In Bankruptcy, community association liens are often times “stripped off” if the home is worth less than the amount of the mortgages that are securing it. The United States Supreme Court put an end to that practice as it relates to second mortgages which presumably would also apply to community association liens. Full article here
Charged with administering Florida’s laws regarding the Unauthorized Practice of Law, the Florida Supreme Court recently issued an opinion stating the following tasks must be performed by an attorney:
• draft a claim of lien and satisfaction of claim of lien;
• prepare a notice of commencement;
• determine the timing, method and form of giving notices of meetings;
• determine the votes necessary for certain actions by community associations;
• address questions asking for the application of a statute or rule;
• advise community associations whether a course of action is authorized by statute or rule;
• prepare a certificate of assessments due once a delinquent account is turned over to the association’s lawyer;
• prepare a certificate of assessments due once a foreclosure against the unit has commenced;
• prepare a certificate of assessments due once a member disputes in writing the amount owed;
• draft amendments (and certificates of amendment that are recorded in the official records) to declaration of covenants, bylaws and articles of incorporation when members have to vote on these documents;
• determine the number of days to be provided for statutory notice;
• modify limited-proxy forms promulgated by the state;
• prepare documents concerning the right of the association to approve new prospective owners;
• determine affirmative votes needed to pass a proposition or amendment to recorded documents;
• determine the number of owners’ votes needed to establish a quorum;
• draft pre-arbitration demand letters;
• prepare construction lien documents;
• prepare, review, draft and have substantial involvement in the preparation and execution of contracts, including construction, management and cable television contracts;
• identify, through the review of title instruments, the owners to receive pre-lien letters; and
• oversee any activity that requires statutory or case law analysis to reach a legal conclusion.
Full opinion available here sc13-889 .
Click here to download the full report.
For a free analysis of your association’s community association Governing Documents please complete and fax the following to: (561) 750-8185 (no cover page needed) A representative from Gerstin & Association will contact you to set up your community association’s free Governing Document analysis.
Name: ____________________________
Association name: _____________________
Position at the association (director, property manager, etc.) _____________________
Email address: ______________________,
Telephone number: __________________
Click here to download the full report.
1. Failing to follow the specific procedures in your community association’s Governing Documents such as written notice from the association of the delinquent debt. Often times such failures, when objected to by a delinquent owner, requires the entire collection process to be restarted. Sometimes, such failures lead to expensive lawsuits and a large payout to the delinquent owner.
2. Agreeing to payment plans that are not in writing. A payment plan that is not in writing, is not worth the paper it is written on. Secure all payment plans in writing.
3. Extending grace periods and granting concessions to neighbors and friends but no one else. It is understandable you want to help a neighbor or friend that is having problems with paying your association’s assessments. However, each owner has to be treated in the same, uniform manner. Extending grace periods only to friends or neighbors exposes the entire community association to an expensive lawsuit from an aggrieved owner to whom a grace period was refused.
4. Publishing a list of delinquent owners. Shaming debtors is not only insensitive, it violates the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and exposes the association to an expensive lawsuit.
5. Failing to follow the specific collection deadlines in your community association’s Governing Documents. If the collection deadlines are too long or too short, have them amended. In the meantime, collections must proceed in accordance with the specific deadlines contained in your association’s Governing Documents. Failure to do so can easily lead to an expensive lawsuit and a large payout to the delinquent owner.
6. Failing to add interest and late fees onto delinquent assessments. Many community associations are unaware of their ability to impose late fees or are unable to properly calculate interest. Foregoing late fees and interest can significantly undermine a community association’s financial stability.
7. Failing to timely forward a delinquent account to your attorney for collection. Depending on whether it is a condominium or homeowners’ association, attorneys are required to wait between 60 and 90 days prior to the institution of foreclosure litigation. Banks are required to pay only 12 months of delinquent assessments. Sometimes, a bank will wait years before filing a foreclosure lawsuit. Association’s that fail to act timely and foreclose upon a delinquent owner’s home and rent the home until the bank takes title, can cost an association a year or more of assessment payments.
