Q: The board of directors of my condominium association have been discussing purchasing an adjacent parcel of land. There is a question in the community as to whether this is allowed. Can a condominium association purchase additional property? Read the Q&A…………………………..
Homeowner Tells Court She Wasn’t All That Bad (FL)
The drama over the federal lawsuits in the Delray Beach community of Seven Bridges continues to unfold through federal filings. One homeowner is suing another — and the HOA — in federal court, while a separate suit has been filed in state court. Read the article…………………………….
Loud guests? Condo rules may be enforced several ways (FL)
Q: Our governing documents clearly state that there are to be no visitors for more than 30 days per year. We have one condominium owner who has his girlfriend living with him, without board approval, for well over 30 days. They scream, yell and use foul language on a regular basis, disturbing everyone in the […]
Former all-pro NFL lineman faces lawsuit alleging his 2 dogs terrorized Delray residents (FL)
Pahokee native Ray McDonald, 35, an all-pro NFL lineman whose career was cut short by allegations of domestic violence, is now facing a lawsuit alleging his two 115-pound Corso dogs terrorized a number of residents at the Foxe Chase development. Read the article………………………………
Is a Community Association Responsible for the Acts of Its Volunteers? (FL)
Community associations can be a great place for community involvement. It is always nice to see members get involved and help with operating the association. However, should the association be concerned about the actions of these volunteers? Read the Q&A………………………………………..
Opera Tower sues Airbnb, claims short term rentals have turned Miami condo building into ‘unlicensed hotel’ (FL)
Just a month after a 7News investigation into pandemic parties at Miami condos, one building is taking action. 7’s Karen Hensel investigates A DJ playing pulsating music, colorful lights and no social distancing. The video, posted on Instagram in late July, is not from inside a club but inside a condo unit at Opera Tower […]
Country Club HOA could split from town hall model (FL)
Board members of the Country Club Edgewater Village Association hope to save money on property management services, though others worry a change could increase costs to residents outside CEVA’s boundaries. Read the article…………………………………
Condo questions: Don’t enter into a contract without proper protections (FL)
Q: We signed a contract for a landscape vendor to install various trees and shrubs throughout the community. The contract is simply an estimate of $50,000 with no content other than a price and a description of the plant materials. Our president signed the estimate and now the contractor claims he can’t get the materials. […]
Volusia condo complex reopens 4 years after Hurricane Matthew (FL)
Four years after being severely damaged by Hurricane Matthew, a condominium complex received the OK to reopen. Peck Plaza stands tall, despite being hit by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and then Hurricane Irma in 2017. It’s been a long four-year journey for the 100 or so owners of condominiums in the 29-story landmark property. Read […]
Birds ousted by condo board may return home (FL)
Two colorful macaws and an African gray bird that have lived for more than a decade in the outdoor courtyard at Duval Square, just outside New York Pasta Garden restaurant, may be able to return. Read the article…………………………….
Removing Officers and Directors Require Different Procedures (FL)
Q: Our homeowners’ association board president has not been responsive. He is also over two months overdue on assessments. Can he be replaced and what are the steps for that process? Read the Q&A……………………………..
Florida residents worried about quarantine rules in 55-plus community
Q: We live in Florida in a 55-plus condominium development. Do residents who visit out-of-state folks need to quarantine themselves upon return? And, what about residents who have out-of-state guests staying in their home? It is the community swimming pool (where everyone tends to congregate) that makes me nervous. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Ex-St. Pete condo property manager vacationed at Disney on company dime (FL)
A former property manager of Parkshore Plaza, a high-end condominium building in downtown St. Petersburg, was sentenced to two years in prison this week after authorities say she used company money to buy vacations to Disney, book personal flights to Maryland, pay for expensive trips to the salon and cover her home water bill. Read […]
Judge says lawsuit claiming Fairway Oaks homes built on dump debris was filed too late (FL)
When Shirley Dempsey and her neighbors rallied to press their claims that Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville sold them defective houses on an unstable trash dump, she would tell newcomers about her dream. Dempsey said the dream, where an angel touched the ground and the land opened up, led to her discovering that her home […]
Melo’s Aria on the Bay allegedly plagued with construction defects: lawsuit (FL)
Aria on the Bay may be the Melo Group’s signature project near Edgewater and the Arts & Entertainment District, where the developer has built most of its residential buildings in Miami. Designed by Arquitectonica, the 53-story luxury tower features units with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer expansive views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami’s skyline. […]
HOA Files Response To Federal Lawsuit: Homeowner Claims Discrimination For NOT Being Jewish, HOA-Required Censorship On Facebook (FL)
The Seven Bridges (Delray Beach) Homeowners Association has submitted its response to a federal lawsuit filed by a homeowner claiming that she was discriminated against for not being Jewish, that her children were verbally assaulted by a group of women who claimed priority in using a tennis court, that she was harassed by a neighbor, […]
Stuart man accused of using condo association’s credit card information to buy Home Depot gift cards (FL)
A Stuart man was accused of fraudulently using a condo association’s credit card information to buy over $1,200 in gift cards. Donald Francis Keal, 44, of the 4400 block of Southeast Hamilton Lane in Stuart was arrested Thursday on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card and grand theft. Read the article……………………………
Video shows Amazon driver hitting Miami Beach condo resident over mask argument (FL)
A resident at a Miami Beach condominium is demanding accountability weeks after, he said, he was struck by an Amazon delivery driver he had confronted for not wearing a face mask. Read the article……………………………
Condo may be obligated to give disabled owner closer parking spot (FL)
Q: My mother has lived in and owned a condominium unit for 18 years. The association recently changed her parking spot without her knowledge or consent. Her new parking spot has been moved two spots over. Is it legal to move a parking spot someone has been assigned to for 18 years without their consent […]
Condo Q&A: Should Monthly Fees Drop If Amenities Are Closed? (FL)
Question: Our HOA board has decided to change the trim color of all 108 homes. The buildings are off white, and the trim has been a variation of light blue since they were built in 1990. They now want to paint turquoise, peach, yellow, lime green or gray. The CC&R’s state the HOA maintains the […]
Ask a real estate pro: How can I make the condo association repair a common area? (FL)
Q: The condo’s balcony has loose and missing tiles that are getting worse. I want to repair it myself, but the building manager told me I was not allowed to because it is part of the common area. However, the condo is not fixing it. What should I do? Read the Q&A……………………………..
