Q: We are selling our condo, with a closing in two weeks. Our buyer went for his interview with the association’s board a couple of days ago. He called us last night and said he got a call from a board member who told him that he could not buy the unit because the board […]

Q: I am the president of a voluntary homeowners’ association and wanted to know if the members of the Board of Directors of our voluntary homeowners’ association have to comply with the new Board Member certification requirement in Chapter 720, Florida Statutes?   Read more…….

Q: I live in a small condominium. For several years the board of directors has not had a president or vice president; we have operated with the secretary and treasurer. Are there any rules or laws governing makeup of the board? Are we permitted to operate without these positions being filled?      Read more………

Q: We have an owner who owns two units. He always makes prompt payment for one of the units, but is always behind on the other. Can we put a lien on both units? Can we do anything else?   Read more……..

Q: What is the maximum net equity an HOA should carry? We are in excess of $80,000 which I believe is far in excess than we should have. Is there a state statute that addresses this amount?   Read more………

Q. In which court can I file a lawsuit against a homeowners association for having underage children, which is a violation of the bylaws, and for raising fees for reserves even though it was voted down by a majority of the owners?    Read more……..

Q: Our condominium documents state that a board member must be an owner, not a tenant. Most of our units are snowbirds or investors, including absentee owners. Many of the renters are full-time, having lived here for over three years. Some of our renters serve on committees.   Read more……….

Question: Our HOA has an election at its annual meeting (October 18, 2014) for two open board seats. This year there are 4 candidates, of which 1 is an incumbent. The Association Manager placed the incumbents name first on the ballot and is actively asking homeowners to vote for that candidate. Is this legal? Is […]

Q: We have an ongoing dispute with an owner. They are always late on maintenance fees and they claim they have a right to deduct half their fees because of a water leak affecting their unit. They just sent us a check for about 75% of what is owed, and said that this was payment […]

Q: Our condominium was one of the first in Florida, built in the 1960s. I recently became a board member and find that our finances have not been properly handled. It seems that our bylaws, established in the 1960s, have restrictions on budgets and special assessments. I have been told that current Florida statutes supersede […]

Q: Our condominium association has had the same management company for about five years. Our board seems content with their performance, but a number of us, primarily full-time residents, think that we are a low priority. We cannot convince the board to go out for bids and see what else might be available. Is there […]

Q: Our condominium does not have any options in the by-laws or other documents to fine a person. The only action we can take is to deactivate their key card to the clubhouse and pool.       Read more……..

Q: The board of directors of my homeowners’ association recently sent out proposed amendments to our declaration of covenants and restrictions. The amendment we are being asked to vote on includes the new language the board wants to add but does not call out the changes by underlining the new language and crossing out what […]

Q. I live on the top floor of a three-story condominium. Recently, the owner below my apartment reported that he had a water leak, apparently from my tub/shower. Who is responsible for the repairs?   Read more……..

In Florida, condominium owners are outraged about a state law they say undercuts their property rights.  Stephanie Krasowski spends almost every night looking for ways to save her home. She’s not in foreclosure or financial distress, but she still may be forced to sell her condo by the end of this month, reports CBS News […]

When Hollywood condominium leader Murray Cohen got a check in an otherwise empty envelope from the pro-slot machine group Yes for Better Schools and Jobs, he was puzzled.  Cohen is for approval of the referendum, which would allow Las Vegas-style slot machines at racetracks and jai-alai frontons, but said he had not agreed to work […]

Q: The board of directors of the condominium where I live is considering placing a lockbox which contains a key to all of the units somewhere on the property. The idea being that if someone gets locked out of their unit, they can use a combination to open the lockbox to get a key and […]

Q. Recently the board of directors of our homeowners association amended our bylaw that requires garage doors to be closed at all times except when we’re leaving or entering the garage. We are a large family with different working hours and usually leave the garage door open during the daylight hours. This change will require […]

Our condominium association recently hired a new manager. She tells us that we should set up our reserve accounts in a “pool”. Can you explain what this means to us?    Read more………

Q: I live in a 55-and-over condominium. A neighboring property recently was sold at a foreclosure auction to a young couple who moved in with their small children. This goes against the rules of our community. Is there anything we can do?   Read more……..