For help with avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins of Collecting Delinquent Assessments, and for a free analysis of your association’s community association collections, please complete and fax the following to: (561) 750-8185. A representative from Gerstin & Association will contact you to set up your community association’s free collection analysis.
Name: ____________________________
Association name: _____________________
Position at the association (director, property manager, etc.) _____________________
Email address: ______________
Telephone number: _____________________
Another example of the expanding scope of the Fair Housing Act, is the recently decided case of Bhogaita v. Altamonte Heights Condo. Ass’n, Inc., No. 13-12625 (11th Cir. Aug. 27, 2014). In Bhogaita a jury was persuaded the Altamonte Heights Condominium Association discriminated against the Plaintiff when it enforced its pet weight policy and demanded a removal of the plaintiff’s emotional support dog. The jury awarded Bhogaita $5,000 in damages, and the district court awarded Bhogaita more than $100,000 in attorneys’ fees. The association appealed both the judgment entered on the jury’s verdict and lost the appeal. Click the link below for the full text of the case
Governor Scott signs HB 7307 containing significant changes to the services a CAM (property manager can perform). HB7037 becomes effective July 1, 2014 and effects only Florida condominiums. The newly expanded CAM duties include:
The Bill also contains examples of new required forms. The new forms are for use with collection of condominium association assessments. Conspicuously absent from the bill were provisions lessening or mitigating the common law liability if a CAM violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Instead condominium associations remain ultimately responsible .
The full text of the bill is available by clicking the following link: HB 7037-cam bill
Check back each day for more analysis as Governor Scott continues to sign or veto legislation affecting Florida’s community associations.
A decomposing body that explodes does not give rise to coverage for explosions and personal property damage…
Full article here :http://nypost.com/2014/04/27/neighbor-must-pay-for-damage-caused-by-an-exploding-corpse/
The past legislative session was an extremely busy one for both homeowner and condominium associations. Initial legislative proposals ranged from an entire rewrite of Chapter 720 to a depository scheme to collect assessments that would have been a disaster. In the end, at least for this past legislative session, Florida’s community associations avoided disaster. Most, but not all, of the recently passed Florida legislation affecting Florida’s community association’s are reasonable. The hardest hit group in this year’s legislative session is by far homeowner developers. The full text of each passed bill can be found at: www.flsenate.gov; www.myfloridahouse.com; and www.leg.state.fl.us.
Officers and Directors
F.S. § 720.3033 Officers and Directors.- This past legislative session there many changes to the laws governing homeowner association officers and directors. Both Homeowner association Boards of Directors and their property managers should immediately update themselves on these new legislative changes to avoid unknowingly running afoul of the law. The underlined portion below is the amended text of F.S. § 720.3033:
720.3033 Officers and directors.—
(1)(a) Within 90 days after being elected or appointed to the board, each director shall certify in writing to the secretary of the association that he or she has read the association’s declaration of covenants, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and current written rules and policies; that he or she will work to uphold such documents and policies to the best of his or her ability; and that he or she will faithfully discharge his or her fiduciary responsibility to the association’s members. Within 90 days after being elected or appointed to the board, in lieu of such written certification, the newly elected or appointed director may submit a certificate of having satisfactorily completed the educational curriculum administered by a division-approved education provider within 1 year before or 90 days after the date of election or appointment.
(b) The written certification or educational certificate is valid for the uninterrupted tenure of the director on the board. A director who does not timely file the written certification or educational certificate shall be suspended from the board until he or she complies with the requirement. The board may temporarily fill the vacancy during the period of suspension.
(c) The association shall retain each director’s written certification or educational certificate for inspection by the members for 5 years after the director’s election. However, the failure to have the written certification or educational certificate on file does not affect the validity of any board action.
(2) If the association enters into a contract or other transaction with any of its directors or a corporation, firm, association that is not an affiliated homeowners’ association, or other entity in which an association director is also a director or officer or is financially interested, the board must:
(a) Comply with the requirements of s. 617.0832.
