Venice residents who had already survived Hurricane Milton woke up to yet another evacuation order. Emergency crews working to repair damage from the hurricane found cracks inside a high-rise in the heart of Venice early Saturday. Most residents had evacuated the building before Milton’s landfall, but after the team’s discovery, anybody who stayed behind had […]
How condo reform laws sent monthly assessments for condo owners through the roof (FL)
Tim Johnson has owned his condo in Miami Beach for nine years. It’s about 900 square feet and has a balcony facing west. “I have beautiful sunsets and I have a view of the Miami skyline,” he said. The building has 225 units. It was built in 1968. Johnson owns his unit outright. He does […]
Investing in the future: Building community reserve funds
Reserve studies and funds have been receiving an increasing focus in community associations since the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in 2021. These multiyear plans anticipate and responsibly provide for ongoing preventive maintenance, periodic structural inspections, and the timely repair and replacement of community components such as roofs, sidewalks, lighting, air conditioning, and more. […]
Navigating Hurricane and Storm-Related Insurance Claims for Florida Community Associations
Over the last decade, Florida has faced the destructive force of numerous hurricanes and tropical storms. Some of the most notable hurricanes include Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Michael (2018), and Hurricane Ian (2022), each leaving behind billions in property damage and economic losses. These storms have severely impacted condominium, homeowner (HOA) and townhome community associations. […]
Surveillance company skirted regulations as it expanded across north Fort Worth HOAs (TX)
A private surveillance company has skirted local regulations by installing dozens of cameras on public property without approval from the city of Fort Worth, an investigation by the Fort Worth Report has found. Flock Safety, a $4 billion technology behemoth known for its automatic license plate readers, maintains hundreds of surveillance cameras in the city, […]
Florida Victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton at High Risk of Getting Stiffed by Property Insurers
Weiss Ratings, the nation’s only independent rating agency covering insurance companies, warned today that homeowners in Florida filing legitimate damage claims in the wake of hurricanes Helene or Milton are at high risk of receiving no payment whatsoever from their insurance company. Read the article…………………………….
Caughlin Ranch community divided over new HOA proposals on flags and holiday decor (NV)
The Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association rewrote its rules and regulations to propose only allowing holiday decorations that are recognized federally or by the state of Nevada. It also proposed that only American or military flags be flown, unless other flags or decor are approved by the board. But now, after some residents’ push-back, the proposals […]
Flood insurance and condo associations: Dispelling 5 myths
Flood insurance might not be on the minds of your condominium association clients, but here is why it should be. The 2024 hurricane season rapidly kicked into gear with the arrival of Hurricane Beryl, which became the first Category 4 hurricane on record for June and strengthened into the earliest Category 5 on record in […]
The Battle Over the Halloween Craze That Won’t Die
It was early January and “Hubert,” a 12-foot-tall skeleton decoration that had towered over his front yard since September, was jangling the nerves of neighbors. His homeowners’ association told him it needed to come down. “Please remove skeletion from view,” stated the misspelled instructions, arriving on official letterhead, accompanied by a photo of Frost’s lawn. […]
Victims’ families of Raleigh mass shooting file lawsuit against accused shooter, his parents and HOA (NC)
The families of victims of the Raleigh mass shooting in the Hedingham neighborhood filed a lawsuit on Friday against the shooter’s father and other parties for their response. The lawsuit named the Hedingham Community Association, Capitol Special Police LLC, the accused shooter, Austin Thompson, and his parents, Alan Thompson and Elise Thompson, as defendants. Read […]
Villa Del Sol condos in St. Lucie County deemed unsafe, residents in limbo after evacuation (FL)
Residents were ordered to evacuate their homes immediately on Aug. 8 after an inspection showed dangerous structural damage in three of the six Villa Del Sol condominium buildings at 11000 S. Ocean Drive on Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County. Inspectors found numerous large cracks in the concrete as well as disintegrating rebar and large […]
Rancho Palos Verdes residents affected by land movement to receive emergency funds (CA)
