A woman and her elderly mother are caught in a battle between their landlord and his homeowner’s association. And it could end with the women out on the street. Read the article………………………….
‘Let us be festive’: Surfside Beach family claims HOA removed their Christmas decorations (FL)
Part of a neighborhood is fighting their homeowner’s association to keep their beloved Christmas decorations standing. “Let us be festive HOA,” said one neighbor. “I never imagined Christmas decorations would become an issue. You see homes all over the place decorated with tons of decorations.” Read the article……………………………..
Effective Date of New Reserve Law Questioned (FL)
Q: Our condominium association just held a vote to less than fully fund reserves for the 2024 budget. It passed by a majority of the quorum, but not a majority of the entire voting interests. Read the Q&A…………………………….
Bipartisan lawmakers seek to cut condo insurance costs through valuation pilot program (FL)
In a bipartisan move, Florida lawmakers have introduced legislation that seeks to establish a Condominium Windstorm Pilot Program, which would provide a new insurance option for condominium associations. Read the article……………………………
Facing South Florida for Dec. 10: Florida Condo Owners
The week after Facing South Florida devoted an entire half hour to the state’s homeowner association crisis, CBS News Miami’s Jim DeFede focuses on the issues with condo boards — particularly, the new requirement by the state for condo owners to increase funds to make necessary repairs. Watch the news report…………………………….
Can we ban the commercial vehicles that are ‘junking up’ the neighborhood? (FL)
Question: Can I get a clear definition of what a commercial vehicle is so that we can keep them from “junking up” our neighborhood? Read the Q&A…………………………..
HOA Q&A: Can an Association president make decisions without having a board meeting? (FL)
Q. The President of our Association has a habit of making all sorts of decisions without having a board meeting first. Is this legal? Read the Q&A…………………………..
9 Investigates: New condo legislation meant to prevent another ‘Surfside’ leading to higher fees (FL)
The number of condo owners getting hit with big bills is growing thanks to new rules passed by the state in the wake of the Surfside collapse. Watch the news report………………………………
‘It’s just not fair’: Condo residents in Daytona Beach Shores face 500% property insurance rate hike (FL)
Residents of a Daytona Beach Shores Condominium are concerned about a massive hike in property insurance rates. Read the article……………………………
Police: Aventura condo security director befriended senior, spent $20K on her Amazon account (FL)
A security director at an Aventura condominium building befriended a senior who lived there, compromised her Amazon account and bought more than $20,000 worth of items using the card linked to her account before her family members caught on and shut the scheme down, according to police. Read the article……………………………….
5 Florida roofing contractors arrested for insurance fraud, other crimes
In August 2019, Rookery Pointe Homeowners Association contracted with SFR Services to have several tile roofs replaced in the community’s common area following Hurricane Irma. As part of that agreement, the homeowners association signed an assignment of benefits with McGraw’s SFR Services. Read the article………………………………
Boca Raton’s L’Ambiance HOA Facing Lawsuit (FL)
Homeowners in the Boca Raton community of L’Ambiance are suing the Homeowner’s Association and its board of directors, claiming that the HOA is taking money and not providing required services and maintenance. The suit was just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Read the article………………………….
Police patrols terminated within Bay Isles communities on Longboat (FL)
Bay Isles Association asked for no policing behind its gates just one year after asking for more enforcement. On Dec. 4, town commissioners voted to terminate the existing memorandum of understanding between Bay Isles Association and the town, while also approving a new memorandum to be drafted. Read the article……………………………
Volusia condo owners plead for legislative help as insurance rates spike (FL)
It’s been over a year since hurricanes Nicole and Ian devastated the coast of Volusia County and still, many homes and condos are being rebuilt. Now, the owners are taking a major blow again, this time by property insurance hikes. “If the insurance keeps going up, the condo market is going to collapse,” Jeff Sussman […]
Directors Usually Fill Board Vacancies (FL)
Q: There was a recent vacancy on the board of directors for my condominium association due to a resignation. The board voted to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. However, a question was raised as to whether that person fills the vacancy for the remaining term of the resigning director, which runs until the annual […]
When not enough people vote in condo board election, are you stuck with the old guard? (FL)
Question: At our last members meeting, an election, we were unable to establish a 30% quorum by just a few votes. A member made a motion to extend the meeting, but the secretary of the association, who was named on the proxies, voted not to extend the meeting. Read the Q&A………………………….
