When Allstate’s Florida unit, Castle Key Indemnity Co., entered the surging condominium insurance market in 2020, it looked like it had made a smart bet: Within two years, the carrier had added no fewer than 123,000 policies. Then came reinsurance price increases and $56 million in hurricane losses. Read the article…………………………….
Lawmakers criminalize kickbacks and concealing records at condo, homeowners associations (FL)
Florida lawmakers boosted repercussions against community association board members and managers who go rogue, including criminalizing kickbacks and hiding records. This session, the House and Senate passed two condo and homeowners associations bills. They require Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature to become final. Read the article…………………………….
Post-tension cable snaps at Emerald Bay – Village says no safety concern (FL)
Village officials said Friday night they are monitoring a failure of at least one post-tension cable that snapped at the Emerald Bay condominium Friday that sent chunks of concrete flying in the luxury condominium’s garage. More than a dozen parking spaces were closed off with yellow caution tape and holes could be seen in the […]
Owner wonders why Condominium Act limits board member terms while HOA Act does not (FL)
Question: The Florida Condominium Act, Section 718.112, limits condominium board member terms. Why are HOA boards not included in this statute? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Lauderhill leaders address public safety concerns at HOA event (FL)
City leaders gathered with department and homeowners association representatives Thursday to discuss a lengthy agenda of issues impacting Lauderhill, including public safety, taxes, code enforcement and storm water management. “We do this community leaders breakfast about once every three to four months,” Commissioner S. “Ray” Martin said. “The idea is to make sure that we […]
Boynton’s Valencia Reserve is renovating clubhouse for $9.3M. Here is what homeowners will pay. (FL)
Homeowners in the Valencia Reserve development west of Boynton Beach have overwhelmingly approved a referendum calling for the expenditure of $9.3 million to rebuild their 13-year-old, 42,000-square-foot clubhouse. Each of the 1,043 homeowners will need to pay about $8,000 for what will be one of the most expensive renovation projects undertaken in Palm Beach County […]
House toppeled the estoppel, preventing $100M in new HOA fees (FL)
The House in the waning hours of the 2024 Legislative Session stood its ground on the “Home Tax” bill dealing with estoppel certificates and who can pay for them. Its unwillingness to budge left the measure (HB 979) dead for the Session. Read the article…………………………….
HOA ‘3 Minute Rule’ Questioned (FL)
Q: Our homeowners’ association board only lets residents speak at board meetings after taking a vote. They can only speak for 3 minutes in total. My understanding is that the residents should be able to speak before the vote, and they can speak for 3 minutes per item on the agenda. What is the rule […]
A Generator Bill That is Long Overdue (FL)
Until now there was no law in our Florida HOAs that would allow a home owner to install their own electrical generator with above ground or below ground gas tanks. Here we are, living in Florida with sometimes unbearable heat and humidity, we have a large elderly population, hurricanes generally hit in the hottest parts […]
Florida condo owners are stuck in a ‘train wreck’ as prices drop and mounting insurance rates scare away buyers
Owners are trying to unload units in the face of the skyrocketing costs of maintaining an apartment in Florida. At the same time, prospective buyers are driven away by those same fees. “It’s definitely been a slow-motion train wreck,” said Joe Humphfner, who owns a condo in Jupiter, near West Palm Beach. Read the article…………………………….
