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Community Update

September 2022

In this Issue

This month’s edition of CUP is packed with insightful information. In addition to our featured articles, be sure to check out new episodes of the Take it to the Board Podcast including conversations with community association professional coach, Carmelo Millimaci, and Broward County Property Appraiser, Marty Kiar. Also, find out why it’s important to do your due diligence when hiring an attorney in this month’s Did You Know feature: “Why Hiring a Board-Certified Lawyer Makes Sense.”

Community associations are not healthcare or mental health providers, which can make it difficult to address situations where a resident may need extra care. Instead, associations must rely on help from family, friends, and governmental entities. Robyn Severs discusses what steps associations should take in this month’s featured article, “An Association’s Response to Those Persons Who May Need Some Additional Care in Living.”

Florida law has created a non-delegable duty for associations to maintain the “common elements,” which means boards are often tasked with the perpetual job of procuring and overseeing complex repair and renovation projects. Unfortunately, not every construction project goes as planned and when a defect is discovered, there is a delicate framework that should be followed. Learn more in, “Correcting User Error – How to Handle Construction Defects.”

“Do Robert’s Rules of Order Apply to Community Association Meetings?” Yeline Goin discusses when and if associations need to follow Robert’s Rules parliamentary procedures during board and owner meetings. 

Is short-term residential rental of a home equivalent to commercial or business activity? This question is at the heart of THIS CASE. Find out more in “THIS CASE: Santa Monica Beach Property Owners Association, Inc. v. Acord.”


If you have new members on your board or a new manager for your community and want them to be part of our Community Update, have them subscribe here:

EDITORS

Mark D. Friedman, Esq.
Mark D. Friedman, Esq.
Jay Roberts, Esq.
Jay Roberts, Esq.

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An Association’s Response to Those Persons Who May Need Some Additional Care in Living

By: Robyn Severs

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 residents may experience mental or physical health issues which make them unable to adequately care for themselves. Associations are often at a loss with how to handle these situations. Community associations are not healthcare or mental health providers, so they are not equipped to address such matters. Instead, associations will need to request help from family, friends, or governmental entities.

Click here to read more!

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Correcting User Error – How to Handle Construction Defects

By: Benjamin T. Johnson

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 uncommon to live in a condominium building that has been occupied for over half a century. Accordingly, Florida law has created a non-delegable duty for condominium associations to maintain the “common elements” of the condominium for the collective benefit and well-being of the association membership.

Click here to read more!

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Do Robert’s Rules of Order Apply to Community Association Meetings?

By: Yeline Goin

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 dates back to the late 1800’s.

Click here to read more!

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Santa Monica Beach Property Owners Association, Inc. v. Acord
219 So.3d 111 (Fla. 1st DCA 2017)

By: Jay Roberts, Esq.

Is short-term residential rental of a home equivalent to commercial or business activity? This question is at the heart of THIS CASE. The covenants encumbering the parcels within the Santa Monica Beach community states:
Said land shall be used only for residential purposes, and not more than one detached single family dwelling house and the usual outhouses thereof, such as garage, servants’ house and the like, shall be allowed to occupy any residential lot as platted at any one time; nor shall any building on said land be used as a hospital, tenement house, sanitarium, charitable institution, or for business or manufacturing purposes nor as a dance hall or other place of public assemblage.
(emphasis added).

Based on this provision, the Santa Monica Beach Property Owners Association, Inc. (the “Association”) took the position that several owners (including Mr. and Ms. Acord) were violating the covenants by renting their homes on short term basis through VRBO. The Association filed a lawsuit for declaratory relief, asking the circuit court to construe and determine whether renting homes on a short-term basis violates the above-referenced covenant. The Acords filed a motion to dismiss, which the trial court granted. The Association appealed.

On appeal the Court stated that this issue was a case of first impression in Florida, but that no less than thirteen other federal and state courts had examined this issue, and all such courts found that the proper inquiry is not the duration of the rental, but rather the use of the parcel. In other words, was the parcel being used for residential purposes (even if for only a short time). If the answer is “yes” to this inquiry, then the covenant is not being violated. The Court distinguished this case from previous holdings regarding homes being used as, for example, bed and breakfast establishments or repeated wedding venues.

So why is THIS CASE important? If your community association wants to restrict short-term rentals, merely having a provision in your documents which prohibits the use of the parcel or unit for business purposes will not help the situation. Your association should discuss specific amendments to the applicable governing documents that expressly contemplate such limitations with your association’s attorney.

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Question of the Month

Q: I recently contacted my condominium association to get an account status for refinancing my mortgage. I was charged $299.00, which seems like a lot. Is this a valid charge?

Joseph Adams discusses this and more!

qotm

Community association boards and managers should ensure that their communities have adequate disaster planning measures in place as hurricane season approaches. To help you in weathering the storm, check out Becker’s Hurricane Guide which provides important tips and information to help protect your community.

