As state leaders grapple with solutions to the looming condo crisis in Florida, several people wrote in to ABC Action News over rising fees and special assessments they’re facing, which they say are becoming unaffordable. It’s hard to beat the picture-perfect views from Al Winsser’s home. He’s owned his family’s condo in Tierra Verde for […]
Judge sides with Longwood homeowners, orders neighbor to fix plugged pipe after Shadowbay flooding (FL)
A Longwood woman who’s being sued for plugging a stormwater drain with concrete has been given a court order to repair a stormwater drain pipe that she plugged and to pay for the fixing costs within 10 days. The Shadowbay Club Homeowners’ Association filed a lawsuit against Goglas. Read the article…………………………….
Condo repairs: Who should be paying for them? (FL)
For the second time in a week, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable in Pinellas Park to pressure the Florida Legislature to hold a special session to help condo owners who are facing rising assessment fees. Video news report……………………..
Miami Beach condo fire tied to scooter lithium battery (FL)
There were some tense moments early Wednesday morning when a fire erupted inside a 4th floor apartment at a condominium building and some residents were evacuated. Authorities said the fire was tied to an electric scooter that was plugged in to a wall socket in a spare bedroom in order to charge its lithium-ion battery. […]
Condo association insurance costs doubled since 2022, new data shows (FL)
Property insurance costs in Florida continued to rise between the first and second quarters of the year, and condo associations have been hit hardest during that time. The average cost of a commercial condo association policy — the kind that covers common properties like roofs, structures, and irrigation systems — jumped 6.6% in the second […]
How Florida Could Solve Its ‘Crushing’ Condo Crisis
Florida is in the midst of a condo crisis as an impending safety deadline could end up saddling owners with unaffordable costs. Condo owners in the Sunshine State are facing enormous costs because of an impending deadline that means older buildings must undergo rigorous tests to see if they are still fit to live in. […]
Florida condo reform architect says new legislation on cost issues shouldn’t come before January
Calls are mounting for a Special Session to address rising costs and potential fines stemming from Florida’s relatively new condominium laws. However, according to Miami Rep. Vicki Lopez, one of the main architects of the legislation, it is now too soon. Lopez said there simply isn’t enough information now to get it right, and that […]
Condos join alliance to fight state rules on reserves (FL)
Several condo’s Home Owner Associations (HOAs) have joined a new a regional alliance to continue the fight to ease the crushing costs imposed on them by a state law. The alliance is trying to mitigate the financial impact of new Florida laws that mandate a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS) for all buildings three stories […]
Crews extinguish blaze from 4th floor of Miami Beach condo; no injuries (FL)
Miami Beach Fire responded to reports of a fire on the fourth floor of a Miami Beach condo. Officials say the fire was contained to one unit. Other residents, along with their pets, evacuated the building and were observed waiting at the entrance of the condo to get the all clear from officials before going […]
Condo Wars: After HOA corruption arrests, Florida’s community management industry works to weaken reform bills
For Carlos Villalobos, the press conference last March in Miami offered hope that things would finally change for residents of troubled community associations. Standing in front of news cameras, he described life in the Hammocks, a sprawling community west of Miami where prosecutors say board members embezzled millions of dollars, maintaining power through lawsuits and […]
HOA Deadline Approaching/Publication of Rules and Covenants (FL)
Q: I am on the board of our homeowners’ association. I have been reading about all the new required actions our board is supposed to take. One of the new changes deals with sending our documents out. Can you clarify what we are supposed to do? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Wondering if the HOA can cut your cable for unpaid fees? (FL)
Question: Our HOA fees include internet and cable. If residents fall behind on their HOA payments, does the board have the ability to turn off their internet and cable until their account is current? Would this depend on the amount of time they have been delinquent? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Legislature needs to promptly revisit Florida Building Safety Act
