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Thanks to the Florida Legislature, community associations can now make use of technology to increase convenience and decrease costs and time required to conduct member votes. The homeowners’, condominium, and cooperative acts were all amended, effective July 1, 2015, to allow associations to conduct owner votes, including elections, using an internet-based online voting system if certain criteria are met. The Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes adopted rules to provide further guidance for electronic voting for condominiums and cooperatives, which were effective on March 20, 2016.

Where to BeginContinue Reading Electronic Voting in Community Association Elections Offers Convenience and Promotes Member Participation

Selling or buying a home within an association may not be as simple as buyer offers and seller accepts.

In Florida, condominium and homeowners’ associations may require potential buyers to submit an application to the association before allowing the buyer to close on the property. A buyer’s failure to timely submit an application to a…

This question comes up a lot from our association clients, who are often unsure about how to proceed, for fear of violating the automatic stay. Many associations know they should refrain from seeking collection efforts against homeowners for outstanding pre-petition assessments, but what about post-petition assessments? Further, can the association attempt to recoup pre-petition assessments without violating the automatic stay?

Case Study – Montalvo

A recent decision in In re Federico Augusto Montalvo, 546 B.R. 880 (M.D. Fla. 2016) addressed these issues. The owner of two condominium units filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy and specified in his Chapter 13 Plan that he was surrendering his interest in the units, although he held title to units during the pendency of the bankruptcy case.Continue Reading Can an Association Collect Assessments Once a Homeowner Files Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Community associations which have rental restrictions and policies that require association approval of prospective tenants should be cognizant of a new law that will go into effect this summer. Many association policies in this regard afford the association a fairly lengthy period of time, sometimes up to thirty days, to complete review and processing of…

Gated community associations are perceived as being safer communities, which attracts homeowners who are willing to pay a premium to feel safer in their homes. However, sometimes the expectation of having a high degree of security can backfire when a crime occurs within the gates.

We have seen an uptick in negligent security cases. Criminals will be criminals, and they find ways to exploit gaps in security measures. Homeowners who have taken their security for granted because of the gate and walls may be lax in taking personal precautions to protect themselves– leaving doors unlocked, not turning on security alarms, not being as vigilant when outside at night. Such oversight may result in the homeowner becoming a victim of a crime. Looking for deep pockets, the homeowner victims in some cases have sued their association for not having provided the security the homeowner claims they expect and have been guaranteed.Continue Reading Gated Communities: How Associations Can Reduce Liability for Neighborhood Crimes

While enjoying themselves on their balcony, condominium unit owners have been consistently molested by clouds of cigarette smoke emanating from their neighbor’s balcony. They want to know what the Association can do to help.

The answer depends on what is in the declaration of condominium.

Assuming the declaration doesn’t include a restriction against smoking on…

The Florida Marketable Record Title Act (“MRTA”) was enacted in 1963 to simplify conveyances of real property and provide greater certainty to landowners. Generally, MRTA provides that any person holding any recorded estate or interest in land for 30 years or more has title to the land, free and clear of most claims or encumbrances. By eliminating many old and stale title claims, MRTA makes examining title to real property less labor intensive. An important effect of MRTA is that covenants and restrictions may be extinguished 30 years after their creation.

Restrictive Covenants Imposed by Governmental Zoning Approvals Are Not Subject to MRTA

Recently, in Save Calusa Trust v. St. Andrews Holdings, Ltd., et al., Nos. 3D14-2682 & 3D14-2690 (Fla. 3d DCA Jan. 13, 2016), the Third District addressed whether a restrictive covenant that is recorded in compliance with a government-imposed land use approval is a title interest subject to extinguishment by MRTA. The developer in that case sought both a rezoning and an “unusual use” approval in 1967 to create a new golf course development in Miami-Dade County. In a resolution approving the developer’s “unusual use” application, the County’s Zoning Appeals Board imposed a restrictive covenant requiring the property to be perpetually maintained as a golf course. Thereafter, the restrictive covenant was recorded in 1968, and the developer subsequently sold the property. In 2012, after acquiring the subject property and realizing that the golf course was no longer profitable, the subsequent developer/owner filed an action in circuit court to declare the restrictive covenant void, arguing it had been extinguished under MRTA. The Third District disagreed and held that because the restrictive covenant had been imposed through the governmental zoning reclassification approval process, the covenant did not fall within the purview of MRTA’s extinguishing effect.

Impact of Proposed MRTA AmendmentsContinue Reading How the Save Calusa Trust Case and Proposed Legislation Impacts Florida Property Owners and HOAs

On October 26, 2015, the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes approved a proposed rule to amend and supplement the Florida Administrative Code provisions regarding condominium associations’ voting and elections. The proposed rule provides condominium associations with the option to allow the unit owners to vote using an online system, as an alternative to the traditional paper ballots.

While the language of the rule may change before it becomes final, as it stands, the following must occur before a condominium association may utilize an online voting system:Continue Reading Condominium Association – Requirements to Conduct Electronic Vote

If you own or are planning to buy a home in a “CDD” and aren’t sure what that means, this post is for you. A community development district, often referred to as a “CDD,” is a special purpose unit of local government created under Florida law, for purposes of financing, constructing, operating and maintaining community-wide infrastructure, improvements and services for the benefit of the properties within its boundaries. Examples of some of the types of improvements that might be included within a CDD are stormwater management systems, conservations areas, roadways, street lighting, and landscaping. Some CDD’s also own and operate utilities and recreational facilities such as clubhouses, swimming pools, and parks.

How does a Community Development District Operate?Continue Reading Understanding Home Ownership in a Community Development District

In April of last year, David Fowler shared a post about a seller’s obligation in a residential sale to disclose facts or conditions about the property that have a substantial impact on its value or desirability, and that are not easily observable to a buyer. As the post outlined, most of the disclosures are property specific, like the presence of mold or wood destroying organisms, or whether essential components of the home, such as the roof, plumbing or HVAC, are in disrepair. Sellers typically inform buyers of these conditions in a disclosure form usually provided by the seller’s real estate agent. There are, however, other disclosures required by Florida law that are equally as important to a buyer in making an informed decision whether to purchase a home.

Here are some of those disclosures that parties involved in the sale of a residential home should also be aware of:

Homeowners Association and Condominium Association

Continue Reading Important Reminders Regarding Disclosures