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council approved $2.8 million in landslide relief funds to some 280 homeowners affected, if not devastated. by recent land movement and utility shutoffs. The affected area on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has been part of a decades-long, slow-moving landslide. Last year’s spring rains greatly accelerated land movement, leaving homes and […]
Ruffled feathers in Missouri: CAI chapter files lawsuit challenging “chicken law”
The CAI Heartland Chapter and the CAI Missouri Legislative Action Committee filed a lawsuit in August challenging a sweeping omnibus bill that includes a “chicken law” provision prohibiting Missouri community associations from banning homeowners who want to own and raise chickens. In Four Seasons Lakesites Property Owners Association v. State of Missouri, the chapter and […]
Aventura condo board president arrested, accused of racketeering, stealing $1.5 million (FL)
Aventura police arrested a condominium board president on several felony charges, including racketeering and money laundering, on Tuesday after they accused him of embezzling more than $1.5 million from unit owners since 2017. According to an online biography, Arzumanov, originally from the former Soviet country of Georgia, has served as the association president since 2008. […]
Whistleblowers claim insurance companies shortchanged some Florida homeowners after Hurricane Ian
It’s been two years since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida and an estimated 50 thousand homeowners are still locked in battles with their insurance companies. Tonight, you will hear from insurance insiders who say after years of diligently paying premiums, homeowners are being misled by their insurance carriers. The whistleblowers, who are all licensed adjusters, […]
Residents forced to evacuate Fort Lauderdale condominium after building reportedly deemed unsafe (FL)
Residents of a condo in Fort Lauderdale have been forced to leave their building after a structural engineer reportedly deemed it unsafe. The last-minute notice happened as Hurricane Helene is set to make landfall in Florida. Residents of Springbrook Gardens at 125 North Birch Road were told to evacuate, Thursday. Read the article…………………………….
Agoura Hills Lake Lindero HOA loses $15.6-million judgment (CA)
A Van Nuys Superior Court judge ordered the Lake Lindero Homeowners Association in Agoura Hills to pay a $15.6-million judgment to the club’s former management company, Golf Projects Lindero, for the 2018 wrongful termination of GPL’s contract with the HOA. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowners question $1.2 million assessment pushed by HOA (NC)
A group of homeowners in the Beverly Crest neighborhood question claims from their homeowner association that the community pool could close unless they pay $1.2 million to fix and upgrade it. As WBTV started investigating and requesting records, the HOA announced the plan was put on pause. The concerns raised by homeowners about the lack […]
Embezzlement uncovered at Dunvegan Woods: Condo board alleges late manager stole $200K (NH)
Condo owners at Dunvegan Woods are reeling after learning the late president of their association allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving the complex with only a few thousand dollars in the bank…..According to a letter sent in mid-September to Dunvegan condominium owners by the board of directors, following the death of long-time association […]
Condo Inspection Deadline Approaches (FL)
Condo associations are required to submit what’s called a Milestone Inspection report that determines whether buildings show signs of substantial structural deterioration. They must also obtain a separate report, called a Strategic Integrity Reserve Study. It estimates the remaining lifespans of such components as roofs, structural elements, fire protection systems, plumbing, electrical systems, exterior painting […]
Free Speech is Not Always Free (FL)
Q: Can an owner of a condominium association exercise free speech to protest issues with their condominium association? (J.D., via e-mail) A: That is a complicated legal question. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution only prohibits the federal government from abridging free speech rights. That protection is extended to the States and their […]
Discussions underway on relief for condo owners (FL)
Gov. Ron DeSantis is reassuring condo owners that discussions are underway to offer relief for new expensive building requirements that are due before the end of the year. According to the Governor’s press office, DeSantis is working toward relief for condo owners who are hit with fees and assessments as buildings try to meet new […]
Rising Catastrophe Risks: A Look at State Insurance Policy and Market Dynamics
States struggle with the financial strain caused by the growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which tax public resources and challenge the insurance sector’s ability to manage escalating risks. Legal and regulatory hurdles further increase expenses for insurers, highlighting the need for effective state regulation of property insurance rates. Read the article…………………………….