Does condo owner have recourse for common work that disrupts her peace and quiet? (FL)
Question: My 90-year-old mother comes down to Florida from Canada for health reasons and, of course, for the weather during the winter. Last year we were informed her condominium would be lining the pipes. We informed them that she’s away for eight months a year and asked if they could please do the work during […]
E-bike battery ignites flames in Bonita Springs condo (FL)
Fire crews say the call came it just after 7:30 p.m., after multiple neighbors reported they could see smoke coming from a unit on the second floor. The three-story building had to be evacuated as crews tried to put out the fire caused by an e-bike’s lithium-ion battery, according to Chief Greg DeWitt. Read the […]
Florida Condo Mitigation Bill Passes but Other Insurance Bills Uncertain After Changes
A Florida pilot program to fortify coastal-area condominiums is on its way to the governor but other property insurance bills may have hit a snag after last-minute changes – with just two days left in the legislative session. The state Senate on Wednesday voted 39 to 0 in favor of House Bill 1029, which had […]
New videos released as officials give update on Surfside condo collapse investigation
Engineers studying the June 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside are releasing portions of video that confirm the sequence of visible events, but still cannot say whether the failure that triggered the collapse – what they call the “initiating event” – occurred out of sight, including in the pool deck, […]
Legislature approves ‘Condo 3.0’ bill to boost board accountability, building safety (FL)
Malfeasant condo board members and associations that for years have skirted Florida law through loopholes in state statutes may soon face a reckoning due to a reform package now bound for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. Lawmakers unanimously passed HB 1021, which will overhaul state laws governing condo oversight and management by holding condo buildings and […]
2024 Legislative Session: What changes can condo residents & homeowners expect? (FL)
With the 2024 Florida Legislative Session winding down, the legislature has days to approve reforms for how Condo and Homeowners’ Associations operate. We spoke with one of the bill sponsors for more than a half-hour Tuesday morning about the progress and what changes condo residents and homeowners can expect. Read the article…………………………….
Family of alligator attack victim sue (HOA) for $7 million (FL)
Following a deadly alligator attack in July of 2022, the family of the 80-year-old victim – Rose Marie Wiegand – is taking legal action against the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. Her family is now seeking $7 million in damages from the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club’s homeowner’s association, who they claim to […]
Miami high-rise resident pulled rifle on man after ‘incident’ with HOA manager, cops say (FL)
A verbal argument that “became physical” escalated when a resident of a downtown Miami high-rise pulled a rifle on another man, police said. According to an arrest report, the whole thing stemmed from an “incident” earlier that day involving the building’s homeowners association manager. Read the article…………………………….
Collier, Lee condo fraud: Owners of management company indicted on federal fraud charges (FL)
The owners of American Property Management Services, who allegedly stole millions from dozens of Southwest Florida community associations, have been indicted by a federal grand jury. The 17-count indictment, filed in January, charges Orlando Miserando Ortiz and his wife Lina Munoz Posada with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and failure to file income […]
Expanding My Safe Florida Home Program to condos
As Florida’s 2024 legislative session ends Friday, lawmakers are hoping to push a bill to expand the My Safe Florida Home Program to condo associations across the finish line. The My Safe Florida Home Program currently offers up to $10,000 in state grant money for single-family homeowners to harden their homes with the goal of […]
Owner Questions Board’s Contracting Authority (FL)
Q: Recently, my condominium association authorized a major construction project. The contract for the work is several million dollars in value. The board of directors voted to move forward with their preferred contractor and authorize the president to sign. Isn’t this the type of contract that must be voted on by the owners? Read the […]
Condo owner: Can I attend membership meetings along with my designated power of attorney (FL)
Question: If a condominium unit owner submits a “limited power of attorney” form to their association secretary listing a non-resident in that condominium association as their representative to speak and act on their behalf at membership meetings, does the owner forfeit the right to attend alongside their “attorney?” What if the owner happens to be […]
Florida’s unscrupulous HOAs contribute to our high cost of housing (Op/Ed)
A year ago, the headline above a Miami Herald editorial posed a provocative question – “Is America’s worst homeowners’ association in Miami? – and then answered: “It’s starting to look that way.” The editorial was a follow-up to a series of Herald reports on what authorities had found once they were finally able to peel […]
