Many of you that live in an HOA are learning or have already learned the hard way that pursuant to The Florida Marketable Record Title Act, your governing documents expire after thirty years if they are not properly preserved. That’s right. Suddenly, after 30 years, you’re no longer living in a community that is governed…
Year: 2019
WHOSE AGENDA WILL BE PUT ON THE AGENDA?
So you ran for the Board because you were tired of the board members ignoring your requests to discuss certain issues at board meetings. It gets better………..you won. The only problem is that you’re still in the minority, as you and your friend only constitute 2 of the five seats. As a result, nothing has…
DUMBFOUNDING DIFFERENCES
Before you know it, The Florida Legislature will be in session. In terms of legislation for condominiums and homeowner associations, 2019 was a complete bust. There wasn’t a single change to Florida Statute 718 or 720. For reasons beyond my comprehension, there are differences between these two statutes that simply defy common sense that need…
TRANSFER FEES – WHY ALL THE CONFUSION?
Many of you are aware of an article in The Miami Herald last week about a class action settlement in Dade County due to overcharging people who want to move into the community for screening fees and background checks. As a result of that class action settlement, I thought it would be a good idea…
BIG CHANGES TO THE WAY HOAs AMEND THEIR GOVERNING DOCS INCLUDING THEIR RULES
As of July 1st, 2018 Florida HOA law was amended to mandate that HOAs amend their “governing documents” in the same manner as condominium associations. In general, words to be added to the original text must be presented to the owners underlined. Words to be deleted from the original text are to be presented stricken…
CONFUSION REIGNS IN CONDOMINIUM ELECTIONS-PART 2
Remember the TV show Eight Is Enough? Apparently, that’s how The Florida Legislature feels about your right to serve on a condominium board of directors. Eight years in a row is enough. This does not mean however that if you already served eight years in a row on a condo board that you are precluded…
CONFUSION REIGNS IN CONDOMINIUM ELECTIONS
Remember the TV show Eight Is Enough? Apparently, that’s how The Florida Legislature feels about your right to serve on a condominium board of directors. Eight years in a row is enough. This does not mean however that if you already served eight years in a row on a condo board that you are precluded…
IMPORTANT NEW LANDSCAPING LAW
If you ever tried to remove a tree from your condo or HOA community, you know how difficult, expensive and impossible it can be. There are applications to fill-out, inspections to be made, fees to be paid and promises made to put a new tree back somewhere on the property or in the municipality. Well,…
HURRICANE HEADACHES
Every year at this time we head into the peak of hurricane season hoping that “the big one” stays away for another year. In my 30 years now in South Florida there have been three or 4 named storms that wreaked some havoc on our communities in South Florida and even more on the west…
TIME TO MAKE THE BUDGET
Fall is the time when Boards and their managers start scrambling to make next year’s budget. Here’s a few tips: Remember that in a condo, the budget must be mailed to the owners 14 days in advance of the budget meeting. In an HOA the association shall provide each member with a copy of the…