Opinion ID: 1138534
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rights of the Association

Text: Section 718.203, Florida Statutes (1987), creates a statutory cause of action for breach of implied warranty of fitness in condominium construction: 718.203 Warranties.  (1) The developer shall be deemed to have granted to the purchaser of each unit an implied warranty of fitness and merchantability for the purposes or uses intended as follows: (a) As to each unit, a warranty for 3 years commencing with the completion of the building containing the unit. ... . (e) As to the roof and structural components of a building or other improvements and as to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements serving improvements or a building, except mechanical elements serving only one unit, a warranty for a period beginning with the completion of construction of each building or improvement and continuing for 3 years thereafter or 1 year after owners other than the developer obtain control of the association, whichever occurs last, but in no event more than 5 years. .... (2) The contractor and all subcontractors and suppliers grant to the developer and to the purchaser of each unit implied warranties of fitness as to the work performed or materials supplied by them as follows: (a) For a period of 3 years from the date of completion of construction of a building or improvement, a warranty as to the roof and structural components of the building or improvement and mechanical and plumbing elements serving a building or an improvement, except mechanical elements serving only one unit. As noted in the statute, the right to exercise this implied warranty belongs to the unit purchaser, i.e., the unit owner. A separate statutory section within the same chapter specifically grants to condominium associations the power to file lawsuits on behalf of the unit owners in matters of common interest: 718.111 The association.  .... (3) POWER TO MANAGE CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY AND TO CONTRACT, SUE, AND BE SUED.  The association may contract, sue, or be sued with respect to the exercise or nonexercise of its powers... . After control of the association is obtained by unit owners other than the developer, the association may institute, maintain, settle, or appeal actions or hearings in its name on behalf of all unit owners concerning matters of common interest, including, but not limited to, the common elements; the roof and structural components of a building or other improvements; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements serving an improvement or a building; representations of the developer pertaining to any existing or proposed commonly used facilities... . If the association has the authority to maintain a class action, the association may be joined in an action as representative of that class with reference to litigation and disputes involving the matters for which the association could bring a class action. § 718.111(3), Fla. Stat. (1987) (emphasis added). See also Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.221. Section 718.111's grant of power to associations to sue on behalf of unit owners is plainly and broadly worded and we see no reason to give this provision a cramped reading. Accordingly, we conclude that under the express provisions of chapter 718, the right to bring an implied warranty claim belongs to the unit owners, and this right may be exercised by the unit owners in the aggregate through their condominium association in matters of common interest.