What does it mean when a condo association want us to vote on whether or not to waive the reserves (FL)
Q: My condo association just passed this year’s budget and we received a notice that they want us to vote on whether or not to “waive the reserves.” Could you explain exactly what the reserves are for, what waiving them means, and the consequences for voting either to waive or not waive them? Read […]
A red diamond in a driveway? West Boynton homeowner, HOA in bitter 3-year lawsuit battle (FL)
For more than three years, the Equus HOA in suburban Boynton Beach has been trying to get Barry Rosenthal, a former member of the HOA, to remove the diamond because it is ‘not a good fit’ for Equus. Read the article…………………………….
North Port HOA shoots down gun safety class (FL)
Aside from stockpiling beans and sanitizer, Americans have racked up record gun and ammunition sales in the coronavirus era. In fact, more than 2 million of us became first-time gun owners through July, according to federal agencies documenting such data. Chaos, imagined or real, was driving firearms’ sales, experts insisted. Possible gun restrictions years ago […]
HOA restrictions on commercial vehicles difficult to enforce without clear definitions (FL)
Q: Our HOA declaration states that “no commercial vehicles, except those present on business, shall be parked on any part of The Properties. No trailers, boats, campers, trucks, mobile homes, motorized recreational vehicles or motorcycles may be parked in The Properties unless parked inside a garage or parked on the lot in a location that […]
New law impacts 55+ communities (FL)
Q: I heard there is a new law that impacts the registration process for “55+” communities. What are the details? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Three Hundred Collins allegedly marred by cheap materials, unpaid contractors and duped investors: lawsuit (FL)
Three Hundred Collins in Miami Beach’s South-of-Fifth neighborhood is besieged with poor quality interiors, debts to contractors and an unresponsive developer, among other problems, according to a recently filed lawsuit. Read the article…………………………..
Condo questions: Is board allowed to decide on exterior colors? Do I have to pay fees if amenities have been closed for months? (FL)
Q: Our HOA board has decided to change the trim color of all 108 homes. The buildings are off white, and the trim has been a variation of light blue since they were built in 1990. They now want to paint, turquoise, peach, yellow, lime green or gray. The CC&R’s state the HOA maintains the […]
Marco Island contractor faces charges after replacing boardwalk during sea turtle season (FL)
Three employees of a Marco Island marine construction company are facing charges after officers said the men were caught replacing a beach boardwalk on South Seas West condo during sea turtle season, court documents show. Read the article……………………………..
GL Homes, Valencia Reserve settle lawsuit over construction defects (FL)
The Valencia Reserve HOA filed a lawsuit in June 2016 alleging GL Homes built a faulty irrigation system that left homeowners with either ‘parched or oversaturated lawns’ among other concerns. GL Homes has agreed to pay $850,000 to the Valencia Reserve Homeowners Association to settle a four-year old lawsuit alleging that the homebuilder left the […]
Florida Recalls HOA Board for Troubled Osceola County Community (FL)
The homeowner’s association board for an Osceola County community has been recalled by a state agency. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ruled in favor of more than 200 residents at Turnberry Reserve, recalling the November election results. Read the article……………………………
Suspended Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins speaks publicly about arrest for first time (FL)
Hawkins showed a special deputy badge, issued by Sheriff Russ Gibson, while he tried to enter the HOA election meeting. He was heard on camera saying he is with the sheriff, before telling a security guard she was about to be arrested. Read the article……………………………
Navy couple fights to save home from HOA lawsuit (FL)
The Nottingham Harbor subdivision is home to Chris Roling and Robin Roling. It is where the Navy Second Class Petty Officer and husband are raising their seven children. “This is our home,” Robin Roling said. “We are here.” The couple is now engaged in a fight with their Homeowners Association over dues; it is the […]
Condo Association Doesn’t Cover Unit Finishes (FL)
Q: I own the top unit in a two-story building. Heavy rains caused roof damage which caused significant ceiling damage in my unit. The property manager quickly sent a roofer to fix the exterior problem. They will provide service to replace my ceiling sheet rock but will not pay for ceiling paint. Why shouldn’t it […]
Gated community serves Adam Botana for trespassing while campaigning (FL)
State House candidate Adam Botana was reported for trespassing in a Fort Myers gated community while door knocking. Surveillance cameras on July 13 caught the Bonita Springs Republican rolling through the back gate of the Forest Country Club on an electric scooter. A week later, Botana was served with a warning from the homeowners association […]
Condominium not obligated to hire property manager (FL)
Can a condominium with more than 10 units and a budget in excess of $100,000 self-manage? Or do the Florida statutes require them to hire a licensed property manager? Read the Q&A…………………………………..
