Associations Should Prepare for Disaster in Advance

Nov 1, 2017 | Associations, Board of Directors, Budget, Communication, Community, Florida, Prepare, Residents, Safety

We are now over a month past Hurricane Irma.  While it certainly could have been significantly worse for Southwest Florida, many community associations are still working  through a variety of difficult issues, including processing insurance claims, continuing...

Florida Condominium and HOA Directors Can Usually Serve on Committees

Dec 28, 2016 | Associations, Board of Directors, Community, Community Manager, Florida, Frontpage Article, Property Managers, Q&A

Question: Can a board member also be a member of a committee, such as the fining committee or the landscape committee? (L.D. by e-mail) Answer: Yes and no. Generally, a board member can also be a committee member. However, there are exceptions. Section 718.103(7) of...

New HUD Guidance Limits the Use of Background Checks for Associations to Prohibit Discrimination

Dec 6, 2016 | Associations, Communication, Community Manager, Florida, News, Property Managers, Residents

On April 4, 2016, HUD published guidance limiting housing providers’, including Associations’, use of criminal records in qualifying potential purchasers, tenants and occupants under the Fair Housing Act. What does this mean for Associations? It should be noted at the...

Can a Florida HOA Reject the Votes of a Tenant Proxyholder?

Oct 10, 2016 | Associations, Board of Directors, Florida, Q&A

Question: I recently attended the annual meeting of my homeowners’ association. Many absentee owners sent in proxies. The association’s attorney advised the association to reject several proxies because they named a tenant as the proxyholder. The attorney said that...

Wildlife Dangers Create Association Liability Concerns in Florida Communities

Sep 28, 2016 | Associations, Community, Florida, Q&A, Renters, Residents

Question: We live in a gated community with a golf course. There are a number of lakes and ponds. Alligators seem to come and go, but are spotted frequently. In light of the recent tragedy that has been widely reported in the news, there has been discussion about...

Hurricane Shutters and Florida Condominiums

Sep 13, 2016 | Associations, Community, Florida, Q&A, Residents

Question: I am preparing to return to my northern home for the summer and intend to deploy the hurricane shutters on my condominium unit. However, the association is advising me that I cannot deploy my hurricane shutters unless there is a storm warning. Is this...