Q: How should the board member interviewing new residents in our condominium association handle knowing there will be a significant increase in the monthly maintenance fees due to the increasing insurance premium? It is a sensitive subject for sellers to discuss with buyers, but we want to be transparent as an association with our new […]
Condo questions: What are requirements for reserves under Florida law?
Q: My condominium is currently working on its 2022 budget. I know we have a reserve budget with multiple items. It looks like the replacement costs for several of the items on the reserve budget has skyrocketed. What are the requirements regarding reserves under Florida law and is there a possibility of lowering the reserve […]
Apopka road wins 2021 Corridor of the Year, thanks to HOA, volunteers and Orange Co. Commissioner Moore (FL)
Along Wekiwa Springs Rd. you may have noticed the large signs at either end, between SR 436 and Welch Road, proclaiming the road the winner of the 2021 District 2 Corridor of the Year (COY) Contest. Orange County Commissioner District 2 Christine Moore held the inaugural, friendly corridor competition to encourage neighborhoods along the nominated […]
Permitting snafu that put Ambassador and Commodore South Condos on recertification delinquent list being addressed (FL)
Technicalities, a lack of communication or even proper record-keeping can sometimes hinder a building recertification process, landing property owners or its management teams on delinquent lists. Read the entire article……………………………….
Desperate for answers, Crestview Towers residents hold protest in front of condo (FL)
About two dozen residents from the Crestview Towers in North Miami Beach held a protest in front of their building, more than three months after they were forced to leave their homes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Hollywood Beach Condo May Renege on 47-Year-Old Promise to Residents (FL)
About a mile south of the revelry of the Margaritaville resort is a four-acre parcel of public waterfront land that contains a public park, a community center, and a scenic beachscape where weary souls can soothe themselves with the sounds of lapping waves. Read the entire article……………………………….
Crews Pumping Out Water At Site Of Surfside Condo Collapse (FL)
The Town of Surfside is quickly trying to pump out water from the site where the Champlain Towers South once stood. “Miami Dade County turned off the pumps that they had several weeks ago and so all the rain that has been coming down from the sky has been collecting in this basement and there’s […]
Ask a real estate pro: What can neighbors do about hoarder’s unkempt home?
Q: A resident of our community is a hoarder and does not maintain his home. We are concerned that the condition of his home will attract pests and cause other problems. The association’s management company sent him letters, but nothing came of it, and the problem is getting worse. Can anything be done? Read the […]
Condo questions: Is it legal for association to have a 50/50 raffle? (FL)
Q: My homeowner’s association is considering hosting a social event where there will be a 50/50 raffle. Basically, everyone who comes to the event will be asked to donate a specific amount and a drawing is held for a winner. Half of the collected funds go to the winner and the other half goes to […]
3 months after North Miami Beach condo evacuation, residents share struggles (FL)
Residents in North Miami Beach were forced to leave their condo building months ago due to unsafe conditions. Tonight, they are still waiting to return, and some say they are not getting the help they were promised. 7’s Kevin Ozebek investigates. Read the entire article……………………………….
Palm Beach County puts pause on its building inspection program, defers to state lawmakers (FL)
Palm Beach County will hold off on creating its own program to regularly inspect high-rise buildings, deferring instead to state lawmakers who will meet in January Read the entire article……………………………….
Industrious beavers, flooding causing headaches for Regatta Bay residents (FL)
Heavy rains and industrious beavers have been blamed for the most recent flooding issues in one section of the Regatta Bay development But homeowners in the areas around Windjammer Court and Maritime Court say water backing up onto their property has been a persistent and destructive problem for years that the well-to-do community’s homeowners association […]
Hollywood Condo Residents To Be Evacuated Because of Sewage Backup (FL)
Some residents of a Hollywood Beach apartment complex have to evacuate their condos after city officials were made aware of a sewer problem that was causing backups in several units. Read the entire article……………………………….
3 Common Lake & Pond Management Misconceptions (FL)
As an Aquatic Specialist with more than a decade of experience, I’ve assisted hundreds of property managers with their lake and stormwater pond management needs over the years. Despite the diverse types of lakes and ponds they oversee, I’ve noticed that many clients have the same set of concerns or misconceptions about their waterbodies. These […]
Florida Condo Associations Need Reserves in Place for Safety Repairs, Task Force Says
A task force report prepared by a section of the Florida Bar recommended that lawmakers overhaul the state’s condominium laws following the Surfside building tragedy that killed 98 people, urging a process to address inspections and ensure proper reserves are in place to make major safety repairs, among other issues. Read the entire article……………………………….
