Title 11, Chapter 2A, Section 309
( 11-2A-309)
Lessor's and lessee's rights when goods become fixtures. (1) In this section: (a) Goods are "fixtures" when they become so related to particular
real estate that an interest in them arises under real estate law; (b) A "fixture filing" is the filing, in the office where a record of a mortgage on the real estate would be filed or recorded, of a financing statement covering goods that are or are to become fixtures and conforming to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 11-9-502; (c) A lease is a "purchase money lease" unless the lessee has
possession or use of the goods or the right to possession or use
of the goods before the lease agreement is enforceable; (d) A mortgage is a "construction mortgage" to the extent it
secures an obligation incurred for the construction of an
improvement on land including the acquisition cost of the land, if
the recorded writing so indicates; and (e) "Encumbrance" includes real estate mortgages and other liens
on real estate and all other rights in real estate that are not
ownership interests. (2) Under this article a lease may be of goods that are fixtures or
may continue in goods that become fixtures, but no lease exists
under this article of ordinary building materials incorporated into
an improvement on land. (3) This article does not prevent creation of a lease of fixtures
pursuant to real estate law. (4) The perfected interest of a lessor of fixtures has priority over
a conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or owner of the real
estate if: (a) The lease is a purchase money lease, the conflicting interest
of the encumbrancer or owner arises before the goods become
fixtures, the interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture
filing before the goods become fixtures or within ten days
thereafter, and the lessee has an interest of record in the real
estate or is in possession of the real estate; or (b) The interest of the lessor is perfected by a fixture filing
before the interest of the encumbrancer or owner is of record, the
lessor's interest has priority over any conflicting interest of a
predecessor in title of the encumbrancer or owner, and the lessee
has an interest of record in the real estate or is in possession
of the real estate. (5) The interest of a lessor of fixtures, whether or not perfected,
has priority over the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer or
owner of the real estate if: (a) The fixtures are readily removable factory or office machines,
readily removable equipment that is not primarily used or leased
for use in the operation of the real estate, or readily removable
replacements of domestic appliances that are goods subject to a
consumer lease, and before the goods become fixtures the lease
contract is enforceable; or (b) The conflicting interest is a lien on the real estate obtained
by legal or equitable proceedings after the lease contract is
enforceable; or (c) The encumbrancer or owner has consented in writing to the
lease or has disclaimed an interest in the goods as fixtures; or (d) The lessee has a right to remove the goods as against the
encumbrancer or owner. If the lessee's right to remove
terminates, the priority of the interest of the lessor continues
for a reasonable time. (6) Notwithstanding subsection (4)(a) but otherwise subject to
subsections (4) and (5), the interest of a lessor of fixtures,
including the lessor's residual interest, is subordinate to the
conflicting interest of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a
construction mortgage recorded before the goods become fixtures if
the goods become fixtures before the completion of the construction.
To the extent given to refinance a construction mortgage, the
conflicting interest of an encumbrancer of the real estate under a
mortgage has this priority to the same extent as the encumbrancer of
the real estate under the construction mortgage. (7) In cases not within the preceding subsections, priority between
the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's
residual interest, and the conflicting interest of an encumbrancer
or owner of the real estate who is not the lessee is determined by
the priority rules governing conflicting interests in real estate. (8) If the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the lessor's
residual interest, has priority over all conflicting interests of
all owners and encumbrancers of the real estate, the lessor or the
lessee may (i) on default, expiration, termination, or cancellation
of the lease agreement but subject to the agreement and this
article, or (ii) if necessary to enforce other rights and remedies
of the lessor or lessee under this article, remove the goods from
the real estate, free and clear of all conflicting interests of all
owners and encumbrancers of the real estate, but the lessor or
lessee must reimburse any encumbrancer or owner of the real estate
who is not the lessee and who has not otherwise agreed for the cost
of repair of any physical injury, but not for any diminution in
value of the real estate caused by the absence of the goods removed
or by any necessity of replacing them. A person entitled to
reimbursement may refuse permission to remove until the party
seeking removal gives adequate security for the performance of this
obligation. (9) Even though the lease agreement does not create a security
interest, the interest of a lessor of fixtures, including the
lessor's residual interest, is perfected by filing a financing
statement as a fixture filing for leased goods that are or are to
become fixtures in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
article on secured transactions (Article 9 of this title). |