LOCAL NEWS Facing South Florida for Dec. 3: The Florida HOA Crisis
We devote the entire half hour to the HOA crisis in South Florida and elsewhere in the state. As the cost of insurance rises, HOAs have been forced to raise fees putting a financial squeeze on homeowners. Corruption is also a concern after leaders of the Hammocks HOA were accused of theft and fraud to […]
New arrest made in $2 million fraud scheme at Florida’s largest HOA, Miami-Dade authorities say
More than a year after leaders of Florida’s largest homeowners association, which is located in Kendall, were charged in a money-laundering scheme, another arrest was announced Friday in the ongoing fraud saga. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Q&A: Can a Board president change a policy recently passed by the Board? (FL)
Q. I am on the Board of a condominium association. Each year when we establish the reserves, the Board just picks a percentage to increase the reserves but does not get an actual reserve study or quote from a vendor. The last reserve study was done in 2021. Is this the proper way to determine […]
Orlando-area homeowners faced down their developer over hefty membership fees — and won (FL)
A community of residents 55 years old and up, displaying endurance and spunk, is emerging from a marathon legal battle with a big win over a leading home builder who charged them hefty “membership fees” to use pools, clubhouses and other amenities in their own neighborhood. Read the article…………………………….
Condo owners of this Orlando complex are one step close to potentially stopping HOA fee hikes (FL)
Some condominium owners in an Orlando complex are one step closer to potentially stopping a hefty fee increase. People at Dockside Condominiums gathered Wednesday to celebrate after a state arbitrator deemed their recall effort successful. They organized a recall of the HOA board of directors in September after receiving notice of a 12-year special assessment. […]
‘We do not have insurance. We have an insurance bill’: Condos hit with 563% rate increase (FL)
For Baker and many other Florida condo owners, the very concept of insurance – to ease worries during times of distress – seems lost, especially after the 2021 collapse of the Marina Grande towers in Surfside and the two-punch combo of the 2022 hurricane season: Ian and Nicole.Read the article………………………………..
Residents of evacuated Miami-Dade condo return home relieved, but wary (FL)
In early October, an electrical explosion in a condo building near North Miami Beach forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and thrust them into one of the nation’s most unaffordable housing markets. Read the article………………………………..
Florida’s ongoing property insurance crisis leading to spikes in HOA fees
Several residents in the Baldwin Park area say their fees have doubled, increasing by nearly $400 dollars per month to an estimated $770 per month. Now, they’re learning the rate hike is a result of the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. Read the article…………………………………..
Tax Deed Can Extinguish Assessments (FL)
Q: I am on the board of directors of a condominium association, and one of the units in our association has both unpaid assessments and taxes. We recently received a notice that the county will sell the unit to satisfy the unpaid taxes. We have questioned how this will affect the condominium documents and the […]
‘Wait and see’ is golf course conclusion (FL)
Residents of the Gulf Gate neighborhood adjacent to the golf course, who formed the Gulf Gate Community Association, have addressed the commission in pushing a plan for the county to purchase the land and enhance it for stormwater storage, clean runoff into Sarasota Bay, and potentially reduce flooding in the area before it is developed […]
Court strikes Carillon associations’ bid to buy condo-hotel’s spa and pools, grants them common areas (FL)
The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort condo associations lost their legal battle to purchase the spa, pools and other portions of the oceanfront mixed-use complex. Read the article……………………………….
PBC Owner: Condo says I can lease my unit, but renters can’t use pool, etc. Can they do that? (FL)
Question: Our condominium has several recreational/common areas — swimming pools, saunas, tennis courts, a small gym/workout room, a billiard room, etc. Our board limits usage to some of the areas to owners only. I was under the impression that tenants have the right to use all common/recreational areas that owners enjoy Read the Q&A………………………………
HOA Q&A: Can our Association legally implement restrictions on renting units, houses? (FL)
Q: I am on the Board of my Association and am writing to ask your opinion on a matter that has been under discussion among the members of my Association. We have been experiencing a large number of sales of units in the development recently. The problem we are seeing is that some of the […]
Florida public adjuster says insurance companies are increasingly denying legitimate claims
The ABC Action News I-Team has been reporting on Florida’s growing property insurance crisis for months as part of our ongoing “Price of Paradise” series. We are now focusing on how a public adjuster could help you recover what you’re owed when it comes to filing an insurance claim. Read the article……………………………..
Condo Wars: Boards can use defamation laws to stifle dissent(FL)
A months-long investigation by the South Florida Sun Sentinel found that condo and homeowner associations regularly use Florida’s defamation laws to silence critics. The laws were written to allow a victim to recover financial damages from someone who spreads lies about them and harms their reputation. Read the article………………………..
Months after community gets HOA to repair their pool, 7 Investigates finds potentially dangerous problem left behind (FL)
Residents at a condo community turned to 7 investigates to get their pool repaired and reopened. They thought the situation was solved, but it turned out there was an even bigger problem lurking beneath the surface. Read the article…………………………………
Is that even legal? Condo fined owner for speeding guest (FL)
Question: Recently my physical therapist visited my condo for my therapy, and they took a picture of her car and license plate, saying she went over the 20 mile per hour speed limit inside the community. However, they billed me for the fine. Read the Q&A…………………………….
