2019 Delaware Code
Title 25 - Property
Chapter 81. Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act
Subchapter IV Protection of Purchasers
§ 81-412 Conversion buildings.
(a) A declarant of a common interest community containing conversion buildings, and any dealer who intends to offer units in such a common interest community, shall give each of the residential tenants and any residential subtenant in possession of a portion of a conversion building notice of the conversion and provide those persons with the public offering statement no later than 120 days before the tenants and any subtenant in possession are required to vacate. The notice must set forth generally the rights of tenants and subtenants under this section and must be given as required in § 81-127 of this title. No tenant or subtenant may be required to vacate upon less than 120-days’ notice, except by reason of nonpayment of rent, waste, or conduct that disturbs other tenants’ peaceful enjoyment of the premises, and the terms of the tenancy may not be altered during that period. Failure to give notice as required by this section is a defense to an action for possession. A conversion does not relieve either the landlord or tenant of their obligations pursuant to the Delaware Residential Landlord-Tenant Code [Part III of this title], if applicable.
(b) For 60 days after delivery or mailing of the notice described in subsection (a) of this section, the person required to give the notice shall offer to convey each unit or proposed unit occupied for residential use to the tenant who leases that unit. If a tenant fails to purchase the unit during that 60 day period, the offeror may not offer to dispose of an interest in that unit during the following 180 days at a price or on terms more favorable to the offeree than the price or terms offered to the tenant. This subsection does not apply to any unit in a conversion building if that unit will be restricted exclusively to nonresidential use or the boundaries of the converted unit do not substantially conform to the dimensions of the residential unit before conversion.
(c) If a seller, in violation of subsection (b) of this section, conveys a unit to a purchaser for value who has no knowledge of the violation, the recordation of the deed conveying the unit or, in a cooperative, the conveyance of the unit, extinguishes any right a tenant may have under subsection (b) of this section to purchase that unit if the deed states that the seller has complied with subsection (b) of this section, but the conveyance does not affect the right of a tenant to recover damages from the seller for a violation of subsection (b) of this section.
(d) If a notice of conversion specifies a date by which a unit or proposed unit must be vacated and otherwise complies with the provisions of Delaware law, the notice also constitutes a notice to vacate specified by that statute.
(e) Nothing in this section permits termination of a lease by a declarant in violation of its terms.
(f) Conversion of a residential conversion building must also comply with all other laws applicable to a conversion.
76 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 2; 77 Del. Laws, c. 91, §§ 77, 82.