Fireworks violation questioned (FL)
Q: I live in a homeowners association (HOA). On July 4th I celebrated with fireworks. I now have been sent a violation letter stating I violated the HOA rule against fireworks. Read the Q&A………………………….
Peacock problems: Clearwater community killing peacocks, law enforcement says it’s not illegal (FL)
There’s a peacock problem in Pinellas County. Some said there’s too many, others argue there aren’t enough. Some neighbors consider the wild animal’s therapy pets while others call the peacocks a nuisance and kill the birds to get rid of them, but that solution doesn’t sit so well with everyone. Read the article…………………………..
Condo board exiles restaurant’s resident birds (FL)
Humans aren’t the only Key West residents struggling to find long-term housing these days. Bailey, Tango and Lola, the birds that have lived in the outdoor courtyard at New York Pasta Garden for up to 17 years, have been exiled by the condominium association that governs Duval Square. Read the article……………………………
Developers: No plans to drop ‘plantation’ in Florida community names
When Charlene Smith and her husband Matthew began searching for a place to live in Florida, they considered several communities before deciding on ICI Homes’ Plantation Bay. The couple moved from New York City into their new home here three weeks ago. While both are Black, the community’s name didn’t bother them at the time. Read […]
REAL ESTATE MATTERS: Condo association erects ‘private property’ signs
Q: If our condo association posts “private property” signs, are there any implications? Read the Q&A………………………………
Woman dead, others injured after condo fire at Grove Isle in south Indian River County (FL)
A woman died and two people went to hospitals with injuries in a condo fire at Grove Isle off U.S. 1, a fire official said. After the condominium caught fire, five other condos were damaged by smoke, but Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Roger Dion said the cause of the fire remains under […]
Construction firm alleges Venetian Islands condo association skipped out on $720K (FL)
A construction company alleges the condo association at Nine Island Avenue on Miami Beach’s Venetian Islands skipped out on $723,000 for a major renovation. Miami-based Critical Path Construction is suing the condo association at Nine Island Avenue, alleging the association breached its contract after it failed to pay the construction company for completing 99 percent […]
Law Change for “55 and Over” Communities (FL)
Q: We heard a rumor that our “55+ Park” is no longer required to register with the state. Is this true? Read the Q&A………………………………
Proxy voting in HOA elections often neither secret nor private (FL)
Can you advise me on what a legal voting proxy should have on it when voting for new members of the board? Are we supposed to sign the proxies so that, when we look back on the vote, we know who voted for whom? Read the Q&A………………………………
They May Be Coming After Your Emotional Support Animal (FL)
On June 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1084 into law, prohibiting housing discrimination for people with a disability-related need for an emotional support animal (ESA). In the ongoing battle between CONDO Associations /HOAs and residents with emotional support animals(ESAs) and service animals, this new law should crank up a number of disputes and […]
Marco Island condos fined $4K for sea turtle lighting code violations (FL)
Marco Island code enforcement magistrate Myrnabelle Roche issued $4,000 in fines Tuesday against several condos for violating lighting restrictions during sea turtle season. In general terms, buildings located on the beach must either turn off exterior lights visible from the beach after 9 p.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31 or replace them with low […]
LCSO investigating KKK letters left in Gateway community mailboxes (FL)
People in one Gateway neighborhood found letters from the KKK in their mailboxes, prompting the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to open an investigation. The letters are allegedly from the “Cypress Cay” branch of the KKK and are filled with racial slurs about members of the Cypress Cay community. Read the article…………………………….
Seven Bridges Delray: Federal Lawsuit Seeks $7M, Alleges Harassment, Discrimination (FL)
A Federal lawsuit is seeking $7M from the Seven Bridges Homeowners Association — as well as a homeowner — as a family claims it was harassed, discriminated against, and told to move to a “Ku Klux Klan” community. Read the article……………………………
Homestead homeowners association sues Lennar, alleges shoddy construction (FL)
The homeowners association at a Lennar community in Homestead is suing the homebuilding giant, alleging shoddy construction work. The suit, filed two weeks ago in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, against Lennar Homes, further alleges that the company has ignored requests to fix the defects. Read the article…………………………….