Q: One of the board members of our homeowners’ association has attended only one meeting in the past year and has not provided any reasons for their absences. I found no clear guidelines in our association’s documents on how to handle such situation. Our board president is content to tolerate the absences. Are there any […]
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Community Update – August 2024
As the back-to-school season kicks off, it’s the perfect time to embrace new beginnings and fresh opportunities! This issue of CUP highlights everything you need to know to stay organized for the year ahead. We address late assessments, architectural review, and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Volunteers. We also celebrate 39 Becker Attorneys recognized in […]
Read MoreBecker Expands Association Adjusting Firm with Additions of Ken Shriberg and Chris Cury
Becker is thrilled to welcome The Adjusters Group, LLC (TAG) veteran public adjusters Ken Shriberg and Chris Cury to its Association Adjusting team. Association Adjusting is a licensed and insured Public Adjusting Firm that exclusively serves community associations throughout Florida. Ken Shriberg has been a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster since 2006 and a Member of […]
Read More“Architectural Review in Homeowners’ Associations” – FCAP Managers Report
Architectural restrictions are one of the many reasons people purchase homes governed by homeowners’ association as they serve to preserve an aesthetic quality to the community and the value of the homes in the community. However, architectural restrictions are also historically a great source of contention between the Board or architectural review committee and the […]
Read MoreRedesigning Golf– Teeing Up a Discussion on Golf Course Communities with Golf Course Architect Erik Larsen
For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Ready to reevaluate your perceptions of golf course communities and their design? In this episode, host Donna DiMaggio Berger takes you behind the scenes with Erik Larsen, Golf Course Architect and former Vice President of the Arnold Palmer Design Company, as he reveals the intricacies of transforming […]
Read More“Marketable Record Title Act Requires Action By HOA” – News-Press
Q: I am a member of a homeowners’ association that was established with governing documents written and recorded in 1994. Recently, I received a packet for an upcoming association meeting, which included an item on the agenda about renewing our governing documents under the Marketable Record Title Act. This packet also included a notice informing […]
Read More“Exactly What Must Be Included in the Notice of Late Assessments?” – FCAP Managers Report
As most of us are by now familiar with, in 2021 the Florida legislature enacted significant statutory changes to Chapters 718, 719, and 720, requiring a new notice to delinquent owners that must be mailed by an association before demanding payment of attorney’s fees related to the collection of unpaid assessments. Since July 1, 2021, […]
Read More“Wrap Up of 2024 Legislative Review” – News-Press
Today’s column is the seventh and final installment of our review of 2024 legislation affecting Florida community associations. Today, we will continue our review of some major changes made to the laws regulating homeowners’ associations, with a focus on new rules on architectural changes, governing document disclosures, hurricane protection requirements, as well as some miscellaneous […]
Read More2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 39 Becker Attorneys
The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, one of the oldest and most revered peer review publications, recognizes 39 Becker attorneys across the Firm’s practices. Our own Joseph Adams was also recognized as Lawyer of the Year, a distinction based on the highest overall peer feedback for his specialty and location. Adams has focused […]
Read MoreCERTified Safe: Empowering Community Associations with Dr. Jesse P. Spearo
For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Can ordinary citizens become heroes during a disaster? Discover how Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) help everyday people play essential roles in emergency situations. Join Take It To The Board host Donna DiMaggio Berger and guest Dr. Jesse P. Spearo, the Emergency Management Administrator […]
Read More“2024 HOA Law Changes Explored” – News-Press
Today’s column is the sixth installment of our review of 2024 legislation affecting Florida community associations. Today, we will continue our review of some major changes made to the laws regulating homeowners’ associations, with a focus on new rules on fines by HOA’s and new regulations on pickup trucks. Fining and Suspension of Use Rights: […]
Read More“2024 Legislature Makes Significant HOA Changes” – News-Press
Today’s column is the fifth installment of our review of 2024 legislation affecting Florida community associations. The first four pieces dealt with changes to the condominium statutes and rules for community association managers and management companies. Today, we will begin our review of some major changes made to the laws regulating homeowners’ associations. Mandatory Websites: […]
Read MoreAdditional Opportunity to Extend Your Permit Expiration Dates