House passes ‘Condo 3.0’ reforms to strengthen safety, board accountability, enforcement (FL)
Condominiums across Florida and the boards that oversee their maintenance and repairs could soon be held to stronger standards through legislation the House just passed. The bill (HB 1021) cleared the chamber on a 111-0 vote after little discussion. As they did during its committee stops, lawmakers uniformly agreed the changes are much needed and […]
GL Homes settles lawsuit with Valencia Sound; HOA will refund buyers charged $5,000 (FL)
The homeowners association for Valencia Sound near Boynton Beach has refunded nearly $100,000 to recent buyers who were improperly charged a $5,140 “capital contribution fund by the HOA.” The refunds were the result of a recent settlement of a lawsuit brought by GL Homes, which sued the HOA for charging its buyers the $5,000 when […]
DeSantis says Citizens isn’t solvent. What would happen if it can’t pay out claims? (FL)
Florida homeowners shouldn’t rely on Citizens Property Insurance if a severe storm strikes the Sunshine State in the upcoming hurricane season, is the message relayed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on CNBC’s “Last Call,” which aired on Tuesday. Echoing concerns serious enough to instigate an investigation by the Senate Budget Committee into whether Citizens could afford […]
Florida family in legal fight with HOA over backyard pool construction (FL)
Who knew a tiny pool could cause such a major headache? Leo and Maidolys Aguado saved for years to build a pool for their six and twelve-year-old daughters. However, they made a big mistake by hiring the contractor before asking the Whispering Oaks Home Owners Association for permission for the project last August. Read the […]
NSB stops new development in Venetian Bay neighborhood until flooding issues are resolved (FL)
The City Commission Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt an emergency ordinance temporarily halting building permits issued in New Smyrna Beach’s Venetian Bay neighborhood. The recurrence of flooding incidents in the area has resulted not only in property damage concerns but also in public health and safety concerns for affected residents, who are calling for a […]
Budget conference: After brief snub, Senate agrees to $30M for condo-hardening program (FL)
After briefly offering nothing, Senate lawmakers have agreed to spend $30 million on a proposed pilot program to help condo owners strengthen their properties against seasonal storms. House lawmakers proposed the nonrecurring expenditure Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Senate held out on committing anything to the program. That changed Wednesday at 9 p.m., when the Legislature’s upper […]
Pasco golf course-turned-forest nears resolution, at least for some neighbors (FL)
Now the Lowman Links property is under contract with Ryan Homes, which plans to build 218 homes, a developer’s representative told Pasco planning commissioners last week. Part of the agreement also included an offer to two of the community’s village homeowners associations that back up to the golf course property. Read the article…………………………….
New roof or roof coating? Insurance companies enact new restrictions on roof coverings (FL)
It’s an option many homeowners make, opting to make improvements to their roof without a full roof replacement. But one condo association said their route of getting a silicone coating instead of a new roof has them at risk of being dropped. Barbara Schmal is the treasure of the Water’s Edge Condo Association in Largo. […]
Bill expanding oversight, accountability of condo boards clears final Senate committee (FL)
Legislation to shore up Florida’s condo laws and give state regulators more power to punish unscrupulous board members is bound for the Senate floor after clearing its final committee with uniform support. Passing the measure (SB 1178) would mark a major overhaul of state statutes governing condo oversight and management by providing for criminal penalties […]
Jewfish Key homeowners seek separation from Longboat Key (FL)
The Longboat Key commission is navigating legal waters around Jewfish Key. The Jewfish Key Preservation Collective, which acts as a homeowner’s association for property owners on the key, requested disengagement from the municipal boundaries of Longboat Key Dec. 19, 2023. Read the article…………………………….
Term Limit Law Still 2 Years Away (FL)
Q: My condominium association will be having its annual meeting soon, which will include an election for members to the board of directors. Some of our board members have served for numerous years, and I understood that there are now term limits on the number of years a board member could serve. What is the […]
Florida’s Condo Prices Are Falling As Cost of Insurance and HOA Fees Skyrocket
Prices of condos in major Florida metros are dropping year over year, and sales are declining. New condo listings are soaring as sellers try to offload their properties. That differs from the U.S. as a whole, where condo prices are rising, sales are holding steady and new listings are increasing at a much slower rate. Read […]
Homeowners Association Manager Embezzled Nearly $25K: Pinellas Sheriff (FL)
A former homeowners association manager faces charges after embezzling nearly $25,000 from the association, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office news release. Read the article…………………………….