Q: I live in a 55-and-over condominium. A neighboring property recently was sold at a foreclosure auction to a young couple who moved in with their small children. This goes against the rules of our community. Is there anything we can do?   Read more……

Q. Your column is very helpful. Chapter 718 statute prohibits boards from voting on issues via email. Does this also apply to homeowners associations (HOAs)? I have an HOA that insists that they can approve expenditures, etc. with a quorum via email and then formally ratify at the next board meeting. I have told them […]

Q: Our condominium association is undertaking a very large repair project involving the structure of our building. It is a several million dollar job, and would involve a huge special assessment. There has been talk of taking out a bank loan. Can the association borrow money for this purpose? Can the association allow some owners […]

When a condo in Broward County reaches its 40 year birthday, it needs a 40 year inspection, which amounts to an “extensive physical exam.” The goal is to ensure that the building is safe. Accordingly, the two areas that must be examined are:     Read more………

A real estate developer and a mortgage brokerage firm owner in Miami pleaded guilty to engaging in fraudulent condo sales and financing deals.    Read more…….

Q: If the board of a condominium decides to do renovations and does not conduct a vote for approval by the owners, are the owners, by law, obligated to pay the assessment?    Read more………

Q: I am on the board of directors of my condominium association. I asked the management company to forward me a list of owner email addresses so that I could update the owners as to what I have been doing as a new director. I was told that the management company is the custodian of […]

Q: If the association were to put in a Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) system for all owners to use, would that be considered a common expense?     Read more…….

Q: I own a condominium unit and am confused concerning recent changes to the condominium statute about emails. Specifically, I have heard reports that the revisions to the statute now allow board members to conduct association business by email and not just at board meetings. This would seem to exclude unit owners from participating in […]

Q: If the board decides to do renovations and does not conduct a vote for approval by the owners, are the owners obligated to pay the assessment?    Read more…….

Q: I am a member of a homeowners’ association. We were recently asked to vote on amendments to the association’s declaration. After reviewing a copy of the proposed amendment that they sent with the notice of the meeting,    Read more……….

Q: I am the secretary of our association. I have read all your recent articles about the new condominium laws, but still do not understand what information contained in owners’ files I am permitted to give out.     Read more……..

Today’s column continues our annual review of new laws affecting community associations, condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners’ associations. This year was a fairly busy one in Tallahassee, with several bills of interest passing out of the Legislature.     Read more…….

Today’s column begins our annual review of new laws affecting community associations, condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners’ associations. This year was a fairly busy one in Tallahassee, with several bills of interest passing out of the Legislature.    Read more………

Our board is considering taking a loan against a unit in our condo, to reduce the amount of a special assessment. This unit is owned by the association and is used for an on-site property manager. I would guess it is considered a limited-use common area. Can this be done ?      Read more……..

Q: The members of our condominium association’s board of directors are debating when the board can discuss matters in “executive session.” Our documents state that we are to follow Robert’s Rules of Order which permit executive session for certain matters. Can you shed light on this issue?     Read more………

Q: We are two condominium (FS 718) and one master (FS 720) associations and three boards of directors. Is it possible to merge all three into one association with one governing board? I understand it would be difficult and wonder if it would be practical.    Read more………

Q: Our condominium association uses both residents and nonresidents as vendors to provide a variety of services to our association. Nonresident vendors are required to provide proof of insurance but some resident vendors are not required to provide proof of insurance. How should the association handle insurance by resident vendors?      Read more…….

I live in a development of condos and townhouses that has 214 units. Some of the units are one-story pool villas. There is an owner with a two-car garage model who decided to store his boat in his garage when he comes down for the winter season. He trailers it with a hitch when he goes […]