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Category – Insight
Some boards only engage legal counsel when a situation has become dire. Others are overly cautious and all the attorney at the drop of a hat, but unusually high legal bills often lead to membership scrutiny.
More often than not, however, boards don’t consult legal counsel enough. It’s a dangerous …
Despite a year that has drastically curtailed traveling due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of online vacation and short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb and others, has persisted as people have sought escapes to private homes instead of hotels and to upgrade their work-from-home routines to somewhere with a view. Airbnb is …
Q: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of the seasonal owners in our condominium will not be returning this year. This raises concerns about how we should conduct the election for directors. …
Some older individuals choose to live out their final years in their personal residences, alone, rather than in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities. Additionally, there are times that other individuals may experience certain mental health issues that make them unable to adequately care for themselves. Associations are often at a loss with how to assist these …
When Do Annoying Behaviors and Activities Within and Surrounding the Community Become a Legal Nuisance and How Can Your Community Deal with It? …
Q: Can the members of our board of directors receive a holiday bonus? (G.M, via e-mail)
A: Not to be the “grinch,” but this is generally not a good idea and is usually not legally permissible. …
Short-term rental arrangements continue to plague community associations, with owners and powerful lobbying groups for companies like Airbnb constantly devising new tactics for avoiding restrictions.
“With Airbnb and those platforms becoming such a huge percentage of rentals,” says Jennifer Horan, a shareholder in the Naples, Fla., office of Becker & Poliakoff, …
Most condominium unit owners may think that limited common elements are those areas outside the condominium unit that are part of the common elements, but which are used only by a specific unit owner. However, the Florida Condominium Act defines “limited common elements” as “those common elements which are reserved for the use of …
Community Associations have an obligation to enforce their governing documents. However, that obligation does not extend to policing, mediating, or resolving disputes between owners, without a corresponding covenant violation. Associations have an obligation to all owners of the community to do what is in the best interest of all owners, not just the select …
For condominiums and cooperatives there are a few statutory election guideposts that start with the numbers 60, 40, 35 and 14*.
Sixty (60) days prior to your annual meeting election the first notice must be sent to all unit owners telling them when the annual meeting and election will be held and …
One of the last few bills to be approved by Governor DeSantis at the end of this year’s legislative session was Senate Bill No. 374 which became law on September 4, 2020. The new law defines and prohibits “discriminatory restrictions” from any title transaction recorded in the State of Florida and creates section 712.065, …
The current economic climate combined with COVID-related migration has many homeowners exploring the revenue generating options of their properties, which can put them at odds with a community association’s mission to cultivate residential harmony and lead to legal proceedings.
Becker Shareholder Jennifer Horan strongly advocates for a careful examination of association restrictions before moving forward with …