‘You kind of threw us under the bus’ – Southgate hears from Woodland Hills condo owners (KY)
Woodland Hills condo owners awaiting resolution on a recent hillside slippage issue addressed Southgate city council Wednesday to express their frustration and ask for the city’s support. Mayor Jim Hamberg responded with concern and said the city is monitoring the situation. However, he said, the issue involves private, not public, property and the city could […]
Condos join alliance to fight state rules on reserves (FL)
Several condo’s Home Owner Associations (HOAs) have joined a new a regional alliance to continue the fight to ease the crushing costs imposed on them by a state law. The alliance is trying to mitigate the financial impact of new Florida laws that mandate a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS) for all buildings three stories […]
What happens when your HOA goes rogue? There’s a new solution in Prince George’s County (MD)
What happens when your homeowners association ignores its own rules? In Prince George’s County, the answer is: Nothing. You can try to take it to court and watch the fees you pay get used against you while you also pay for your own lawyer; but beyond that, residents have had no recourse, until now. In […]
Lawmakers urge USPS to replace cluster mailboxes as more than a dozen San Antonio communities struggle for solutions (TX)
There’s a renewed push led by Congressman Joaquin Castro to replace broken mailboxes nationwide in an effort to restore faith with the United States Postal Service. A letter addressed by Democratic and Republican lawmakers urges U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to address concerns expressed by residents who’ve struggled to get their mailboxes repaired and replaced. […]
Fraud Alert – Beneficial Ownership Reporting
The Beneficial Ownership Reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act requires businesses to provide information (including personally identifiable information) to the federal government to combat fraud, terrorism, and money laundering. However, the passage of this Act has created additional opportunities for fraudsters. FinCEN has issued a warning about a scam targeting individuals and companies subject to […]
How Much Is Condo Insurance? 2024 Cost
The average condo insurance cost in the U.S. is $455 per year, or about $38 per month, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis. But what you pay may be different. Our sample policy was for a condo unit owner with good credit, $50,000 of personal property coverage, $300,000 of liability coverage and a $1,000 deductible. The […]
Charleston-area homebuilder wants right to cancel contracts any time. SC Judge says its unethical
Pat Franquelin and her husband, Marcel, were three weeks from closing on their Johns Island home when the builder unexpectedly called and canceled their contract. Now, more than three years after filing a lawsuit against the builder for breach of contract, the Franquelins are still fighting to move into their dream home. The couple is […]
‘I’m traumatized’: Masked man rips through bedroom wall at Woodforest Condominiums, woman says (TX)
It’s been a terrifying couple days for a northeast Harris County woman. She told ABC13 she was sitting in her condo when a man broke into a bedroom by tearing through the wall. This is just the latest incident that has left several tenants at the Woodforest Condominiums on edge. They told Eyewitness News that […]
Judge rules man pointing rifle in Miami Beach cannot return to condo after attorney files motion accusing him of erratic behavior (FL)
A judge has ruled that a man who was seen pointing a rifle from a balcony in a South Beach condo won’t be allowed to return to the condominium. The judge’s decision came after lawyers representing the Miami Beach condo association filed an emergency motion to ban Kelvin Veras from the property because of what […]
Longwood resident faces daily $250 fine until she fixes drainpipe issue causing flooding (FL)
A woman who admitted to filling a drainpipe in her neighborhood with concrete is now facing a $250 fine, daily, if she does not fix the issue this month. Neighbors who live in Shadow Bay in Longwood packed into a code enforcement hearing in front of a special magistrate Thursday to see if any action […]
Community Associations Institute Files Lawsuit to Exempt Community Associations from Federal Corporate Transparency Act
Community Associations Institute, the leading international authority on the community association housing model; including condominium associations, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives, filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of the Treasury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia challenging the federal Corporate Transparency Act. This lawsuit seeks to exempt community […]
Rally for HOA reform heading to Colorado State Capitol
Holly Crystal says her homeowners association in Frisco has been in turmoil for years. Court records show she has fought a long legal battle after she said her four-house HOA granted themselves an easement on her property. Last month, a court of appeals ruled in her favor on that issue. “I’m horrified to the point […]
As deadline expires, Henderson HOA accepts city’s help to replace water system (NV)
The homeowners association of an aging town home complex in east Henderson will be accepting the city’s help to replace a broken water distribution system, which conditions had threatened the residents’ ability to remain at their homes, according to the HOA’s management company. The city had given the HOA until Tuesday to make the fix […]
The Woodlands Township’s unique government shaped by legislation (TX)
The Woodlands Township is the only township in Texas, but its existence came about through a years-long process, legislation and consolidating the administration of several different community associations almost 15 years ago. In 1999, when The Woodlands community was 25 years old, the path to a new form of governance began when its community associations […]
Australia: Strata companies’ hidden fees, secret kickbacks and developer deals costing apartment owners
This year, Four Corners has been investigating the strata industry, after revelations that one of its most high-profile firms has been charging millions of dollars in opaque, often hidden, insurance fees and taking an untold sum in kickbacks from contractors. We asked you, our audience, just how widespread these practices were, and more than 2,000 […]
Post-Surfside condo inspection leads to condemnation, 30-day notice to eviction (FL)
Question: Our condominium has been condemned because of structural damage that, to quote the receiver, “go[es] back to the original construction of the buildings, but that was not known until we did our in-depth investigation since my appointment.” I am at a loss as to how this building inspection was passed Read the Q&A………………………………..
