Community Update

A new season means a new annual meeting and election. In condominiums and cooperative associations there are two components: the election of directors and the annual meeting. Most think of them as one and the same, but they really are …

The new law passed by the Legislature, known as “SB 4-D”, became effective May 26, 2022 and contains various important deadlines for compliance. The new law applies to condominiums and cooperatives which are 3 stories or higher. We …

Unit owners often move from private homes and do not understand that the condominium form of ownership in Florida is somewhat unique. In many instances some individual liberties must be curtailed for the good of the community as a whole. …

Whether you live in a condominium, cooperative, or homeowners’ association, owners and their guests, tenants and invitees are bound by the association’s governing documents, which may include the declaration, articles of incorporation, and bylaws, and any rules and regulations. Prospective …

Peace is Not the Absence of Conflict, it is the Ability to Handle Conflicts by Peaceful Means – Ronald Reagan

On July 1, 2021, changes to Florida law opened the door to allow condominium and cooperative …

In 2017, the Florida Legislature amended the community association statutes to formalize the estoppel certificate process and to establish the amount association were permitted to charge for providing the estoppel certificate. Prior to 2017, the statutes stated that associations could …

Before the 2020 pandemic, annual membership meetings were a time for owners to get together and discuss community issues while anxiously awaiting for election ballots to be counted. However, COVID-19 changed the manner in which association meetings were held. With …

Assessment payments are the life blood of every community association, and the recovery of delinquent assessments is the primary goal for every community association. However, many associations, and their management companies, refuse to accept direct payment from delinquent owners once …

I have many times heard complaints from owners (and sometimes board members) that the association is not following Robert’s Rules of Order (“Robert’s Rules”) during their board and/or owner meetings. Robert’s Rules is a well-known manual of parliamentary procedures which …

As we all know, condominium buildings suffer from wear and tear over time. Not only do communities withstand extreme weather conditions here in Florida, but they also experience extensive use over long periods of time. In fact, it is not …