Do Owner Petitions Require the Board to Act? (FL)
Q: My condominium is being overrun by commercial vehicles. I am trying to convince my board and fellow owners to change the documents to outlaw them. I got 15 percent of the owners to sign a petition to ban commercial vehicles. I gave the petition to the board but they won’t do anything. Aren’t they […]
Many Condo Appraisers Will Start Assessing Building Safety (FL)
In response to the Surfside condo collapse, Fannie Mae says its condominium loan decisions after Jan. 1 will include a stronger look at the overall condo building. Loan decisions will consider current or planned special assessments and any deferred maintenance issues. Read the entire article……………………………….
Sweetwater Condo Community Risked Insurance Loss Over Tree Problem (FL)
With their property insurance in jeopardy, residents at a Sweetwater Condominium called NBC 6 Responds for help. Overgrown trees were interfering with a powerline near the El Polo Condominium and threatened to damage property. Aida Estevez, the Condo Association President, said she got a letter from the condo’s insurance provider concerning the trees. Read the […]
Florida Task Force Recommends New Safety Rules for Condos
Nearly four months after the Surfside condo collapse that left 98 dead, a task force created to scrutinize Florida’s condominium rules has presented its report to state officials. The task force, created by the Florida Bar, urged the governor to make legislative changes to stiffen maintenance requirements prevent another collapse like the one that took […]
Delay in repair equipment delivery leaves Florida beachfront residents possibly homeless after evacuation (FL)
People living in an oceanfront condominium building near Fort Lauderdale were evacuated after authorities said electrical problems increased their risk of being electrocuted or getting caught in a fire. Now delays in getting some of the equipment needed to make repairs could force some 60 residents out of their homes at Crane Crest Apartments for […]
Condo concerns continue – city building official sends warning to Santa Clara (FL)
Three weeks after avoiding a condemnation order, a Key West condominium complex received a sternly worded warning from the city’s building department about the condo board’s and its engineer’s failure to act on urgent repairs. Read the entire article……………………………….
Miami-Dade Man Locks Young Girl and Man on Tennis Court in Scooter Dispute: Cops (FL)
According to an arrest report, the alleged victim had told police that he was supervising his 5-year-old daughter as she was riding her scooter in a gated tennis court at the complex in the 8500 block of Southwest 133rd Avenue when he was approaxched by Olsen. Olsen told the man that he was the president of […]
A Condo Board Fought a 9/11 Responder Over His Shoes. Now It Has a Bigger Problem: the DOJ (FL)
An apparently intractable conflict between a Florida condo board and a disabled 9/11 responder over him leaving his shoes outside his front door has become so toxic that the federal government has stepped in to try and resolve it. Read the entire article……………………………….
County, Oak Village HOA meet Tuesday over median mess (FL)
It all comes to a head Tuesday when commissioners will ask the Sugarmill Woods Oak Village Homeowners Association (HOA) why they are shirking their job of caring for the plants. A previous HOA board signed a stewardship agreement with FDOT to maintain the media. Read the entire article……………………………….
A plan for post-Surfside condo law reform (FL)
Imagine checking into a hotel tomorrow. You are greeted at the front desk and, after a night’s stay, at checkout, you are presented with a bill that is $100,000 more than the standard room charge of $100 per night you were advised of prior to check-in. When you dispute the bill, the hotel manager explains […]
Congress Approves $22 Million for Condo Collapse Investigation
Last week, Congress approved a measure to fund the government into early December, staving off a shutdown. The funding stopgap includes $22 million for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct a technical investigation into the June 24 partial collapse of the Champlain Tower South condominium in Surfside, Fla. […]
Kentucky vacationers kicked out of Florida condo for not having service dog paperwork
A family vacation turned sour for seven visitors from Kentucky all because of a service dog. The family says they were kicked out of their condo in Perdido Key because they didn’t have paperwork for the dog. Read the entire article……………………………….
Rock Springs Ridge homeowners approve HOA-proposed sale of gopher tortoise conservation area (FL)
Homeowners in Rock Springs Ridge voted 571-123 in support of a proposal by its Homeowners Association to sell a 51-acre parcel of land on Kelly Park Road owned by the HOA and labaled as a “gopher tortoise conservation area” in multiple documents and in signage around the property. Read the entire article……………………………….
3 floors of Bal Harbour condo evacuated amid chemical concern (FL)
Three floors of a Bal Harbour high-rise condominium building were evacuated Monday afternoon after police saw suspected chemicals in a unit where a tenant had recently been evicted. Read the entire article……………………………….
Broward County leaders lobbying for Surfside-inspired changes to condo laws (FL)
Why a 12-story Surfside condominium collapsed into rubble in the predawn hours of June 24 is still undetermined, but much about what preceded those fateful moments has since emerged. Reports of the infighting over the cost of $9 million in repairs on the condo association board of Champlain Towers South have led to new inspections […]
A sound legal foundation for your Condominium or Homeowners’ Association is important (FL)
The collapse of the Champlain Towers building has brought renewed interest on structural building integrity to many Condo and HOA Associations. We are seeing many Associations operating older buildings putting out bidding for new engineering structural review. Read the entire article……………………………….