I wish to add my two cents to the very incisive comments provided by Ms. Sally Lam in her letter of August 28 addressing the Florida Building Safety Act. Since the enactment of the above law and identified as SB-4D, additional information has been offered by reputable engineering sources about engineering deficiencies that were associated […]
‘I don’t want anyone on my roof.’ Can HOA demand owners have roof cleaned? Expert weighs in (FL)
Question: I have resided in my HOA neighborhood for over 31 years. We have a new board and therefore we are facing new rules. Among other things, the board has passed a rule stating that we need to clean our roofs. I have a 2-story home and I don’t want anyone on my roof. What […]
Homeowners Association Legislation Offers Opportunity For Reform (FL)
For many Floridians, living within a Homeowners Association (HOA) can feel like navigating a complex web of rules and regulations that often seem more restrictive than beneficial or sometimes even predatory. A recent survey conducted by the Florida Homeowners Association Reform Coalition reveals just how pervasive this sentiment is. The poll found that a staggering […]
Condo association insurance costs doubled since 2022, new data shows (FL)
Property insurance costs in Florida continued to rise between the first and second quarters of the year, and condo associations have been hit hardest during that time. The average cost of a commercial condo association policy — the kind that covers common properties like roofs, structures, and irrigation systems — jumped 6.6% in the second […]
Judge rules man pointing rifle in Miami Beach cannot return to condo after attorney files motion accusing him of erratic behavior (FL)
A judge has ruled that a man who was seen pointing a rifle from a balcony in a South Beach condo won’t be allowed to return to the condominium. The judge’s decision came after lawyers representing the Miami Beach condo association filed an emergency motion to ban Kelvin Veras from the property because of what […]
Aging condo buildings face critical issues, including maintenance backlogs & insufficiencies in reserves (FL)
Aging South Florida condos face critical issues, including maintenance backlogs, insufficiencies in reserves, and potential financial burdens on owners due to special assessments. The situation has raised concerns about declining property values and the long-term viability of these structures. Inventory is up. Prices are down, and buyers are weary of aging condo buildings. Read the […]
What Florida’s CFO told WPTV about Florida’s condo crisis
Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, was at WPTV on Thursday afternoon to talk with us about the state’s condo crisis. Condos are now buckling under the weight of rising insurance after new laws were implemented following the Surfside tragedy in 2021. A looming deadline this year for assessments has forced many owners to sell […]
Longwood resident faces daily $250 fine until she fixes drainpipe issue causing flooding (FL)
A woman who admitted to filling a drainpipe in her neighborhood with concrete is now facing a $250 fine, daily, if she does not fix the issue this month. Neighbors who live in Shadow Bay in Longwood packed into a code enforcement hearing in front of a special magistrate Thursday to see if any action […]
Feds delay release of report into the cause of 2021 Surfside building collapse
Federal investigators of the 2021 building collapse that killed 98 people in Surfside announced they expect to release their report in 2026, not next year as planned……“Unfortunately, we have faced technical and programmatic delays,” Mitrani-Reiser told the committee during the NCST meeting. Read the article…………………………….
Owners at a Florida golf community with three courses may lose their $30,000 initial buy-in equity
Owners at Hunters Run may soon have to give up the equity or refund they were promised when they initially bought at the golf course community. At stake is $49 million worth of equity that older owners were supposed to get back when they eventually sold. Some of the refunds are as much as $32,000. […]
Could Florida condo owners get relief anytime soon?
The costs associated with living in a condo in Florida have skyrocketed in recent years, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to hold a roundtable discussion this week in South Florida. This is an issue that WPTV has been closely following amid the state’s coverage collapse. WPTV’s Matt Sczesny reported in July that condo owners are getting […]
The mayor who worries condo reforms could lead to an economic catastrophe (FL)
Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan thinks Gov. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers should go back to work soon to address reforms for condo associations. Ryan calls the looming deadline for reforms “priority one.” He’s explicit in what he worries the rules could lead to if they aren’t changed. Read the article…………………………….