Some property owners, developers, construction industry professionals, and other building permit- and authorization-holders may be eligible for extensions to preserve their development and construction rights. A Florida law allows certain qualifying permits and authorizations to be extended beyond their current expiration dates once the Governor issues a state of emergency stemming from natural causes. Governor […]
Read MoreThe Truth About Service Animals and ESAs– Real vs. Fake
For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Millions of people depend on assistance animals to help them engage in major life activities. On the flip side, some people try to pass off their pets as assistance animals to skirt the rules in pet-restricted communities, restaurants, airplanes, and other places where pets […]
Read MoreCommunity Update – July 2024
2024 was a particularly active year for community association legislation and several changes to the condominium law became effective July 1, 2024. What does that mean for your community association? This issue of CUP highlights some of those changes in Joseph Adam’s annual legislative review and Yeline Goin’s article on HB 1203. Don’t miss Becker’s 2024 Legislative Guidebook which […]
Read MoreDelivering Marketable and Insurable Title After Condo Termination
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, many condominiums in the Southwest Florida area were substantially damaged. While many Associations are in the process of rebuilding, some have not been able due to the high costs involved. As result, some of these associations have elected to terminate the condominium form of ownership and sell the condominium […]
Read MoreAsk About Incidental Damages Before Starting Your Condo’s Maintenance Project
Incidental damages are damages that are caused by associations to portions of buildings that unit owners are required to maintain. The most common example occurs when an association has its contractor go into a unit and remove portions of the wall or the floor to gain access to common elements which require repair. Incidental damages […]
Read MoreHurricane Preparedness and Electric Vehicles
It is mid-July and we have already experienced two (2) named storms this year. Where are you in your hurricane preparedness? In addition to general hurricane preparedness, local municipalities and programs throughout the state have been warning against the potential dangers of leaving electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, electric golf carts, etc. (“EV”) plugged-in during storms. […]
Read More“2024 Legislative Review Continues – Part 2” – News-Press
Today’s column is the fourth installment of our review of 2024 legislation affecting Florida community associations. The first three pieces dealt with changes to the condominium statutes. Today we will wrap up the discussion on changes to the condominium statutes and cover some major changes made to the laws regulating community association managers and management […]
Read More“HB 1203—Changes to the Homeowners’ Association Act” – Florida Community Association Journal
It seems that every year we can count on the Florida legislature making additional changes to the Homeowners’ Association Act (“HOA Act”), and the 2024 legislative session was no different. One of the HOA bills adopted by the legislature is HB 1203. The bill was formally sent to the governor on May 21, 2024. As […]
Read More“2024 Legislative Review Continues” – News-Press
Today’s column is the third installment of our review of 2024 legislation affecting Florida community associations. The first two pieces dealt with changes to the condominium statutes, as will today’s review. Electronic Voting: In a seemingly minor but potentially substantial change, the law now provides that if the board authorizes online voting, the board must […]
Read MoreA Board Members’ Guide to Unexpected Issues – Your Questions Answered
For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Navigating the complexities of community association governance is increasingly challenging due to evolving laws, heightened personal liability for board members, and onerous regulation including the personal information required of volunteer board members under the controversial Corporate Transparency Act. In this episode of Take It […]
Read More“Review of Condo Law Changes Continues” – News-Press
This is the second installment of my annual legislative review for 2024. The first segment looked at changes to the condominium laws regarding director education, mandatory website requirements, new board meeting procedures, and the addition of criminal penalties for certain aspects of condominium statute violations. Today we will look at more changes to the condominium […]
Read More“Annual Legislative Review Begins” – News-Press
2024 was a particularly active year for community association legislation. There were several hundred pages of legislation affecting condominium, cooperative and homeowners’ associations. Community association legislation is often described as “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” 2024 was a notable exception in that not much “good” appears to have been done. Today we will […]
Read MoreFrom Chaos to Order: Tips from a Decluttering Pro on Hoarding and Maintaining Your Association’s Records
For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here! Are you struggling with a hoarder in your association and need practical advice? Do your Association’s books and records need some attention now that new laws in Florida require them to be kept in an “organized fashion”? Tune in to “Take it to the […]
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