Hurricane-recovery.com

For more information, contact your Becker attorney.

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CALLING ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MANAGERS

As leaders in Community Association Law, we not only helped write the law – we also teach it.

Did you know Becker provides over 200 educational classes per year throughout the State of Florida on a variety of topics ranging from board member certification to compliance, and everything in between? Our most popular classes are now available online!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our online class library is currently unavailable while we work to process any outstanding CAM credits by the September 30, 2022, license renewal deadline. Our online classes will be available again in early October. Thank you for your understanding.

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Can They Do That?

Becker’s “Can They Do That” video series tackles some of the unique problems that homeowners and renters face today. We answer your questions, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. From service animals to nudists in your community, we get to the bottom of it and let you know – “Can They Do That?”

Catch up on past episodes from this series here.

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Becker Steps Up to the Mic with Podcast,
‘Take It To The Board with Donna DiMaggio Berger’

Think you know what community association life is all about? Think again. Residents must obey the rules, directors must follow the law, and managers must keep it all running smoothly. Take It To the Board explores the reality of life in a condominium, cooperative or homeowners’ association, what’s really involved in serving on its board, and how to maintain that ever-so-delicate balance of being legally compliant and community spirited. Leading community association attorney Donna DiMaggio Berger acknowledges the balancing act without losing her sense of humor as she talks with a variety of association leaders, experts, and vendors about the challenges and benefits of the community association lifestyle.

CURRENT EPISODES:

  • Royal Service with James Donnelly
  • Fiscal Finesse with Nicole Johnson-Pendergrass
  • Nuisance or Necessary: Solving the “Pet” Problem with JoAnn Burnett
  • The Technology Tango with Brett Fielo
  • Community Immunity with David Ramsey
  • Considering the Cost of Counsel with Denise Lash
  • Rules & Refereeing with Howard Perl
  • The Mental Health Challenge with Chris Ayub
  • Reserve Funds & Studies with Robert Nordland
  • Association Advocacy with Commissioner Mary Molina-Macfie
  • The Job of the Journal with Michael Hamline
  • HR Hacks with Jamie Dokovna – Part 1
  • HR Hacks with Jamie Dokovna – Part 2
  • The Art of Community Design with Patty Mowry
  • Heart of Service with Stephanie Maher
  • The Making of a Manager with Otto Freund
  • Happy Holidays, Healthy Communities with Andrew Fortin
  • Ensuring Community Association Safety with Platinum Group Security
  • Building Basics with Construction Counsel Patrick Howell
  • Keeping Cool with Jane Gilbert, Chief Heat Officer, Miami-Dade County
  • 2022 Legislative Session in Florida Wrap Up with Yeline Goin, Becker & Poliakoff
  • The Current Crisis with Florida’s Real Property Insurance with Andrea Northrup, Vice President of Insurance Office of America (Part 1)
  • The Current Crisis with Florida’s Real Property Insurance with Andrea Northrup, Vice President of Insurance Office of America (Part 2)
  • The Smoker’s Dilemma with Dennis Eisinger of Eisinger Law
  • Assessing Collections with Joy Mattingly, Becker & Poliakoff
  • Mapping the Terrain of Landscaping for Community Associations with Brian Steele, Director of Operations, East Coast Facilities
  • Successful Community Association Living Starts With the Purchase Decision with Marisa DiLenge, Founder of DiLenge Real Estate Team (Part I)
  • Successful Community Association Living Starts With the Purchase Decision with Marisa DiLenge, Founder, DiLenge Real Estate Team (Part II)
  • To Lend or Not To Lend with Brewster Cole, First Vice President, Valley National Bank
  • Florida Representative Dan Daley on How We Get the Laws We Get
  • A Novel Approach: Coaching for Community Association Boards with Carmelo Millimaci, Senior Coach, Ackert Inc.
  • Taxes, Taxes, and Fewer Taxes with Marty Kiar, Broward County Property Appraiser, Part 1
  • Taxes, Taxes, and Fewer Taxes with Marty Kiar, Broward County Property Appraiser, Part 2

Click here to visit “Take It to the Board”

DID YOU KNOW?

Mixed Messaging on Solar Panels Penalizes Florida Homeowners Seeking to Save Energy

By Donna DiMaggio Berger

Florida homeowners who thought they were saving money and, perhaps, the environment by installing solar panels have been shocked to learn that many insurers will not insure their roofs if they have solar panels.

In an op-ed for the Miami Herald, Becker Shareholder Donna DiMaggio Berger, dissects the conflict that solar panels can cause between insurers and homeowners. While homeowners do have a right, insurers often cite risk of injury, the use of the building for commercial purposes, and the risk of roof uplift during heavy winds. Until Florida’s legislature acts, environmentally minded homeowners could find themselves stuck in the middle.

Read more.