Northside Jacksonville homeowners worried about backyard sinking into retention pond from landslide (FL)
Wilshaw said the landslide won’t stop until it flattens out or reaches a stable angle. So, a geotechnical engineer needs to try and stabilize it. “It may need a seawall or a sheet pile steel wall at the toe to stop it from moving any further,” Wilshaw said. Jamison said she reached out to her […]
Residents without A/C and elevators after pipe bursts at high-rise Miami condo (FL)
Homeowners in a downtown Miami condo building are sleeping with no air conditioning Monday night after a water pipe burst over the weekend. Neighbors haven’t had A/C since Saturday, and there’s been a heat advisory every day since. That heat index in Miami on Monday reached 106 degrees – and the A/C wasn’t the only […]
Special session? Florida Gov. DeSantis pushes lawmakers to act on condo crisis (FL)
Two months after saying it was up to lawmakers to convene a special session to address an affordability crisis among condo owners, Gov. Ron DeSantis now is urging the Legislature to move on the issue before the end of the year. “It needs to be done this calendar year,” DeSantis said Monday during a meeting […]
Florida’s New Condo Safety Laws Impacting Renters as Evictions Soar
Florida’s new condo inspection laws enacted after the Surfside condo collapse are impacting apartment renters as evictions soar. The strict condo safety measures are threatening affordable housing across Florida with the lower income areas being hit the hardest, according to World Matrix. There are nearly a half-million renter households in the Palm Beach, Broward and […]
‘This is just outrageous’: South Florida condo owners are dumping their homes after getting slapped with six-figure special assessments — and now the once-hot market is floundering
Following the 2021 Surfside condo collapse — which killed 98 people due to construction flaws — Florida is requiring stricter safety standards and more frequent inspections, while many condo associations are raising fees to build a larger reserve for repairs. The Cricket Club’s condo board recently proposed a nearly $30 million special assessment for repairs, […]
Post-Surfside condo inspection leads to condemnation, 30-day notice to eviction (FL)
Question: Our condominium has been condemned because of structural damage that, to quote the receiver, “go[es] back to the original construction of the buildings, but that was not known until we did our in-depth investigation since my appointment.” I am at a loss as to how this building inspection was passed Read the Q&A………………………………..
‘Atrocious:’ Longwood continues to deal with flooding due to concrete-filled drainpipe (FL)
Residents of the Shadowbay neighborhood in Seminole County are upset with severe flooding after heavy rain in recent days caused water to cover North Shadowbay Boulevard and surrounding areas. Mark Rodriguez, director of the Shadowbay Club Homeowner Association, described the flooding as the worst the community has ever experienced. Read the article…………………………….
‘We need help’: Condo owner urges state leaders to take action (FL)
Being able to walk outside and enjoy the ocean is a big reason why Marianne Meischeid bought her Surfside condo in 2002. “I take walks every day,” she said, adding she always knew she wanted to enjoy retirement in South Florida. “This was the plan 22 years ago.” Read the article…………………………….
Hammocks receiver scales down HOA oversight, settles suits against vendors accused of aiding alleged fraud (FL)
The Hammocks, the embattled West Kendall homeowners association where former board members allegedly ran a massive fraud, has exited receivership. But that doesn’t mean it is back to being fully independent from outside oversight. David Gersten, who became the Hammocks receiver nearly two years ago following the arrests of five people accused of fraud, is […]
Florida’s property owners are paying the highest premiums in the country
Old Port Cove Towers condo president Mike Beck says windstorm insurance is over a million dollars in North Palm Beach building Watch the video………………………….
Rising insurance costs impacting condo affordability (FL)
When we first introduced you to Thereza Teixeira, she talked about the impact of an $81,000 special assessment that was imposed by her condo HOA last year. “It’s a huge hit,” she told us. A financial hit she’ll be dealing with for 20 years. But that’s not the only reason why what she pays for […]
Condo owners opposing sale of Pembroke Pines’ Heron Pond complex lose first court fight (FL)
A pair of condo owners at the embattled Heron Pond complex in Pembroke Pines lost their first court fight against the receiver’s plan to list the property for sale. The 25-acre Heron Pond, at 8400 Southwest First Street, is home to 304 units in 19 two-story buildings. Since last summer, the city has slammed Heron […]
1 dead after partial scaffolding collapse at Miami Beach condo (FL)
One person has died after a partial collapse of scaffolding at an oceanfront condo on Miami Beach on Tuesday…..The Villa di Mare condo is undergoing a $2 million concrete restoration, painting and stucco project, according to Miami Beach records. The building was built in 2002 and has 13 units. Each unit occupies an entire floor, […]
On tall condo tower, Sarasota picks developer over residents (FL)
With snarled traffic, disappearing open space and the recent devastating flooding, anti-development sentiment in Sarasota has never been higher. Wary elected officials are seeing this sentiment show up in local elections. That makes how the city is handling one proposed project puzzling. Read the article…………………………….