(b) Enter the disclosures required by s. 617.0832 into the written minutes of the meeting.
(c) Approve the contract or other transaction by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors present.
(d) At the next regular or special meeting of the members, disclose the existence of the contract or other transaction to the members. Upon motion of any member, the contract or transaction shall be brought up for a vote and may be canceled by a majority vote of the members present. If the members cancel the contract, the association is only liable for the reasonable value of goods and services provided up to the time of cancellation and is not liable for any termination fee, liquidated damages, or other penalty for such cancellation.
(3) An officer, director, or manager may not solicit, offer to accept, or accept any good or service of value for which consideration has not been provided for his or her benefit or for the benefit of a member of his or her immediate family from any person providing or proposing to provide goods or services to the association. If the board finds that an officer or director has violated this subsection, the board shall immediately remove the officer or director from office. The vacancy shall be filled according to law until the end of the director’s term of office. However, an officer, director, or manager may accept food to be consumed at a business meeting with a value of less than $25 per individual or a service or good received in connection with trade fairs or education programs.
(4) A director or officer charged by information or indictment with a felony theft or embezzlement offense involving the association’s funds or property is removed from office. The board shall fill the vacancy according to general law until the end of the period of the suspension or the end of the director’s term of office, whichever occurs first. However, if the charges are resolved without a finding of guilt or without acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the director or officer shall be reinstated for any remainder of his or her term of office. A member who has such criminal charges pending may not be appointed or elected to a position as a director or officer.
(5) The association shall maintain insurance or a fidelity bond for all persons who control or disburse funds of the association. The insurance policy or fidelity bond must cover the maximum funds that will be in the custody of the association or its management agent at any one time. As used in this subsection, the term “persons who control or disburse funds of the association” includes, but is not limited to, persons authorized to sign checks on behalf of the association, and the president, secretary, and treasurer of the association. The association shall bear the cost of any insurance or bond. If annually approved by a majority of the voting interests present at a properly called meeting of the association, an association may waive the requirement of obtaining an insurance policy or fidelity bond for all persons who control or disburse funds of the association.
720.306 Meeting of the Members; voting and election procedures; amendments —Nominations from the floor at Annual Meetings are no longer required and an election is not required unless there are more candidates than vacancies. Further, all members are now required to receive amendments to the governing documents within 30 days of their passage.
720.303 (5) Inspection and Copying of Records. Official records must be maintained for at least 7 years and have to be made available to parcel owners for inspection and copying within 45 miles of the community or within the county in which the association is located. The Association has 10 business days after receipt by the board or its designee of a written request. Records can be made available electronically. Owners can scan or photograph the records at no charge (if they use their scanner or camera). Copying rates and personnel charges were also amended.
(5) INSPECTION AND COPYING OF RECORDS.—The official records shall be maintained within the state for at least 7 years and shall be made available to a parcel owner for inspection or photocopying within 45 miles of the community or within the county in which the association is located within 10 business days after receipt by the board or its designee of a written request
The association shall allow a member or his or her authorized representative to use a portable device, including a smartphone, tablet, portable scanner, or any other technology capable of scanning or taking photographs, to make an electronic copy of the official records in lieu of providing the member or his or her authorized representative with a copy of such records. The association may not charge a fee to a member or his or her authorized representative for such use of a portable device.
The association may impose fees to cover the costs of providing copies of the official records, including, without limitation, the costs of copying and the costs required for personnel to retrieve and copy the records if the time spent retrieving and copying the records exceeds one- half hour and if the personnel costs do not exceed $20 per hour. Personnel costs may not be charged for records requests that result in the copying of 25 or fewer pages.