Did the City of Myrtle Beach get involved in HOA violations? The facts behind the rumors (SC)
Did the City of Myrtle Beach send letters about an HOA violation to residents in the Meridian by D.R. Horton? Spokeswoman Meredith Denari said in an email to The Sun News on Aug. 19 that the city didn’t. “No, the city has not sent a letter to the HOA members of the Meridian community,” her […]
Troubled condo complex in Ocean City still looking for a buyer (MD)
Two months after a shuttered Ocean City condominium complex went up for sale with an asking price of $7 million, there is no word whether the property is attracting any interest from would-be buyers. The troubled Seaspray condominiums were closed down by the city last April following structural problems at the 32-unit complex Read the […]
Hammocks receiver scales down HOA oversight, settles suits against vendors accused of aiding alleged fraud (FL)
The Hammocks, the embattled West Kendall homeowners association where former board members allegedly ran a massive fraud, has exited receivership. But that doesn’t mean it is back to being fully independent from outside oversight. David Gersten, who became the Hammocks receiver nearly two years ago following the arrests of five people accused of fraud, is […]
Condo owners opposing sale of Pembroke Pines’ Heron Pond complex lose first court fight (FL)
A pair of condo owners at the embattled Heron Pond complex in Pembroke Pines lost their first court fight against the receiver’s plan to list the property for sale. The 25-acre Heron Pond, at 8400 Southwest First Street, is home to 304 units in 19 two-story buildings. Since last summer, the city has slammed Heron […]
HOA boards beware!
I’m writing this letter as a public service to advise all condo Home Owner Association (HOA) boards of a legal requirement they must fulfill by Dec. 31 and a related fraud they may encounter. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a federal law that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, that requires many business […]
City of Henderson says it will front costs to fix HOA water system (NV)
The city of Henderson says it will help front costs to fix a homeowners association water system so residents don’t have to evacuate. Mayor Michelle Romero said the city will provide relief for residents of the Somerset Park community. “If the HOA cannot or will not fix this problem by Sept. 10, we will,” Romero […]
Kendall condo complex that hasn’t ‘raised dues in like 15 years’ can’t pay water bill: Management (FL)
A note taped to the bulletin board in the hallway of a Kendall condominium complex alerted residents that water will be shut off because payment has not been received. According to condo owner Hilda Conley, it wouldn’t be the first time. “We came home three or four weeks ago, and the water had been shut […]
SoCal Edison turning off power to an additional block of homes in Rancho Palos Verdes (CA)
SoCal Edison has announced plans to cut off power at more homes in Rancho Palos Verdes this week, just hours after the utility company indefinitely ended their service for 140 homes on Sunday. Company officials say that the decision again comes for “safety reasons,” and will go into effect at 7 p.m. on Monday for […]
Power to be shut off in Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood amid land movement worries (CA)
Southern California Edison will cut off power Sunday at noon to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend Community Association neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes, weeks after gas service was shut down in the area amid enduring land-movement worries. In July, Southern California Gas Company abruptly shut off service to 135 homes in the area. Read […]
Elderly & Mentally Compromised Residents in Your Condo or Coop are a Significant Challenge for Board Members and Management
The demographics of many multifamily buildings are shifting. The original residents who bought in decades ago are now aging in place, leading to a rise in the number of elderly residents and those with mental health challenges. This presents unique challenges for boards and property managers who have a fiduciary obligation to all owners/shareholders and […]
Why Planting Political Signs or Flags on Your Property Could Backfire—With Your HOA, Neighbors, and Beyond
With a high-stakes presidential election less than three months away, voters are expressing their enthusiasm for Team Trump or Team Harris with political signs, flags, and banners of all sizes in their front yards. But many are learning the hard way that displaying your political leanings can backfire—badly. Read the article…………………………….