Community Associations

The Gerstin & Associates Community Association Practice Group represents homeowner and condominium Associations throughout South Florida. We limit our practice to representing the “Association”, versus any individual homeowner. Whether your community is self-managed or employs a professional property management company, we pride ourselves in our commitment to prompt, personal service.  Our lawyers encourage communication with our community association clients through emails, text, faxes or telephone calls. We understand the need for quick and easy to understand answers to your community association’s legal needs and we pride ourselves on being available to respond quickly to our clients’ needs.

Our Community Association Practice Group does not charge a monthly “service” or “retainer fee”.  Working a la carte to save money for our community association clients, our lawyers are versed in all areas affecting community associations. Some of the legal services provided by the Gerstin & Associates Community Association Practice Group to our community association clients are:

  • Legal counsel in the application of state and local law and court rulings and administrative decisions impacting on the operation of Community Associations.
  • Compliance with applicable Federal laws, such as the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Fair Housing laws, Employment Discrimination Laws, as well as similar state and local statutes and ordinances.
  • Interpretation, amendment and enforcement of your community association’s Governing Documents.
  • Answering day-to-day questions regarding operational, technical, regulatory and practical issues.
  • Advising on Hurricane preparation, protection and counsel on recovery and rebuilding efforts.
  • Assisting the Board of Directors on fiscal matters, such as budgeting, levying special assessments and establishing reserves.
  • Addressing maintenance and repair issues and distinguishing between those projects which require Board approval and those which require unit owner approval.
  • Drafting and reviewing contracts for the management, maintenance, repair and operation of the community.
  • Construction Defect Claims
  • Pursuit of statutory and other construction warranty claims
  • Assisting in planning and developing contracts for construction projects and complying with construction lien laws.
  • Collection of delinquent assessments.
  • Counseling owners ad-hoc committees in the pre-transition from the developer phase.
  • Attendance (upon request) at meetings for the election of directors and critical votes related to the operation of your community association.
  • Providing legal counsel for post-transition, unit owner-controlled Association on developer issues, including the resolution of warranty, accounting and representation claims, and the establishment of on-going operational controls.
  • Reviewing loan documents and structuring commercial lines of credit and/or arranging sources of financing for recreation lease purchases, capital improvements, etc.
  • Negotiation with cable service and new technology providers.
  • Review of cable service and new technology provider agreements.
  • Exclusive no cost access to our community association legal and statutory updates to keep your community association on top of the ever changing legal and statutory landscape.

Gerstin & Associates
40 SE 5th St., Suite 610
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Email: gerstin@gmail.com
Telephone: (561) 750-3456
Facsimile: (561) 750-8185


 

Recent Community Association Articles

 

  • 2023 Florida Community Association Final Legislative Session Update Video! -
  • New Federal Law Mandates Community Association Disclosures! - By: Joshua Gerstin, Esq.  (click here for .PDF version) On January 1, 2024, a new Federal law known as the “Corporate Transparency Act” (“Act”) went into effect. The Act requires community association directors (and others) to disclose significant private personal information to the United States government by January 1, 2025. Although the ACT was designed […]
  • 2023 Florida Community Association Legislative Update - On May 5, 2023, Florida’s Legislature concluded its annual 60-day legislative session.  Unlike previous legislative sessions, this year’s session garnered little media attention while the legislators were busy at work passing many laws impacting Florida’s community associations. For the .pdf version of this article, click here. Following is a list of the bills Governor Ron […]
  • SB 154 Glitch Bill to the Rescue! - On June 9, 2023, Governor DeSantis signed the “glitch” bill to purportedly fix some issues with the recent “Surfside” related inspection law.  The full text of the law is available here, and a .pdf of this article is available here. Unless otherwise indicated, this legislation takes effect immediately. As with many legislative efforts, determining the […]
  • Fannie Mae’s Secret Blacklist of South Florida Condominium Associations. - In the wake of Surfside, some South Florida’s condominium associations cannot find lenders willing to lend for capital projects or to potential buyers. It’s doubtful South Florida’s condominium associations that restored, rehabilitated, and stabilized their operation can ever leave the list. For more information: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Keep Secret “Blacklist” of Properties (therealdeal.com)