F.S. § 720.3085 Payment for assessments; lien claims. The most positive and important change this legislative session was legislation designed to correct or overrule the Court’s decision in the case of Aventura Management, LLC v. Spiaggia Ocean Condominium Association, Inc. HB 7119 amends F.S.§ 720.3085 and allows Florida homeowner associations to collect assessments, that were past due upon its ownership of a home, from a subsequent owner. The underlined portion below is the amended text:
720.3085 Payment for assessments; lien claims.—
(2)
(b) A parcel owner is jointly and severally liable with the previous parcel owner for all unpaid assessments that came due up to the time of transfer of title. This liability is without prejudice to any right the present parcel owner may have to recover any amounts paid by the present owner from the previous owner. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “previous owner” shall not include an association that acquires title to a delinquent property through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure. The present parcel owner’s liability for unpaid assessments is limited to any unpaid assessments that accrued before the association acquired title to the delinquent property through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure.
F.S. § 468.436 CAM Disciplinary Proceedings. This law was amended to classify a Community Association Manager’s violation of either Chapt. 720, 719 or 718 as a violation subject to a disciplinary proceeding by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. For the overwhelming amount of law abiding Community Association Managers, this legislative amendment should not be a cause for concern. The underlined portion below is the amended text of F.S.§ 468.436 (7):
Violating any provision of chapter 718, chapter 719, or chapter 720 during the course of performing community association management services pursuant to a contract with a community association as defined in s. 468.431(1).
Homeowner Association Developers
F.S.§ 720.303 (6)(d) Budgets. If a homeowner association developer elects to maintain a reserve account for the HOA, the developer’s budget must designate the particular purpose or use of the funds. The underlined portion below is the amended text of F.S.§ 720.303 (6)(d):
(d) An association is deemed to have provided for reserve accounts if reserve accounts have been initially established by the developer or if the membership of the association affirmatively elects to provide for reserves. If reserve accounts are established by the developer, the budget must designate the components for which the reserve accounts may be used. If reserve accounts are not initially provided by the developer, the membership of the association may elect to do so upon the affirmative approval of a majority of the total voting interests of the association. . .
F.S. § 720.307 Transition of association control in a community —Added to the threshold for an “automatic transition” to member control are a developer’s abandonment of its assessment, maintenance or construction responsibilities or if the developer files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, enters receivership or loses title to a common area through a foreclosure. The underlined portion below is the amended text of F.S. § 720.307:
720.307 Transition of association control in a community.—
With respect to homeowners’ associations:
(1) Members other than the developer are entitled to elect at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the homeowners’ association when the earlier of the following events occurs:
. . .
c) Upon the developer abandoning or deserting its responsibility to maintain and complete the amenities or infrastructure as disclosed in the governing documents. There is a rebuttable presumption that the developer has abandoned and deserted the property if the developer has unpaid assessments or guaranteed amounts under s. 720.308 for a period of more than 2 years;
(d) Upon the developer filing a petition seeking protection under chapter 7 of the federal Bankruptcy Code;
(e) Upon the developer losing title to the property through a foreclosure action or the transfer of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, unless the successor owner has accepted an assignment of developer rights and responsibilities first arising after the date of such assignment; or
(f) Upon a receiver for the developer being appointed by a circuit court and not being discharged within 30 days after such appointment, unless the court determines within 30 days after such appointment that transfer of control would be detrimental to the association or its members.
F.S. § 720.307 Pre-transition Board of Directors. The amendment to F.S. §720.307 also lowered the threshold for a member to serve as a director on the pre-transition Board of Directors. Members, other than the developer, are allowed to elect at least one non-developer related member to the pre-transition Board of Directors if 50% of the parcels in all phases have been conveyed to the members.
F.S. § 720.3075 Prohibited clauses in association documents–Developers. At
any point pre-transition of control (not the 90% conveyed mark) a developer’s unilateral amendment to the Governing Documents will be subject to scrutiny as to its reasonableness. No longer considered reasonable or allowable are “ . . .amendments to the governing documents that are arbitrary, capricious, or in bad faith; destroy the general plan of development; prejudice the rights of existing nondeveloper members to use and enjoy the benefits of common property; or materially shift economic burdens from the developer to the existing nondeveloper members.”
F.S. § 720.303 (13) Reporting Requirements — Homeowner associations are now required to register with the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. Whether this will lead to enhanced regulation similar to condominiums, and its associated higher cost of compliance, is yet to be seen. The legislation is due to expire in 2016.
