Q: My condominium association just had their annual meeting and election. Two candidates tied for the final available spot. The manager told everyone a runoff election would have to be held if the two candidates couldn’t “work it out.”   Read the article………….

Q: I asked our condominium association for a list of all unit owner e-mail addresses and was refused. We have an “owner directory” that has some e-mail addresses. If the board has new e-mail addresses, shouldn’t they have to give them to me?    Read the Q&A…………

Q: I live in a condominium association with politically active residents. One of our unit owners has asked to host a political event at the association’s clubhouse. I fear this event could attract a large public audience and be a burden to our residents. Can our association disapprove the event?    Read the Q&A…………..

Q: I live in a condominium association that has a guard at our entrance gate. If we change from a live guard to video surveillance cameras to save money, would that be considered a material alteration?   Read the Q&A……………..

Q: I live in a condominium association and recently submitted my intent to be a candidate for the board for the upcoming election. Following receipt of my notice the association advised because I missed the “forty day deadline,” my name would not be included on the ballot.    Read the Q&A…………..

Q: As an association manager, I have a question that has always bothered me. Why are there so many differences between the condominium statute and the law for homeowners’ associations? You would think it would make sense for the two statutes to closely mirror each other, but there are significant differences.   Read the Q&A………….

There is a dangerous trend in the property insurance market affecting commercial residential condos. Associations are increasingly becoming insured by unregulated or “surplus lines” companies. By doing so, they risk forfeiting consumer protections against excessive rate hikes, reduced coverage levels and good-faith claims handling. They are also left without the back-up protections provided by the […]

Q: I recently received a notice from my condominium about an amendment to our declaration of condominium. The notice stated that this amendment could be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members who attend the meeting. This strikes me as ridiculous. A quorum for a meeting in our association is only half the members; […]

A unit of OKO Group has paid nearly $48 million to buy out all the condominium unit owners in a building at the south end of Brickell, with plans to create a luxury condo tower, CBRE announced. Miami Waterfront Ventures, a division of the OKO Group, acquired all the condominium units at the 25 Bay […]

Q: I own a condominium unit but only live in the unit seasonally during the winter. Recently, I received a letter from the association stating that over the next few weeks they would be entering every unit to perform inspections on the lanais  Read the Q&A…………..

Q: I recently received an email from my condominium association about a law requiring the association to change the locks for all units. We are located in a high rental tourist area. The email stated that within the next few months, all of the locks will be changed and all units that are rented will […]

Q: A unit owner in the condominium where I live filed separate complaints with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation against the condominium association and the management company. The association’s legal counsel represented both the association and the management company    Read the Q&A…………..

Q: I live in a homeowners’ association and the declaration of covenants provides that trash cans may not be put at the curb until 7 p.m. the night before trash pickup. I am new to the community and was not aware of this provision and put my trash cans out at 5 p.m.   Read the […]

Scores of cars and SUVs in the parking lot of a Pompano Beach condominium were burglarized and damaged early Wednesday, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.     Read the article……….

Q:One of our members told the homeowners’ association board that there is a new “rule” that recently went into effect that would invalidate our status as a homeowners’ association. He says that this is because the bylaws have never been revised and we continue to operate under the developer’s original bylaws. Is what he is […]

Q: I would like some clarification regarding fees charged by condominium associations. The Florida Condominium Act states that no charge shall be made by the association in connection with the sale or lease of a unit, unless the association is required to approve such transfer and a fee for such approval is provided for in […]

Q: I would like some clarification regarding fees charged by condominium associations. The Florida Condominium Act states that no charge shall be made by the association in connection with the sale or lease of a unit, unless the association is required to approve such transfer and a fee for such approval is provided for in […]

Q: The Architectural Review Committee in my homeowners association is now charging individual villa owners for work done on the HOA common area. The work includes planting and tree removal.   Read the Q&A…………..

Q: I would like some clarification regarding fees charged by condominium associations. The Florida Condominium Act states that no charge shall be made by the association in connection with the sale or lease of a unit, unless the association is required to approve such transfer and a fee for such approval is provided for in […]

Q: I recently asked the property manager for my homeowners’ association whether my next-door neighbor applied for approval of an expanded landscaping area, including a new garden area. I was told by the manager that I am not entitled to this information and/or documentation as it is confidential. Is this correct?     Read the Q&A…………..

Q: My homeowners’ association recently adopted amendments to our declaration. One of the amendments affects new owners’ ability to lease their units. However, a question has arisen as to when the amendments become effective. Are they effective when voted on at the meeting or when recorded in the public records?   Read the Q&A………….

Q: I live in a community governed by a homeowners’ association and recently asked permission to install a permanent flagpole on my lot. My homeowners’ association denied the request and stated that the documents only permitted the use of portable and removable flags and only allowed the display of the flag on specific dates. Can […]

Q: I read your blog on “board certification” in condominiums and have suggested to our president that all board members take such a course. I received no reply. I sent a document production request via certified mail and received as proof the “notice of intent to become a candidate” forms with the required state certification […]

Q: I read one of your recent blogs on the levy of fines by associations. Do the same “due process” requirements apply to collecting attorney’s fees from a unit owner?     Read the Q&A………….

Q: In January, our “master association” had an election to fill three seats on the board. There were four candidates. Five months after the election, a board member resigned. For me it would have been entirely logical to replace that board member with the fourth candidate who ran for office.    Read the Q&A………………

Q: Can a condominium association prevent the installation of satellite dishes on rooftops?     Read the Q&A………..

Q: We live in a small homeowners’ association and everyone knows everyone else. Is it possible for the association to impose fines but have the members of the fining committee remain anonymous?    Read the Q&A…………