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Editor’s Note: David G. Muller is a Board Certified Attorney in Condominium and Planned Development Law with Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., which represents community associations throughout Florida, with offices in Naples, Fort Myers and 10 other Florida cities. The Firm focuses a substantial amount of its practice on condominium and homeowners association law. …
Q: Our condominium association just had a reserve study done for the first time in our twenty-year plus history. We learned that all of the funds we have set up are inadequate. The board said that to catch up the reserves would double our assessment, so they want to phase in the increase. …
Q: The board of my condominium association seems to always be stacked with seasonal residents who want things nice for the few months they are there, and to cut costs for the rest of the year. A group of year-round residents would like to start a petition to change our bylaws to require …
Q: My condominium association recently solicited bids for major repairs to our condominium buildings. The cost of the project is several hundred thousand dollars. At the recent board meeting where the contractor was selected, the board discussed all of the bids and voted to proceed with a particular contractor. However, this contractor was …
Q: We have an owner who stopped paying their assessments to our condominium association. The association recorded a lien against the unit and foreclosed. The association was the only bidder at the foreclosure sale. Now some unit owners are saying that the board of directors acted inappropriately and there should have been a …
Q: I heard there was a recent change in the law which now prevents Board Members in a homeowners association from voting on matters via e-mail. Can you confirm this? Y.C. via e-mail
A: You are correct that this change in the law for homeowners associations became effective …
Q: What homeowners’ association activity is allowed within “access easements” and “lake maintenance easements?” We own the title to our lots but these easements against our property are set forth in our documents. Does this give the association or other owners the right to come on our property? (J.S., via e-mail)
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Q: I recently wrote a letter to the board of directors of my condominium association complaining about constant noise from my neighbor. I then learned that my neighbor was given a copy of the letter. Isn’t this supposed to be confidential? I do not really know him that well and do not want …
Q: Our condominium has a three month minimum rental term. However, there seem to be people coming and going all the time, often bringing suitcases like they are checking into a hotel. I know of at least one case where during conversation with a “guest” at the swimming pool, they commented on what …
Q: Our small condominium is self-managed. We recently received a letter from a title insurance company telling us we are required to give them an “estoppel letter” within the next ten days. No one on our board knows what that term means. We did some internet research and see that it involves closings. …
Q: The windows in my condominium unit need to be replaced. My condominium association is stating that windows are my responsibility. Because the windows are part of the exterior building, doesn’t Florida law require the association to replace the windows? (S.R, via e-mail)
A: The Florida Condominium Act …
Q: My condominium association has one owner who is a malcontent. He is always objecting to everything the Board tries to do and his constant vocal complaining has caused the Board much stress. Two of the Directors resigned as a result of this disgruntled owner. Is this a proper basis for Directors to …