Port Orange Christmas light tradition pits neighbors against HOA (FL)
Dozens of homeowners in the Waters Edge community in Port Orange got results after fighting their Homeowners Association to keep a big Christmas tradition going that all started to support a little girl going through a tough time. Read the article…………………………………
Condo boards across Florida work to increase state-mandated funding reserves
This is a crucial time of the year for condo associations across the state as they put together 2024 funding proposals for their members to vote on. Not only are dues likely going up for many in condo associations, but the amount they need to retain in community reserves is also likely to increase. Read […]
Real Estate Counselor: Electronic voting enables associations to amend outdated governing documents
Many South Florida community associations have outdated rules and provisions in their governing documents. These declarations and bylaws that are recorded in local court registries and provided to all buyers prior to purchases were codified by their community’s developer, and they often include problematic stipulations. Read the Op/Ed………………………………….
Florida lawmakers could examine enhanced regulations for condominiums
Florida lawmakers might take a look at enhancing regulatory powers over the state’s massive condominium industry. The Florida Senate Committee on Regulated Industries held a panel Tuesday to discuss condominium governance and regulation. Read the article………………………………
Florida agencies ‘toothless’ in handling condo complaints, enforcers tell lawmakers
If you own one of Florida’s more than 1.5 million condo units and are having issues with a potentially malfeasant condo board, “good luck” getting help from the government. Read the article………………………………
In push to remove homeowners from Citizens, the state-run insurer uses unlicensed inspectors (FL)
In late 2022, Melissa Marro got a notice from her private home insurance company that her rates would soon go up to a degree she found shockingly high. The only option, her insurance agent told her, was to see if she qualified for Citizens Property Insurance, the state created and taxpayer-owned property insurance company. Read […]
This Sunrise condominium lost its windstorm insurance — so buyers can’t get financed (FL)
After Rich Engels’ mother died earlier this year, Engels decided to sell her condo unit in Sunrise Lakes Phase 4. He lined up a buyer, but he said the deal fell apart after the lender learned that the condo building had no wind insurance. Lenders won’t approve mortgage loans on buildings that are not insured […]
Comingling of Funds Questioned (FL)
Q: Can a condominium association’s operating funds be combined with the reserve money? My association has not moved money into the reserve account and out of the operating account in the last year. The money is there, it is just not in the right account. Is it permissible to keep the reserve and operating funds […]
Condo: Disabled man must carry service dog off property for dog’s potty breaks (FL)
Question: How can some condominiums and co-ops get away with prohibiting service or therapy animals from relieving themselves on the common grounds of their communities? They will allow an owner to have an assistance animal, but it must relive itself outside the community. Read the Q&A……………………………..
HOA Q&A: Is it legal to require paying owners to pay assessments for those who don’t pay? (FL)
Q: Our condominium association levied a special assessment for $1,000 per unit for our four-building, 48-unit-per-building complex (after Hurricane Ian). The deadline for payment is four months. Read the Q&A……………………………
Wekiva community residents cited for Pride flags want HOA to answer for ‘selective enforcement’ (FL)
Members of the Wekiva Hunt Club Community Association believe HOA rules are unfairly singling them out. The HOA rules dictate what kinds of flags can and can’t go up in the community and residents say those rules are not being applied equally. Wekiva Code says any flag that’s not already approved by the state needs […]
Paradise Lost: Sky-high insurance premiums, required reserve funds and major repairs has some condo associations and owners in dire financial straits
As we continue our series on South Florida’s housing crisis, tonight we focus on condos. Some of the estimated 3.5 million Floridians living in condo units face a perfect storm of financial problems, with no easy fix. 7’s Karen Hensel has this special assignment report, “Paradise Lost.” Read the article……………………………
Homeowner group doesn’t like what it sees coming out of Tallahassee or Washington DC (FL)
Eliott Rodriguez spoke with members of the Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations about the pressing issues they felt weren’t being addressed. Watch the news report…………………………….
Saving Lives in Your Community Association: Defibrillators (AEDs), Bleeding Control Kits (BCKs), and CERTs
Does your community association have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or a Bleeding Control Kit (BCK) on hand in the worst-case scenario and do you have trained people on hand to use these devices? Do you have a gym, pickleball/tennis courts, and other recreational amenities where a cardiac event may be more likely? Listen to […]
High premiums keep Florida homeowners stuck with state’s insurer of last resort
Florida homeowners who can’t find coverage from standard insurers turn to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for affordable home insurance. Florida’s state-created home insurer of last resort currently covers more than 1.4 million properties – making it the largest home insurer in the state by far. Read the article…………………………………
Collapse at Boynton Beach condo complex causes some resident evacuations (FL)
Fire rescue crews responded to a condominium complex in Boynton Beach after a soffit collapsed Tuesday………No one was hurt, and no one was trapped by the third-floor collapse, according to Boynton Beach Fire Rescue. However, some residents had to be evacuated from their homes. Read the article…………………………