Source: https://www.floridahoalawyerblog.com/category/homeowners-association-law/
Timestamp: 2018-12-13 08:54:30
Document Index: 59364018

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 718', '§ 719', '§718', '§ 719', '§718', '§ 719', '§718', '§719']

Homeowners association law Category Archives — Florida HOA Lawyer Blog Published by FL Community Association Lawyer — South Florida Condominium Association Attorney — Siegfried, Rivera, Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & Sobel
Articles Posted in Homeowners association law
This is the time of year when many Florida condominium associations conduct their annual meeting and election of directors. Here are some helpful reminders about the process to ensure that your community’s meeting and election avoid potential glitches and remain in compliance with Florida law.
Board membership should be viewed as being akin to a civic duty for condominium owners. So long as individuals meet the basic legal requirements, to wit: they are current on all of their financial obligations to the association and are not a convicted felon, they are otherwise eligible to run for a board seat in most associations.
The election notices that are distributed by the association to all of the owners begin with the initial notice that must be sent out at least 60 days prior to the election. This notice should include information on the deadlines for submission of notices to the association for those who intend to run for a board seat. All candidates must provide their association with a written notice of their intent to run for the board of directors at least 40 days prior to the date of the election. Registered candidates are then able to lobby their fellow owners, and they may submit a resume to the association at least 35 days prior to the election. The resume, which may not exceed one side of a standard piece of office paper, should contain details about a candidate’s professional and educational background as well as any other attributes and qualifications that they would like to include.
A second notice of the election, which must be distributed between 34 and 14 days prior to the election, must include copies of all the resumes submitted by the candidates together with the ballot and the inner and outer envelopes.
Posted in: Community Association Law, Condominium Association Law, Homeowners association law and Meetings and Elections
Tagged: community association elections and Florida community association annual meeting
Updated: December 12, 2018 5:15 pm
Golf Cart Liability Issues for HOAs Exposed by Accident Involving Teens in Florida Community
The recent news about an accident inside G.L. Homes’ Seven Bridges community in Delray Beach involving four children on a golf cart highlights the potential legal liabilities for Florida associations concerning kids driving golf carts.
According to a report by BocaNewsNow.com, four children were riding a 2014 EZ Go “Freedom” Golf Cart on the community’s main street when the unlicensed 15-year-old girl driving the cart darted in front of an oncoming car. The car, which was driven by Sunny Isles resident Eduard Hiutin, crashed into the golf cart, causing its driver and passengers, ages 11, 13, 14 and 15, to be ejected onto the street. The children were transported by ambulance to the trauma unit at Delray Medical Center, where one was treated for a catastrophic injury.
The golf cart driver, who lives in the community along with two of the other children, was charged with operating a motor vehicle in a careless or negligent manner as well as failure to yield to the right of way.
While the parent of the golf cart driver can be sued for negligence in such a case, the association can also be named as a defendant. In fact, according to the Seven Bridges community’s governing documents filed with the clerk of courts, Seven Bridges requires a golf cart driver to be at least 16 years old and carry a valid driver’s license. If enforcement of this rule was lax, potential liability could be alleged.
Posted in: Community Association Law, Homeowners association law, Rules and Restrictions and Security
Tagged: association golf cart lawsuit and Florida homeowners association golf cart liability
Updated: October 29, 2018 1:55 pm
Updated: October 5, 2018 1:41 pm
Updated: August 27, 2018 2:35 pm
One of the key takeaways from Hurricane Irma was a reminder about the importance of keeping trees properly trimmed in order to avoid damage to power lines from downed foliage. However, a recent report by Channel 7 News (Fox) in South Florida about a Hallandale Beach HOA’s troubles with the city over its allegedly exorbitant tree trimming serves as a cautionary tale for all Florida community associations.
According to the report, the insurance company for the Hallandale Village Homeowners Association asked association president Richard Masone to trim the trees around the property at the start of this year’s hurricane season. Masone complied and asked the association’s regular landscape maintenance company to trim the trees.