F.S. §720.303(7) Financial Reports. Mandatory financial report thresholds for homeowners’ association were increased as follows:
F.S. §720.303(10)(g) Directors: Recall. A petition to challenge a homeowner’s association failure to act on a recall petition must be filed within 60 days from the end of the Board of Directors five day review period.
F.S. §720.305(2)(a) Suspensions. The suspension of an owner’s common area use rights cannot extend to the common elements needed to access the unit, utility services to the unit, parking spaces, and elevators.
F.S. §720.306(1)(d) Amendments: Mortgages. After July 1, 2013, mortgage holders rights to approve or disapprove of amendment is limited to a negative notice and limited rights to contest.
F.S. §720.306(6) Meetings: Speaking. Advanced notice is not required for a homeowner association member to speak at a Board of Directors’ meeting.
F.S. §399.02(9) Elevators. The July 1, 2015 deadline for retrofitting elevators is removed. However, certain renovations to an elevator may require compliance even in the event of a replacement or major modifications are required for compliance.
Financials. F.S. §718.111(13). A condominium developer is required to provide financial two years after recording of the surveyor’s certificate.
Budgets. F.S. §718.1112(2)(f). Up until the second fiscal year a condominium developer can vote for reserves up until the second fiscal year after recording of a surveyor’s certificate.
Transition. F.S. §718.301(1). Transition can occur as late as seven years after the recording of the surveyor’s certificate. without an accompanying assignment of developer rights.
Hurricane Protection. F.S. §718.113(5)(a). A condominium association’s board of directors has the authority to install hurricane resistant protection extends to doors and other items. authority to install additional hurricane resistant protection is extended to include doors and other similar hurricane protection. A code compliant unit entitles the unit owner to a credit for assessments levied related to installation of hurricane protection
Suspensions. F.S. §718.303(3). The suspension of an owner’s common area use rights cannot extend to the common elements needed to access the unit, utility services to the unit, parking spaces, and elevators.
Insurance. F.S. §718.111(11)(g)2. If a condominium owner does not undertake required work, the association may do so and assess the owner for the expense.
Records. F.S. §718.111(12). Condominium association members may use their own equipment, without charge, to copy Association records. Excluded records from disclosure includes personnel records of the Association and its management company. Absent a written request for exclusion, Homeowner association’s can print a community directory with each member’s name, address and telephone number, unless the member request to be excluded.
Financial Reports. §718.111(13). Mandatory financial report thresholds for condominium associations were increased:
Directors: Terms & Qualifications. §718.112(2)(d)2. Authorization for condominium association directors staggered terms can be authorized by an association’s articles of incorporation, as well as tits by-laws. Any owner that owes money to the association is ineligible to run for the Board of Directors and his/her name should not be on the ballot.
Directors: Recall. §718.112(2)(j). A petition to challenge a condominium association failure to act on a recall petition must be filed within 60 days from the end of the Board of Directors five day review period. The challenge can be through arbitration.
Stay Informed
As more legislation is introduced and existing legislation is applied by the courts and governmental authorities.
Subscribe to the Gerstin & Associates newsletter.
Name: _________________________________________________
Mailing address: ________________________________________
E-mail address: _________________________________________
Community name: ________________________________________
Position on board, if any: __________________________________
Fax this completed page to (561) 750-8185. Thank you.
Condominium Associations; Removing a specific date by which updates to the safety code for certain existing elevators and escalators may not be enforced in condominiums or multifamily residential buildings; authorizing an agent, employee, or representative of a condominium association to enter into a condominium unit that has been abandoned or unoccupied under certain conditions; providing that the unit owner and the tenant are jointly and severally liable for attorney fees and costs of the association if the association prevails in an action to recover rent after proper demand, etc. Last Action: 03/02/2013 Filed.
Firesafety Devices; Requiring certain battery-operated smoke alarms to meet specified standards, etc.