Palm Beach County, West Boynton communities reach compromise to avoid hefty construction fees (FL)
“It was a huge relief this compromise was achieved,” said Beth Rappaport, president of Coalition of West Boynton Residential Association. “It really did resolve a lot of problems for the HOAs.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Downtown Sarasota condo owners grapple with maintenance challenges (FL)
The name of an upcoming event hosted by a downtown resident group — “Condominiums in Crisis” — paints a troubling image of the state of aging buildings along the water and in the heart of the city. Read the entire article……………………………….
Dubai developer’s $120M contract for Surfside site approved, appraisal for unit owners totals $96M
A judge approved the Dubai-based developer’s $120 million contract to purchase the site of the Surfside condo collapse, while a new appraisal valuing the units at about $95.6 million will help determine the future distribution of funds. Read the entire article……………………………….
Apopka Police Dept. and Emerson Park HOA partner to host National Night Out in October (FL)
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. This time together enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Read the entire article……………………………….
Crews say condos are safe after fire line break forms hole in Iona (FL)
Hundreds of people living inside a condo complex are breathing easy after crews avoided a structural disaster. Luckily, a gaping hole that opened up near the building after a fire line break was filled. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ask a real estate pro: Can condo owners refuse to pay special assessment? (FL)
Q: Despite the struggling economy, our condo passed a significant special assessment to repair the roof. Many residents cannot afford to pay this. What would happen if a couple of dozen of us refused to pay? Read the Q&A………………………………….
Sinkhole opens up between condo buildings in Iona, prompts evacuations (FL)
A car has fallen into a sinkhole and prompted the evacuation of two buildings in the Iona area of South Fort Myers. The sinkhole in a condo building driveway near Portside Drive in Harbour Isle Yacht & Racquet Club. Read the entire article……………………………….
Loren Cove rewards first responders (FL)
Residents of Loren Cove in Viera wanted to show their appreciation for first responders. The Loren Cove Homeowners Association recently provided several boxes of snacks and drinks for Brevard Fire Rescue Station 47 on Murrell Road in Viera. Read the entire article……………………………….
I Team: Condo inspection plans cause friction between residents and boards (FL)
Since the Surfside condo collapse in June, the CBS12 News I Team has been following efforts to protect people living in high-rises and how strict new inspections- like those now on the books in Boca Raton – could change life in South Florida condo towers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo questions: Board meetings are only held via Zoom. Can they do this? (FL)
Q: My husband and I do not have access to Zoom or other online meeting platforms. Our condo board started holding all of the board meetings on Zoom when the COVID-19 pandemic was on the rise. Read the Q&A…………………………………
Changing community services does not require unanimous approval (FL)
Q: I live in a gated community. We have guards on duty 24 hours a day. Presently some owners are trying to do away with the guards. I remember that years ago some residents tried to do the same thing and were not able to accomplish it. I do not recall the particular reason why […]
Firefighters battle flames at South Tampa apartment (FL)
A fire broke out Friday afternoon near the Westshore Yacht Club Condos in Tampa. It happened in an occupied single-family apartment on top of a garage in the area of Yeats Manor Drive and Olivette Court. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Q&A (FL)
Q: Our condo association sent out notice of a board meeting where the new budget for the upcoming year will be passed by the board, and it had the proposed budget attached to it. The proposed budget looks like it’s a significant increase in the amount of assessments. Isn’t that something that the unit owners […]
What Boca Country Club Residents Are Worried About & Delray Looks at Seawalls (FL)
A week from Friday, the formerly private Boca Country Club becomes the public Boca Raton Golf and Racquet Club. Traffic remains the main issue between the city and residents of the nearly 1,000 homes that border the golf course, and there remains no resolution that pleases the residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Won’t Give 100 Year Old Resident Decal to Enter Complex (FL)
She is 100 years old, and she’s surprised that her condo association won’t give her a decal to get into the complex. It’s why she turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser. Read the entire article……………………………….
Surfside Agonizes After Condo Collapse, With a Memorial Hanging in the Balance
Their fight is over the inevitable question that follows a tragedy that killed 98 people: What should be done with a place where such horror occurred? But unlike in other disasters, the land in Surfside is worth tens of millions of dollars and crucial to some survivors’ financial future. Read the entire article……………………………….
Declaration of condominium establishes repair responsibilities of association and owners (FL)
Q: I live in a condominium, and I am wondering who is responsible for fixing defective sliding glass doors. Read the Q&A…………………………..
Broward Commissioners To Vote On Condo Safety Recommendations (FL)
Broward Commissioners voting on recommendations from the Condo Structural Issues Committee working to prevent another Surfside tragedy. Mayor Steve Geller says the group held more than 24-hours of hearings Read the entire article……………………………….