Florida condo & HOA news
Plain-English Florida condo and HOA law updates for owners, volunteer board members, managers, and everyone navigating community-association life.
Read the latest articles ↓From the front lines
Written by Eric M. Glazer · Florida attorney
As our listeners of the Condo Craze and H.O.A.’s radio show know, we’ve been spending some time recently telling them how they can make their property ready for a hurricane, so that if a storm hits, they can weather it. We’ve spoken about preparing your roof, electricity, plumbing, interior furnishings and…
Read more → There’s no question that one of the subjects I get most often asked about is whether or not the Board has the right to reject an applicant for either a rental or a purchase in the community. It would be great if there was some guidance, some statute, some rule that I can point them to that tells them what…
Read more → Chapter 468 of The Florida Statutes contains numerous provisions about how community association managers get disciplined by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. This year, The Florida Legislature amended Florida law to allow community association managers to get disciplined if they…
Read more → No matter whether we live in a community association or not, we would all agree that Florida is lush with green spaces, beautiful towering palm trees, wide open fields of grass, exquisitely colored flowers and some of the most spectacular landscaping on the planet. Just looking at all of these remarkable…
Read more → Iwrote this blog last year. I’m using it again because for many of us, and perhaps almost all of us, we are in the middle of the most difficult year of our lives. Nobody could have predicted the disaster that has been 2020 on a world-wide scale. So –I’m running the column again, hoping to challenge all of us…
Read more → Well that was quite a year wasn’t it? 2020 was without a doubt the gloomiest, most depressing year that most of us have encountered in our lifetimes. It could not have ended soon enough. I don’t think it’s sufficient to just put it in the rear view mirror and forget about it. It would be a shame if we look…
Read more → It’s time to tell the members of the association all about the association’s finances, like it or not. Both the Florida condominium and homeowner statutes mandate the following: Within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, or annually on a date provided in the bylaws, the association shall prepare…
Read more → You may recall that a few weeks ago I blogged about the fact that members in an HOA have far less protection than unit owners in a condominium. With the help of Jan Bergemann from CCFJ www.ccfj.net, and our lobbyist, I drafted legislation that would help HOA members throughout Florida. Here are the…
Read more → Ah….the holidays. Thoughts of peace, love and joyous occasions fill our thoughts. Our communities unite and happiness is proclaimed throughout the land. Unless of course you have a Board that doesn’t feel as warm and fuzzy about your holiday decorations as you do. If that’s the situation you find…
Read more → Thanksgiving is just three days away. Even with the “fiscal cliff” looming over our heads, unemployment still too high and Florida leading the nation in the number of foreclosures, surely there must be some things that those of us who live in condominiums or HOAs can be thankful for. Here’s a few: By all…
Read more → Certification of Board Members: For whatever reason, The Florida Legislature believes that it’s only important for condominium Board members to learn the law, be familiar with their governing documents and get certified. HOA members can just “wing it” I guess. Certainly, education should be required for…
Read more → Afew years ago, the Florida Legislature passed a new law effecting board members of Florida condominium associations only. The law states: Within 90 days after being elected or appointed to the board, each newly elected or appointed director shall certify in writing to the secretary of the association that…
Read more → I’m hoping that after reading this column today, those of you who live in an HOA will forward some of these concerns to your local Senator or House Member, because I don’t even think they are aware of just how bad the HOA statute is and how condominium owners have far greater protections under the law than…
Read more → Last week, I received an e-mail from someone who was complaining that her HOA was using the voting and election procedures required by the condominium statute, instead of the HOA statute. In other words, using the Florida Statute 718 laws instead of Florida Statute 720. She wanted to know if this was O.K.,…
Read more → Each week, Jan, Darlys and I agree on a new topic to blog about. This week, Jan suggested that we blog about gates and fences. My first thought was……..how much can I possibly write about gates and fences? What comment can I make about a gate or a fence that would make the reader care about reading the…
Read more → The amount of hats that a community association manager often has to wear is amazing. Simultaneously, he or she needs to serve as the number cruncher, interior designer, police man, collection agency, master of ceremonies, complaint department, tech expert, unit owner liason and of course chief cook and…
Read more → Election time in our Florida community associations is quickly approaching. The thought of the annual meeting doesn’t exactly invoke thoughts of birds chirping or humming birds humming, and is more akin to Halloween Horror Night at your association. Nevertheless, unit owners far and wide will be throwing…
Read more → No doubt that many of us have been to a board meeting or two where screaming breaks out, the decibel level in the room is raised, tempers flare and little gets accomplished as a result. The overwhelming majority of these shouting matches are non violent, and end up with each side muttering a few curse…
Read more →Read it. Then watch it.