Senate Committee References: Community Affairs (CA) , Commerce and Tourism (CM) Governmental Oversight and Accountability (GO)
Last Action: 02/12/2013 Now in Commerce and Tourism
Effective Date: July 1, 2013
Property Fraud; Prohibiting a person from filing or causing to be filed, with intent to defraud another, a document relating to the ownership, transfer, or encumbrance of or claim against real or personal property, or any interest in real or personal property, which the person knows contains a material misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission of fact; providing criminal penalties; providing that a person who fraudulently records a construction lien is subject to specified fraud provisions, etc.
Senate Committee References: Judiciary (JU) , Criminal Justice (CJ) , Rules (RC)
Last Action: 01/04/2013 Referred to Judiciary; Criminal Justice; Rules
Condominiums; Allowing condominium units to come into existence regardless of requirements or restrictions in a declaration; extending the amount of time that a clerk of the circuit court may hold a sum of money before notifying the registered agent of an association that the sum is still available and the purpose for which it was deposited; changing the requirements relating to the circumstances under which a declaration of condominium or other documents are effective to create a condominium; revising the conditions under which a developer may amend a declaration of condominium governing a phase condominium; providing for an extension of the 7-year period for the completion of a phase, etc.
Senate Committee References: Regulated Industries (RI) , Judiciary (JU) , Rules (RC)
Last Action: 01/28/2013 Now in Judiciary
Effective Date: Upon becoming a law.
Residential Properties; Exempting certain elevators from specific code update requirements; revising specified supervision and regulation exemptions for homeowners’ association swimming pools; providing requirements for a condominium association board relating to the installation of hurricane shutters, impact glass, code-compliant windows or doors, and other types of code-compliant hurricane protection under certain circumstances; revising provisions relating to imposing remedies against a noncompliant or delinquent condominium unit owner or member, etc.
Last Action: 02/25/2013 Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) – (Committee Substitute)
Dispute Resolution; Revising the short title of the “Florida Arbitration Code” to be the “Revised Florida Arbitration Code”; providing that an agreement may waive or vary the effect of statutory arbitration provisions; requiring a court to decide whether an agreement to arbitrate exists or a controversy is subject to an agreement to arbitrate; providing that a person waives any objection to lack of or insufficiency of notice by appearing at the arbitration hearing; requiring certain disclosures of interests and relationships by a person before accepting appointment as an arbitrator, etc.
Senate Committee References: Judiciary (JU) , Rules (RC)
Last Action: 02/21/2013 Now in Rules
Effective Date: July 1, 2013
Homestead Exemption; Authorizing a person to report to a local property appraiser a possible homestead exemption violation under certain circumstances; requiring that the tax collector pay a specified maximum reward to the reporting individual after the recovery of any back taxes, interest, or penalties; requiring associations for condominiums and cooperatives to provide a list of rented units to the property appraiser’s office, etc.
Senate Committee References: Community Affairs (CA) , Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax (AFT) , Appropriations (AP)
Last Action: 01/11/2013 Referred to Community Affairs; Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax; Appropriations
Design Professionals; Providing that certain contracts executed by a business entity may specify that certain architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, and surveyors may not be held individually liable for negligence in the performance of professional services provided under those contracts; specifying that a contract that prohibits individual liability must meet certain requirements, etc.
Senate Committee References: Regulated Industries (RI) , Judiciary (JU) , Community Affairs (CA)
Last Action: 02/07/2013 Now in Judiciary
Effective Date: July 1, 2013
Homeowners’ Associations; Renaming the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes in the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to the Division of Florida Condominiums, Homeowners’ Associations, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes; requiring all moneys collected by the division relating to the regulation of homeowners’ associations to be deposited into the Florida Condominiums, Homeowners’ Association, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes Trust Fund; creating the Office of Community Association Ombudsman, etc.