Board Meeting Absences Questioned (FL)
Q: One of the board members of our homeowners’ association has attended only one meeting in the past year and has not provided any reasons for their absences. I found no clear guidelines in our association’s documents on how to handle such situation. Our board president is content to tolerate the absences. Are there any […]
Florida lawmakers stay quiet as corporations buy thousands of homes
As investor-backed firms buy up homes across the country, policymakers at every level are considering how to limit Wall Street’s control of the housing market. In Congress, Democrats have proposed a bill that would require hedge funds to sell off single-family homes over the next decade Read the article…………………………….
Kendall condo complex that hasn’t ‘raised dues in like 15 years’ can’t pay water bill: Management (FL)
A note taped to the bulletin board in the hallway of a Kendall condominium complex alerted residents that water will be shut off because payment has not been received. According to condo owner Hilda Conley, it wouldn’t be the first time. “We came home three or four weeks ago, and the water had been shut […]
While Florida’s 3rd DCA sits on the Biscayne 21 case, the condo market is collapsing
The condo market is entering a free fall. Unit owners are running out of time — and options. Meanwhile, Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeals sits on a case that could unleash new opportunities for unit owners … or make today’s condo crisis a real catastrophe. Read the article…………………………….
Residents push back on HOA demand they join the golf club – it’s expensive, hinders sales (FL)
Question: Our association mandates that every homeowner join the golf club. How can the residents do anything to change this ruling when so many do not want to belong to the club? It is expensive and makes it difficult to sell our condominiums. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Pinellas property appraiser: Golf course owners getting improper tax exemption after quiet sale (FL)
Residents across Florida are pushing back against more development, including people in the Tarpon Woods golf community in Pinellas County. They’re worried the course could be converted from greenspace into more homes. News Channel 8 learned that the charity that owned the golf course sold it to an LLC two years ago. Read the article…………………………….
After 1980s condo was deemed unsafe, one question remains: Make costly repairs or sell? (FL)
Residents have been slowly clearing out of Heron Pond Condominiums’ 304 units since last fall, after the city of Pembroke Pines declared 13 of the property’s 19 buildings to be structurally unsound. In July, the last remaining residents received notice that they, too, needed to vacate the 1980s-era complex. By Thursday, all occupants must move […]
‘It can’t fall on deaf ears’: Hundreds of Aventura condo owners worried about losing their homes (FL)
The 40-year recertification of Commodore Plaza has been overdue for 13 years. The city of Aventura has been issuing violations and now the 654 property owners fear an upcoming Miami-Dade County unsafe structures hearing could mean they have to leave their units. Read the article…………………………….
All residents of Heron Pond, condo complex deemed unsafe, must leave by today (FL)
Time has run out for any residents left in a Broward County condominium. People living in Heron Pond Condominium have to be out by the end of Thursday. The saga began in August of 2023, when residents in over half of the buildings at the condo complex were ordered out after the city of Pembroke […]
Riverside Village Estates homeowners get to keep 40-acres of green space, but at a cost (FL)
Homeowners at the Riverside Village Estates in Pasco County say they are rejoicing after winning a decades-long battle to preserve more than 40-acres of land in their community. The discussion of turning a wooded area into a multi-story development has ended after county commissioners and homeowners reached an agreement. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowners associations in Florida, opportunities for lasting reform
For many Floridians, living within a Homeowners Association (HOA) can feel like navigating a complex web of rules and regulations that often seem more restrictive than beneficial or sometimes even predatory. A recent survey conducted by the Florida Homeowners Association Reform Coalition reveals just how pervasive this sentiment is. Read the article…………………………….
Resident Sues Local Condo Complexes Over Scooter Accident Injuries (FL)
A resident of Palm Beach County is seeking justice after a scooter accident allegedly caused by hazardous conditions at a local condominium complex. Milan Pavlik filed a complaint on August 15, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Flagler Landing Condominium Association, Inc., Triton Property Management, […]