Homeowners' associations: delinquencies.

The Davis‑Stirling Common Interest Development Act defines and regulates common interest developments and authorizes a homeowners' association that manages the development to levy assessments to fulfill its obligations. The act provides that a regular or special assessment of the association, fees, reasonable costs of collection, attorney's fees, late charges, and interest, as specified, are a debt of the owner of the separate interest at the time the assessment or other sums are levied. Existing law provides that payments made by a homeowner to reduce the debt shall first be applied to the assessments owed, and may only be applied to fees, reasonable costs of collection, attorney's fees,…