Senate Committee References: Regulated Industries (RI) , Governmental Oversight and Accountability (GO) , Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government (AGG) , Appropriations (AP)
Last Action: 02/07/2013 Referred to Regulated Industries; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government; Appropriations
Homeowners’ Associations; Providing for association members to take photographs or images of association records without charge in certain circumstances; requiring association directors to file with the association secretary certification that they have read certain association documents, will uphold the documents, and will uphold their fiduciary responsibility to the members, or that they have completed an educational course approved by the department; providing procedures to be followed which relate to contracts or transactions between the association and a director or entity in which a director or officer is financially interested, etc.
Senate Committee References: Regulated Industries (RI) , Community Affairs (CA) , Rules (RC)
Last Action: 02/07/2013 Referred to Regulated Industries; Community Affairs; Rules
Mortgage Foreclosures; Revises limitations period for commencing action to enforce claim of deficiency judgment after foreclosure action; provides for applicability to existing causes of action; specifies required contents of complaint seeking to foreclose on certain types of residential properties; authorizes sanctions against plaintiffs who fail to comply with complaint requirements; requires court to treat collateral attack on final judgment of foreclosure on mortgage as claim for monetary damages; prohibits court from granting certain relief affecting title to foreclosed property; provides for construction relating to rights of certain persons to seek relief or pursue claims against foreclosed property; limits amount of deficiency judgment; revises class of persons authorized to move for expedited foreclosure; provides requirements & procedures with respect to order directed to defendants to show cause; provides failures by defendant to make filings or appearances may have legal consequences; requires court to enter final judgment of foreclosure & order foreclosure sale; provides for liability of persons who wrongly claim to be holders of or entitled to enforce a lost, stolen, or destroyed note & cause mortgage secured thereby to be foreclosed.
Last Action: 02/07/2013 Now in Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
Effective Date: upon becoming a law
Condominiums; Allows condominium units to come into existence regardless of requirements or restrictions in declaration; extends amount of time that clerk may hold sum of money before notifying registered agent of association that sum is still available & purpose for which it was deposited; changes requirements relating to circumstances under which declaration of condominium or other documents are effective to create condominium; revises conditions under which unit owners may vote on issues related to preparation of financial reports; revises conditions under which developer may vote to waive or reduce funding of reserves; revises conditions under which developer may acquire leaseholds, memberships, or other possessory or use interests; revises conditions under which unit owners other than developer are entitled to elect at least majority of members of board of administration; revises requirements related to documents that developer must deliver to association; revises conditions under which developer may amend declaration of condominium governing phase condominium; provides for extension of 7-year period for completion of phase; provides requirements for adoption of amendment; provides that amendment adopted pursuant to this section is exempt from other requirements of law.
Last Action: 02/12/2013 Now in Business and Professional Regulation Subcommittee
Residential Properties; Exempts certain elevators from specific code update requirements; revises specified supervision & regulation exemptions for homeowners’ association swimming pools; requires community association to allow member or member’s representative to use certain portable devices to make electronic copies of association records; revises provisions relating to association’s power to purchase land or recreational lease; revises terms of members of association’s board of administrators & revises eligibility criteria for candidates; revises condominium unit owner election & condominium association meeting notice & recordkeeping requirements; provides requirements for condominiums relating to election challenges, recalls, & installation of impact glass or other code-compliant windows; provides requirements for condominiums created within condominium parcels; revises provisions relating to imposing remedies; revises liability of unit owners; provides liability limitations of certain first mortgagee or its successor or assignees; revises records not accessible to members or parcel owners; revises provisions relating to amendment of declarations; provides criteria for consent to amendment; requires notice to mortgagees regarding proposed amendments.
Last Action: 02/21/2013 Now in Business and Professional Regulation Subcommittee
The Lake Worth Drainage District has issued a new ” how-to” guide for for Weir Gate operation at South Florida community associations. This helpful guide is a great resource for both homeowner and condominium associations tasked with the important job of safely and efficiently operating a weir gate. Considering the instability of South Florida’s weather, along with its flat, low lying landscape, knowing how to operate your community associations weir gate can go a long way in avoiding or preparing for rising water. The guide can be found here: 2922012_lwdd_guidelines_for_associations
"The best revenge is massive success."
--- Frank Sinatra