Secondhand Smoke on Condominium Lanai: What are my Rights?

Associations, Community, Community Manager, Property Managers, Q&A, Residents

Question: I just read the question you answered in one of your prior columns about a man wanting to smoke cigars in the common area of his condominium complex. You said that “the ill-health effects of secondhand smoke are well established.” I live on the second floor...

Owners Must Follow Procedure to Petition the HOA Board for Agenda Items

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

Question: I live in a homeowners association and have e-mailed our board president a number of times concerning items that I feel should be discussed by our board. While the president has politely acknowledged my e-mails, none of my suggested topics have been brought...

I filed bankruptcy. It’s not my problem!

Associations, Community Manager, Property Managers, Residents

“I don’t owe anything else.” “It’s the bank’s problem now.” More often than not, these are the words we hear from an owner after they file for bankruptcy and the association tries to get on-going assessments from them – even when the owners are still living at the...

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

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...

Grant Funding Available Now for Wind Mitigation Retrofits for Vulnerable Condominium Community in Florida

Associations, Residents, Safety

FAIR (Florida Association for Insurance Reform) is seeking a low to moderate income condominium community to benefit from a Residential Construction Mitigation Program (RCMP) grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  The $194,000 grant will be used to...

Associations Must Send Notices Out of State if Requested

Associations, Board of Directors, Communication, Community, Community Manager, Property Managers, Residents

Question: I own a condominium unit in Florida that I use as a vacation home. My permanent residence is in New York. Is the association required to send official correspondence from the association, such as meeting notices required to be delivered to the members, to my...