actually our town and state are actively encouraging residential solar).

The downstairs neighbor has no problem with us getting solar. As a matter of fact they would like to put up their own panels at some later time.

My question is, how do we enshrine the panels into our condo docs or master deed so that a new owner can't come in at some point and demand we take the panels down? I have contacted a real estate attorney who did our refinance closing, but he never got back to me despite a few phone calls. This makes me think perhaps this is a small potatoes thing I could do without an attorney.

Also, we would need to divide the roof area up to make sure each household can have its own solar array. I know we have the basement divvied up, so it's possible. I just don't know how to do it.

Thanks in advance for any advice/words of wisdom.

 

[xylene]

WI have contacted a real estate attorney who did our refinance closing, but he never got back to me despite a few phone calls. This makes me think perhaps this is a small potatoes thing I could do without an attorney.

Changing condo docs is like working with gas mains - not a DIY project.


Call another lawyer. You don't owe your refi lawyer anything and he clearly does not see it that way either.

 

[katiekate32]

amend the condo docs.

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

I live in a two-family house; each unit is an owner-occupied condo. I would like to put solar panels on the roof. We've already had a site visit from a solar contractor offering us a lease deal and we know it's legal with our town and state (actually our town and state are actively encouraging residential solar).

The downstairs neighbor has no problem with us getting solar. As a matter of fact they would like to put up their own panels at some later time.

My question is, how do we enshrine the panels into our condo docs or master deed so that a new owner can't come in at some point and demand we take the panels down? I have contacted a real estate attorney who did our refinance closing, but he never got back to me despite a few phone calls. This makes me think perhaps this is a small potatoes thing I could do without an attorney.

Also, we would need to divide the roof area up to make sure each household can have its own solar array. I know we have the basement divvied up, so it's possible. I just don't know how to do it.

Thanks in advance for any advice/words of wisdom.

I am a current and past member of a couple different Condo Association Board of Governors. In one case, I re-wrote the condo docs and got it approved.

So... you need to get a copy of the current docs. Read them over and figure out what you will add or change. Use common sense. Use plain language. In those same docs there is a clearly defined method for getting such changes approved...often requires 2/3 vote of all the members to get approval. Get that done in a formal meeting of the Condo Association. Assuming you get it approved..file the new Docs with the county clerk to be placed on the Title of the Association itself. Probably cost about $20 per page to have it filed properly. Ta Da...done.