There’s no question that one of the subjects I get most often asked about is whether or not the Board has the right to reject an applicant for either a rental or a purchase in the community. It would be great if there was some guidance, some statute, some rule that I can point them…
Blogs
DO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGERS GET AWAY WITH MURDER?
Chapter 468 of The Florida Statutes contains numerous provisions about how community association managers get disciplined by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. This year, The Florida Legislature amended Florida law to allow community association managers to get disciplined if they violate the Florida condominium, co-op or HOA statutes. The Florida Supreme Court is…
LANDSCAPING --- WHAT IS THERE TO POSSIBLY FIGHT ABOUT?
No matter whether we live in a community association or not, we would all agree that Florida is lush with green spaces, beautiful towering palm trees, wide open fields of grass, exquisitely colored flowers and some of the most spectacular landscaping on the planet. Just looking at all of these remarkable trees and flowers should…
THERE ARE THINGS TO STILL BE THANKFUL FOR
I wrote this blog last year. I’m using it again because for many of us, and perhaps almost all of us, we are in the middle of the most difficult year of our lives. Nobody could have predicted the disaster that has been 2020 on a world-wide scale. So –I’m running the column again, hoping…
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Well that was quite a year wasn’t it? 2020 was without a doubt the gloomiest, most depressing year that most of us have encountered in our lifetimes. It could not have ended soon enough. I don’t think it’s sufficient to just put it in the rear view mirror and forget about it. It would be…
YEAR END FINANCIAL REPORTING
It’s time to tell the members of the association all about the association’s finances, like it or not. Both the Florida condominium and homeowner statutes mandate the following: Within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, or annually on a date provided in the bylaws, the association shall prepare and complete,…
YOU WANT REFORM? HERE IT COMES…I HOPE
You may recall that a few weeks ago I blogged about the fact that members in an HOA have far less protection than unit owners in a condominium. With the help of Jan Bergemann from CCFJ www.ccfj.net, and our lobbyist, I drafted legislation that would help HOA members throughout Florida. Here are the specifics of…
CAN YOUR BOARD REALLY STOP YOU FROM PUTTING UP YOUR CHRISTMAS OR HANUKAH DECORATIONS IN YOUR CONDO OR HOA?
Ah….the holidays. Thoughts of peace, love and joyous occasions fill our thoughts. Our communities unite and happiness is proclaimed throughout the land. Unless of course you have a Board that doesn’t feel as warm and fuzzy about your holiday decorations as you do. If that’s the situation you find yourself in, just substitute the above…
EVEN IN A CONDO OR HOA - THERE ARE THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR
Thanksgiving is just three days away. Even with the “fiscal cliff” looming over our heads, unemployment still too high and Florida leading the nation in the number of foreclosures, surely there must be some things that those of us who live in condominiums or HOAs can be thankful for. Here’s a few: By all…
CONDOS AND HOA solutions
Certification of Board Members: For whatever reason, The Florida Legislature believes that it’s only important for condominium Board members to learn the law, be familiar with their governing documents and get certified. HOA members can just “wing it” I guess. Certainly, education should be required for both HOA board members and condo Board members. …