SB 522 (Diaz) is designed to preempt regulation of short-term rentals to the State of Florida. In effect, this bill would prohibit a local government from passing a law, ordinance or regulation prohibiting or regulating the duration of vacation rentals. Thankfully there is currently a specific exemption under the bill for condominium, cooperative and HOA […]
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Community Update – January 2021
With 2020 finally in the rearview mirror, we dive into what’s ahead for community associations in the New Year. In addition to enjoying this month’s featured articles, we encourage you to take part in our COVID-19 vaccine survey. We want to hear your thoughts on whether or not your association is considering becoming a vaccine […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – December 2020
Since early on in the pandemic, boards and management professionals have shouldered the immense responsibility of ensuring the safety of their residents. Now, with the imminent rollout of the vaccine, they will face a whole new set of challenges which we delve into in this issue of CUP. For those who wish to discuss this […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – November 2020
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! While this year has not been without challenges, we are tremendously grateful to all of our clients and friends and wish you and your loved ones a joyous and healthy holiday season. Enjoy this month’s edition of CUP and we look forward to seeing you next month! […]
Read MoreBecker Spotlight: November 17, 2020
The incoming Biden Administration began to take shape today with a formal announcement of President-elect Joe Biden’s top White House advisers. Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) will be leaving a safely Democratic House seat to serve as a senior adviser to the President and Director of Public Engagement for the new administration. Jen O’Malley Dillion, who […]
Read MorePost-2020 Election: Biden Transition and First Term
After a long week, most major media outlets are now reporting that Joe Biden has secured the votes needed to win the state of Pennsylvania, thus putting him over the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the election. Although Joe Biden is now widely accepted as the President-Elect as states continue the process of […]
Read MoreBecker’s Spotlight: The State of the House of Representatives Moving Forward
The State of the House of Representatives Moving Forward Nearly a week after Election Day, Democrats across the country were celebrating as the major television networks declared Joe Biden the next President of the United States. That celebration, however, may be short-lived, as both parties prepare for two Senate elections in Georgia on January […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – October 2020
The 2020 Legislative Guide is here! Florida’s 2020 Session produced a bevy of newly passed community association legislation including the long-awaited criminalization of fraudulent emotional support animal requests. New laws regarding registration requirements for “55 and over” communities, rights for HOA residents to use fireworks on the 4th of July, and housing discrimination laws were […]
Read MoreBecker’s Spotlight: Top 2020 House Races to Watch
Top 2020 House Races to Watch After two years of unified Republican control of the White House and both chambers of Congress following the 2016 election, Democrats reclaimed a significant majority of the 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans held an impressive 59-seat majority after the […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – September 2020
Can you believe it’s autumn already? National and local elections are fast approaching and the chatter about whether or not political signs should be permitted in private residential communities is building. We delve into this issue as well as discuss how to keep your HOA director elections, which are also on the horizon, from turning […]
Read MoreCALL’s COVID-19 Survey Results
During the Summer of 2020, CALL’s COVID-19 Survey was open for Floridians to share their experiences during the height of the pandemic.More than 1,000 association directors, managers and residents took the time to share what steps helped them keep their communities safe as well as the challenges they encountered along the way.
Read MoreCommunity Update – August 2020
Have you heard the news? We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Association Adjusting, the one and only public adjusting company that exclusively serves community associations throughout Florida. Association Adjusting is a licensed and insured public adjusting firm led by Joseph “Joe” Connelly, an advocate for insurance consumers for more than a decade. We hope […]
Read MoreHurricane Insurance Claims for Condominium Associations
There is a lot of information on how associations can prepare for hurricanes but much less information as to what happens after the hurricane, particularly as it pertains to insurance claims. A question that managers and board members need to consider is, what is required after a hurricane to ensure compliance with your insurance policy […]
Read MoreIs Second-Hand Smoke Leaving a Bad Taste in Your Mouth?
Long gone are the days when you would be greeted at a restaurant with the question; “Smoking or non-smoking?” Frequent flyers can no longer light up on flight.
Read More“What to Do When a Vendor Damages Association Property,” FCAP Managers Report
Service providers often cause property damage in community associations. Imagine a furniture delivery driver in a rush to make his next appointment, clipping your community’s security gate and taking a portion of it down the road, or a garbage truck leaking hydraulic fluid on your community roadways, leaving permanent stains. What should your association do […]
Read MoreU.S. Department of Labor Announces Guidance for the Lost Wages Assistance Program to Provide Needed Relief to Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the release of guidance to help states implement the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. LWA is authorized by Presidential Memorandum, and provides claimants in most Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs up to $400 per week additional benefits, starting with weeks of unemployment ending on or after […]
Read MoreBeckerNorth Newsletter – July 2020
In July’s newsletter, we cover the opening of New Jersey public swimming pools, court orders and elections that are the subject of new regulations for common interest communities, new regulations for community tennis courts, and how an association can handle a forbearance if a homeowner can’t meet their obligations. We also recognize Community Association Shareholder […]
Read MoreSenate Introduces HEALS Act – First Step Toward Passage of Next Coronavirus Relief Package
Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced the HEALS Act, the first step in negotiations toward passage of the next coronavirus relief package. I’ve attached the section by section and wanted to first give you a few headlines related to local government needs: The HEALS Act does not allocate additional state and local aid beyond […]
Read MoreDoes My Association Include Fully Funded Reserves in Its Proposed Budget?
With the budget season approaching, many condominium associations may wonder how to prepare a budget when it’s anticipated that members will vote to waive or partially fund reserves. The board must create a proposed annual budget that includes estimated revenues and expenses. In addition to annual operating expenses, Section 718.112(2)(f)(2)a, Florida Statutes, requires the proposed […]
Read MoreBe Wary of MRTA
A little-known law, which can present big problems for planned residential and commercial subdivisions, has undergone a number of recent changes intended to make it more manageable and less impactful on the associations which oversee or manage planned residential and commercial subdivisions.
Read More2020 Florida Session: Legislative Update
With the legislative session closed and the deadline expired for Governor DeSantis to veto Florida House or Senate bills, we now know the laws that will affect community associations. Below is a summary of some of these new laws impacting Florida community associations. Our forthcoming Legislative Guidebook will contain a more in-depth analysis along with […]
Read MoreNext Phase Stimulus Bill Update
When Congress returns next week, we believe talks will intensify on a new package of pandemic-related stimulus. The House is scheduled to start its August recess by August 3, with the Senate following a week later, and both the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have said that they want Congress to complete […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – June 2020
June means the start of Hurricane season in Florida and while we always hope for a quiet year, it’s important that your community take steps now to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. This issue includes Becker’s newly interactive 2020 Hurricane Guide which provides important tips and information to help prepare and protect your community. Make […]
Read MoreDepartment of Economic Opportunity Launches New Disaster Mitigation Program
On June 15, the Department of Economic Opportunity launched the final Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation program, Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program. The Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program is designed to provide funding opportunities for local governments and state agencies to develop large-scale mitigation activities that allow Florida communities to better withstand […]
Read MoreTo Notice, or Not to Notice, That Is the Question: Closed Board Meetings
The answer to the question of whether all board meetings must be properly noticed to the members is YES. Even the emergency powers section of the community association statutes require notice to be given as is practicable.
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