Oregon 30-Hour Real Estate Law Practice Test

In condominium declarations, who shares ownership of common areas?

1. Property developers

2. Unit owners

3. City council members

4. Real estate agents

The correct answer is: Unit owners

In condominium developments, unit owners hold shared ownership of common areas. This is a fundamental aspect of condominium living, where individual ownership extends to the interior of each unit, while common areas — such as hallways, lobbies, elevators, swimming pools, and recreational facilities — are collectively owned by all the unit owners. The shared ownership typically means that each owner holds a specific percentage of the common areas, which is usually outlined in the condominium declaration. This percentage determines the owner's share in maintenance fees, voting rights in the homeowners' association, and their stake in decisions related to the upkeep and management of these common spaces. The other choices refer to entities or individuals who do not share ownership of the common areas. Property developers may initially manage these areas and may retain certain rights until the project is fully sold, but they do not share ownership in the sense that unit owners do. City council members deal with local governance and regulations but have no ownership interest in private condominium common areas. Real estate agents facilitate transactions and provide guidance but also do not own any part of the common areas in a condominium. Thus, unit owners are the rightful parties who share ownership of these spaces as described in condominium declarations.