The job pleased the community’s insurer, but Hallandale Beach Code Enforcement officers were not happy with the tree trimming. City Manager Roger Carlton called the trimming unacceptable, noting that it “enormously exceeded any reasonable amount.”
The association was told by the city that the trees were “hatracked,” or over-trimmed, and they ordered the community to dig up and replace the trees, which entails hiring an arborist and pulling permits for each of the 10-15 trees that would need to be replaced.
Posted in: Alterations, Community Association Law, Condominium Association Law, Homeowners association law and Renovation Projects
Tagged: community association municipal violations
Updated: August 7, 2018 9:27 am
Some good news for community associations struggling with questionable requests for the approval of emotional support animals: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to issue revised guidelines later this year focusing on ESA requests and approvals. According to The National Association of Realtors, the new guidelines should give landlords, property managers and community associations greater authority to verify that the need for such an animal is legitimate.
The NAR reports it has had separate conversations with HUD and disability rights groups. Senior Policy Representative Megan Booth recently told attendees at a conference that the disability rights groups have expressed concerns over the widespread abuse of requests for companion animals, as they believe it is already making it more difficult for residents with legitimate needs to receive the approvals they require.
It appears that the new HUD guidance will be specifically aimed at curtailing the use of online ESA certification mills.
Posted in: Community Association Law, Condominium Association Law, Homeowners association law and Pets and Service Animals
Tagged: community association emotional support animals, emotional support animals and HUD guidance on emotional support animals
Updated: May 25, 2018 3:39 pm
Updated: April 20, 2018 6:10 pm
New Legislative Updates Effective July 1, 2018
This year’s legislative session has come to an end, establishing new laws and amendments to a number of statutes regulating community associations in Florida. On March 23, 2018, Governor Rick Scott signed the following laws into effect:
Official Records of Condominiums and Cooperatives – § 718.111, § 719.104
The deadline for condominium and cooperative associations to fulfill official record requests has been extended from 5 working days to 10 working days. §718.111(12)(b), § 719.104(2)(b), Fla. Stat.
Electronic records relating to voting have been included in the list of official records that must be kept by condominium and cooperative associations. §718.111(12)(a)12., § 719.104(2)(a)10., Fla. Stat.
Condominium associations must now permanently maintain specific documents from the inception of the association, unlike the previous 7-year limitation. The following is a list of those documents: §718.111(12), Fla. Stat., §719.104(2), Fla. Stat.
A copy of the articles of incorporation, declaration, bylaws and rules of the association;
The minutes of all meetings;
A copy of the plans, permits, warranties, and other items provided by the developer;
Accounting records for the association.
Posted in: Community Association Law, Condominium Association Law, Homeowners association law and New Legislation
Tagged: community association legislation, condominium association legislation and HOA laws
Updated: April 9, 2018 11:54 am
HOA Hires Private Investigator to Catch Owners Conducting Short-Term Rentals
Condominium associations and HOAs throughout South Florida as well as across the country are seeking effective responses to the problem of short-term rentals that are in violation of their rules and restrictions. These unauthorized rentals, which have become prevalent with the growth of Airbnb and other online home-sharing platforms, are creating significant security and liability concerns for associations.
One response by a San Diego homeowners association recently drew the attention of its local ABC affiliate, which chronicled how the community had retained a private investigator to gather and document incontrovertible proof that specific owners were conducting the restricted rentals. The licensed private detective and his associates were hired by the HOA and other local associations to investigate homeowners and tenants who are violating association bylaws and CC&Rs that prohibit turning units into short-term vacation rentals.
While the hiring of private detectives may initially seem as an extreme measure for an association, it makes sense when one considers the risks and concerns that are brought on by these rentals for HOAs and condominiums. Also, court actions may become necessary against some unit owners who flout the rules, and the evidence obtained by these investigators as well as their testimony can be very helpful in these proceedings.
Posted in: Community Association Law, Condominium Association Law, Homeowners association law, Leasing and Tenants, Security and Short-Term Rentals
Tagged: condominium association short-term rental rules and short-term rentals in community associations
Updated: March 23, 2018 4:55 pm