Condominium Act – The Condo and HOA Law Bulletin

Generally speaking, condominium associations have the legal obligation to maintain insurance on all of the condominium improvements, with some exceptions. Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes (the “Condominium Act”), expressly excludes the following from an association’s insurance responsibility:

[A]ll personal property within the unit or limited common elements, and floor, wall, and ceiling coverings, electrical fixtures, appliances, water heaters, water filters, built-in cabinets and countertops, and window treatments, including curtains, drapes, blinds, hardware, and similar window treatment components, or replacements of any of the foregoing which are located within the boundaries of the unit and serve only such unit. Such property and any insurance thereupon is the responsibility of the unit owner. Continue reading “Are Condominium Unit Owners Required to Carry Insurance?”

On July 1, 2015, recent amendments to Chapters 718 and 720, Florida Statutes went into effect which will impact all condominium and homeowners’ associations in the state of Florida.

Chapter 720, Florida Statutes was officially renamed the “Homeowners’ Association Act,” and among the more significant changes, the procedure for fining unit owners for violations of the governing documents has been amended to clarify that fines must initially be levied by the board of directors, subject to an opportunity to be heard before an impartial fining committee whose role is limited to confirming or rejecting the fine. It remains unclear whether a fine must be reviewed by the fining committee where a unit owner fails to actually request a hearing. As a result, we continue to recommend that all fines be made subject to review by the fining committee. Continue reading “Community Associations: Amendments to Chapters 718 & 720, Florida Statutes”