3 Foolproof Ways to Drive Online Rent Payment Utilization

Community Manager, Payments, Property Managers

Once you see the light and begin processing payments with an online payment provider, you start to realize that receiving less physical checks and money orders means less manual work for you and your staff. You wonder how you can get more tenants or homeowners to...

ELSS Bill Vetoed, Condominium Bill Approved, & Final Report on Community Association Bills for 2017 Session

Associations, Board of Directors, Frontpage Article, Law

Governor Rick Scott has now taken action on all of the community association bills that passed during the 2017 legislative session. HB 653, Relating to Community Associations, was Vetoed.  Among other things, the bill would have allowed high rise buildings to opt out...

Let Them Pay For Their Own Long Hot Showers: How Property Manager’s are Lowering Their Property’s Utility Expenses

Associations, Budget, Communication, Payments, Property Managers, Renters

Do you include utilities in your rent? Whether you do or you don’t, the million dollar question is why? Why not include it? The answer is rent growth. To elaborate, operators are realizing that with rapid rent growth comes a growth in supply. However, coupled with...

Can the Association Board Fill a Vacancy Without an Election?

Associations, Board of Directors

Question: Recently, one of the members of our board of directors resigned from the board and sold their unit. When he announced his resignation, I expected the association to schedule an election to fill the vacancy. However, at the most recent board meeting, the...

Infographic: Fun Facts about Recouping Rent, HOA Dues and Utilities

Associations, Budget, Payments, Property Managers, Renters

We’re so excited about the upcoming release of our annual Market Survey, that we couldn’t keep quiet about the results. This year, 1,300 HOA, multifamily and single family firms participated in our survey, answering questions about resident payments, utility billing,...

Utility Meters 101: How Your Property Management Company Can Recoup Utility Expenses

Budget, Community Manager, Payments, Property Managers, Renters

One of the top questions a prospective resident wants to know when they are interested in your property is, “Will I have to put any utilities in my name?” The answer is largely determined by how your property is metered, and ultimately, how you can recoup those...

Florida Condominium and HOA Fining Laws are Slightly Different

Associations, Frontpage Article, Law, Q&A, Residents

Question: There seems to have been a lot of change in the law about fining. Has the legislature finally made the condominium statute and the homeowners’ association statute the same on this issue? (C.M. by e-Mail) Answer: More or less. The legislature is getting...

Assessments and Combined Lots in Florida HOAs

Q&A

Question: I live in a homeowners’ association community. Recently, one of our owners purchased the vacant lot next to their home. The owner has now combined the properties into one parcel with the taxing authorities and is now demanding that the association only...

Am I “Grandfathered in” from the New Condo Rental Restrictions?

Associations, Q&A, Residents

Question:  My condominium has always allowed units to be rented for a minimum period of 14 days.  I only use my unit a few times a year and rent it when I am not in residence.  I usually rent to 10 or more different groups in a given year, always obeying the existing...

Condominium Association Must Repair Air Conditioning Lightning Damage

Associations, Board of Directors, Budget, Communication, Community, Community Manager, Property Managers, Q&A, Residents

Question: Recently, the outdoor air conditioning unit servicing my condominium unit was struck by lightning. I turned the claim into my insurance policy. My insurance carrier denied the claim stating that it does not insure the air conditioning unit, and that the air...