Why should my HOA pay to clean a private pond that borders only a handful of homes? (FL)
Question: We are a condominium association. We have a common element pond that is maintained with association funds. There is another pond that we do not own but that backs up to three or four homes in our community. For over 25 years, no community funds were used to clear or clean this pond. However, […]
Suspects in Arlington condo graffiti incident have agreed to turn themselves in, pay for damages (FL)
In an act of taking responsibility, three individuals who were videotaped vandalizing condominiums in Arlington have agreed to turn themselves in and pay for the damage they caused. Action News Jax has been following this story since Saturday when surveillance video reportedly captured several people vandalizing homes at Teakwood Villas. Read the article…………………………….
Justice Dept. seeks forfeiture of Russian businessman’s Bal Harbour condos (FL)
Authorities announced Thursday that a civil forfeiture complaint was filed against the condos owned by sanctioned Russian businessman Viktor Perevalov, the co-owner of a Russia-based construction company that was sanctioned for building a highway in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula that Russia seized in 2014 Read the article…………………………….
Arlington vandalism suspects have until Friday to avoid charges, condo’s HOA said (FL)
Several suspects accused of vandalizing Arlington condos have until Friday to avoid charges. That’s according to the complex’s HOA. Neighbors and the HOA were ready to make some improvements to the property this week. But they found explicit pictures and swear words on walls and stairs that might change those plans. Read the article…………………………….
Magnolia Point residents challenge amenity fees imposed by Community Association (FL)
Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club is quietly nestled behind guarded gates, surrounded by a matrix of moss-draped oaks and magnolia trees. The community is a sanctuary of solitude and affluence, where a semi-private golf course ambles throughout the 1,000-acre development. But hidden in seemingly picture-perfect seclusion is chaos. The stylish, if not privileged, setting […]
Miami Herald Column on Addressing the Presence of Crocodiles in Community (FL)
he article, which is titled “Crocodile in Community Generates Effective Response Chronicled in TV Newscasts,” focuses on a couple of recent news reports on 7 News Miami (www.wsvn.com) that illustrated how potentially dangerous wildlife incursions can impact local communities. It reads: . . . The first report chronicled how residents at the Bay Colony Club […]
House amends estoppel certificate measure in a compromise with HOAs (FL)
The House Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote amended legislation that would prohibit homeowner or community associations from charging homeowners and buyers for estoppel certificates to alleviate concerns among industry leaders. Read the article…………………………….
Demolition Underway at Deteriorating Condo Building in Coral Springs (FL)
Demolition is underway of a decrepit condominium in Coral Springs, despite a request from a potential investor to save the building. In 2021, the city declared the former Villa Bianca condominium at 3990 Woodside Drive to be unsafe, leading to the relocation of residents in 15 of the 16 units. Read the article…………………………….
Castle Key (Allstate) Defends 53.5% Condo Rate Hike, Blames Reinsurance, Ian, Rapid Growth (FL)
When Allstate’s Florida unit, Castle Key Indemnity Co., entered the surging condominium insurance market in 2020, it looked like it had made a smart bet: Within two years, the carrier had added no fewer than 123,000 policies. Then came reinsurance price increases and $56 million in hurricane losses. Read the article…………………………….
North Miami Beach condo residents still not allowed in their homes, association won’t answer questions about delay (FL)
It’s been nearly three years since residents of a North Miami Beach condo building were forced out of their homes because it was deemed unsafe. Those residents are still not allowed to go back home. Read the article…………………………….
Bill that would provide $175,000 to stormproof condos nears finish line (FL)
Condominium associations near Florida’ coast will get access to $175,000 per association in state funds for storm-proofing projects under a House bill that’s nearing the finish line. The Senate version of the bill does not have a cap. Read the article…………………………….
Association ‘Sunshine Laws’ Questioned (FL)
Q: I was recently elected to the board of my condominium association. I thought we had to follow Florida’s sunshine laws, but our long-time president said this is not true. She claims we can meet whenever we want as long as no votes are taken, or assessments are not going to be made. Is this […]
‘Heartbeat of this HOA:’ Ocoee woman helps make neighborhood a community (FL)
Here at News 6, we get a lot of emails about neighborhood homeowners associations. Most are complaints that go to our investigative or consumer units. But residents of one Ocoee neighborhood felt so strongly about someone on their board, they nominated her for the News 6 Getting Results award. Read the article…………………………….