COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C.

05/03/2026

New DC Fund Covers Condo Defect Warranty Claim Costs

DC Fund Helps Offset Condo Defect Warranty Claim Costs
Many condominium associations delay or forgo valid construction defect warranty claims due to the cost of pursuing them. The District of Columbia has introduced a solution—a new fund that allows associations to recover up to $10,000 in expenses associated with filing a warranty claim with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Once filed, a properly documented warranty claim allows DHCD to award repair funds from developer-posted security—making it far more practical to pursue recovery rather than absorb the full cost of defect-related repairs.

Follow link for full article:
https://cowielawgroup.com/washington-dc-condominium-construction-defect-warranty-filing-assistance-fund/

02/05/2026

Associate Attorney Job Opening.

Construction / Real Estate Litigation & HOA Law

Cowie Law Group, P.C., seeks attorney with at least 3 - 5 years of litigation experience.

Work remotely or in-office.

Opportunity for growth and advancement in an expanding law practice.

Competitive compensation and benefits.

Our firm is known for handling construction defect litigation and practicing Condominium / HOA law Maryland and Washington, D.C. We also practice business/commercial litigation and handle general construction law and real estate matters (e.g., mechanic’s liens, contracts and land development).

Maryland Bar required, Maryland and DC preferred.

INQUIRIES:

Please submit resume and writing sample in confidence to: [email protected] with subject heading “ Maryland / DC Associate Attorney Position”

01/23/2026

What Maryland Condos & HOAs Need to Know About the New Reserve Funding Laws

- How much must be deposited annually?
- What are the funding exceptions?
- How to create reserve funding plans?
- How reserve studies shape annual budgets

FULL ARTICLE - CLICK HERE

https://marylandcondominiumattorneys.com/index.php/reserve-studies-and-reserve-account-funding-for-maryland-condo-hoa-and-co-op-communities/

01/04/2026

NEW MD HOA LAWS - 2026 KEY UPDATES

Quick Summary of new laws affecting Maryland Condos, HOAs & Co-ops:

1. Reserve Budgeting - Required “Funding Plans” and Hardship Exception

2. Limited Ability to Regulate Family Child Care Businesses

3. Associations Prohibited from Collecting Owners’ Sensitive Data

4. New Independent Party Requirement for Conducting Board Elections

5. No Owners Fees for Reviewing Financial Statements

6. Expanded Consumer Protection Enforcement of Condo & HOA Acts

7. Required Accessory Dwelling Unit Accommodation for HOAs

8. Updated Standards for Owner Installation of Solar Systems

9. Mandatory Registration for PG County Community Associations

Don't get caught off guard. Click link below for full article.
https://cowielawgroup.com/maryland-community-association-law-key-legilsative-updates-affecting-condos-hoa-co-ops-in-2026/

11/21/2025

MD CONDO HOA ACT BOOKLETS (2025-26 ed.)

Follow link to download or request a hard copy booklet and learn what has changed in the Maryland Condominium and HOA Act laws for 2025 -2026: https://cowielawgroup.com/maryland-condominium-hoa-act-law-booklets-2025-26-ed/

These 2025-26 Condo & HOA Booklets contain all the new Condominium and HOA laws enacted during the 2025 Regular Session of the Maryland General Assembly, effective October 1, 2025, plus Condominium Act §11–109.5 and Homeowners Association Acts § 11B–112.4, affecting Prince George’s County only, which became effective July 1, 2025.

Maryland Condominium and HOA Act Law Booklets by Cowie Law Group, Maryland and Washington DC Condominium and HOA Attorneys. Maryland HOA Lawyers and DC Condo Lawyers.

07/27/2025

PAYMENT DEFENSE & MARYLAND MECHANICS" LIEN CLAIMS

This article explains the so-called mechanics' lien “payment defense” and the circumstances under which it can defeat a Maryland mechanics’ lien claim asserted by an unpaid subcontractor.

In short, Maryland only recognizes a payment defense for single-family dwelling construction projects. Commercial owners cannot assert the payment defense and are subject to a risk of double payment if they pay a general contractor that has failed to pay its subcontractors.

Follow Link below for full article:

https://maryland-construction-law.com/payment-defense-to-maryland-mechanics-lien-claims/

07/08/2025

Washington DC Mechanic’s Lien Claims

“Payment Defense” in Washington DC

One defense an owner may seek to assert against a subcontractor’s mechanic’s lien claim is the so-called “payment defense” – a legal doctrine that may protect an owner who has already paid the general contractor in full before receiving the subcontractor’s notice of intent to enforce a lien claim.

Click link below for full article:
https://maryland-construction-law.com/payment-defense-to-washington-dc-mechanics-lien-claims/

06/28/2025

PAYMENT DEFENSE TO MECHANICS LIEN CLAIMS

This article discusses the "payment defense" that property owners can assert against an unpaid subcontractor's mechanics lien claim. Under this defense, an owner of a construction project may be protected from a mechanics lien claim if it already paid the general contractor in full before receiving the subcontractor’s notice of intent to file or enforce the lien claim. The payment defense is recognized by the District of Columbia but statutorily limited to residential projects involving a single-family dwelling in the State of Maryland.

Click link below for full article.

COWIE LAW GROUP - Payment Defense Article by Maryland and Washington DC Mechanics Lien Attorney. 301-830-8315

05/15/2025

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS, SUBCONTRACTORS AND MARYLAND'S STATUTE OF REPOSE

This article examines Maryland’s 10-year statute of repose, Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article (“CJ”) §5-108(b), including how the statute works and whether it’s protections for “contractors” extend to commercial developers and subcontractors.

Click link below for full article.

https://maryland-construction-law.com/developers-subcontractors-and-defect-claims-under-marylands-10-year-statute-of-repose/

05/07/2025

CAN HOA DEVELOPERS AVOID DEFECT CLAIMS USING MARYLAND'S 10-YEAR STATUTE OF REPOSE?

If your condo or HOA community has discovered latent construction defects, years after completion of construction, timing is critical. Maryland’s 10-year statute of repose can bar defect claims against "contractors" when resulting damage first occurs more than 10 years after construction is complete.

But what about Condo and HOA developers? Are they protected too?

PROBABLY NO, but there is no controlling Maryland law on the issue. While condo and HOA developers sometimes claim protection under the 10-year statute, courts like the U.S. District Court in Milestone v. Beazer Homes have found that developers’ ongoing responsibilities — selling homes and associated disclosure duties — make them fundamentally different from contractors.

BOTTOM LINE: The 10-year statute of repose protects contractors and design professionals, not Condo and HOA developers who, unlike "contractors," continue to manage and market residential communities following construction.
architects and engineers

For full article, follow link below.

Developer Liability For Condo And HOA Construction Defects And The 10-Year Statue Of Repose.

https://cowielawgroup.com/10-year-contractor-statute-of-repose-and-developer-liability-for-maryland-condominium-and-hoa-construction-defect-claims/

03/01/2025

TARIFFS & ESCALATION CLAUSES IN MARYLAND AND DC CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

How to Proactively Protect Construction Projects Against Sudden Material Cost increases Caused by Tariffs.

By COWIE LAW GROUP, Maryland and Washington DC Real Estate and Construction Law Attorneys.

Click link below for full Article

https://cowielawgroup.com/tariffs-and-escalation-clauses-construction-law-contracts-and-projects-maryland-and-washington-dc-construction-law-attorneys/