LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
Beach Access Restricted?
Although summer is gone and fall is nearing its end, the truth is that even in the heart of winter we never truly have to wait long to enjoy the beach in Florida. The problem this year however is who can access the beach. During the 2018 Legislative Session, the...
Legal Tools at Your Disposal to Make Your Responsibilities as a Board Member Easier
I often find that there is an over-complication that some people believe goes hand-in-hand with their responsibilities in operating a condominium. Most forget that the statute and administrative code provide boards with some basic tools to assist in day to day...
Condos, HOAs, and Written Inquiries
Many times I see situations where an owner sends a community a certified letter seeking the answer to questions about various issues. The nature and manner of the responses is dictated by the type of community. The Florida Condominium Act states that when a unit...
Procedure To Convert To Pooled Reserves
Q: Can a condominium association board vote to convert from straight-line reserves to pooled reserves without a membership vote? R.F. via e-mail A: “Cash flow” funding of condominium reserves, often referred to as the “pooling” method of reserve funding, is a concept...
Keeping Meeting Minutes Forever
How long is a condominium required to keep minutes of its meetings? Prior to July 1, 2018 the answer was seven years. This requirement had both its pros and cons. Likely the biggest advantage was minimizing storage requirements, as months, years, and even decades...
Special Assessment Leftover Funds Must Be Returned or Credited To Account
Q: Our condominium association board levied a special assessment for Hurricane Irma damage. Our insurance claim settled for more than we expected, resulting in an excess of funds due to the special assessment. What happens to this leftover money? (S.S., via e-mail)...
A Primer on Budgeting and Reserves
Few aspects of condominium and cooperative association operations are as heavily regulated as the budgeting process and yet too many boards take an informal approach to these crucial director functions. From Section 718.504, which lists the required operating expense...
Charging the Way: New Law Opens the Door for Electric Charging Stations in Condominiums
A recent amendment to Chapter 718, Florida’s Condominium Act, facilitates a unit owner’s ability to install and use an electric-vehicle charging station within their condominium. Section 718.113(8), Florida Statutes, which took effect on July 1, 2018, created a new...
Those Pesky Little White Balls
Living in a golf course community is the ultimate dream for many. However, a golf course address can equate to some rather nightmarish liability issues for many community associations. Those issues often stem from misdirected golf swings or “errant” shots. There is no...