SB139 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Self Service Storage Act, notification of default by email, posting of notice on website, commercially reasonable sale specified, enforcement of owners' lien against member of armed forces time extended, Secs. 8-15-31, 8-15-34 am'd.; Secs. 8-15-39, 8-15-40 added

Summary

This bill updates Alabama's Self-Service Storage Act to modernize notices, sale procedures, late fees, and protections for service members.

What This Bill Does

It allows owners to notify occupants of default and lien enforcement by verified mail or email, and removes the requirement to include a property description or denial of access in the notice. It lets owners post sale notices on publicly accessible websites and sets rules for what counts as a commercially reasonable sale and how proceeds are handled. It introduces a late fee, clarifies definitions, and provides extra time before lien enforcement for service members deployed overseas or on active duty.

Who It Affects

• Occupants of self-service storage facilities, including service members and other tenants, who would receive new forms of notices, potential late fees, and updated sale procedures for their stored property.
• Owners, operators, and managers of self-service storage facilities, who gain new notice methods, sale and proceeds rules, late fee authority, and lien enforcement timelines.

Key Provisions

• Defines key terms (active duty, last known address, email, late fee, service member, verified mail) and expands allowed notice methods to verified mail or email.
• Authorizes an owner to notify an occupant of default and the intent to enforce a lien by verified mail or email, and removes the requirement that notices describe the property and deny access.
• Allows the notice of sale or disposition to be posted on a publicly accessible website and clarifies what constitutes a commercially reasonable sale and its proceeds, including the maximum value of stored property and the transfer of liability for towed vehicles or vessels.
• Imposes a late fee on unpaid rent, up to the greater of $20 per month or 20% of monthly rent, with adequate notice to the occupant.
• Adds extra time before lien enforcement for certain military occupants; service members deployed overseas for at least 180 days trigger a delay in lien enforcement (90 days after the end of overseas service).
• Specifies additional requirements for notices to lienholders and gives conditions under which property may be disposed of (e.g., value thresholds), as well as advertisement and sale procedures (including potential website-based sales).
• Provides that a buyer in good faith at a lien sale takes the property free of competing rights, and outlines distribution of sale proceeds and remedies if not all liens are satisfied.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Self Service Storage Act