Holiday Décor: Ho Ho Ho, or Bah Humbug?!

03 Jan 2022 in
The holidays can bring out the best in a community: parties, lights, statues, and festive adornments throughout the neighborhood are common and largely welcomed in community associations. However, there is certainly disparity between what some members adore as tasteful, festive, and appropriate holiday décor, versus the Griswoldian “floodlights” that plague some neighborhoods at all hours of the night.

Notice of Late Assessment Made Simple

19 Nov 2021 in
In June, we notified readers that beginning July 1, 2021, the Florida Statutes would begin requiring a Notice of Late Assessment (“NLA”) as the new “first step” in the community association assessment collection process.

Can I Serve as a Member of Our Board of Directors?

12 Oct 2021 in
Anyone seeking to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of a Florida Community Association will need to determine their eligibility to run for the Board, or to be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors.

Nuisance

21 Sep 2021 in
Of all the violations a community association must deal with, nuisances are perhaps the most troublesome because of their inherent uncertainty. Unfortunately, determining what constitutes a nuisance and determining when to take action with respect to a nuisance is somewhat troublesome. While it is not difficult to provide community association managers, associations, boards and developers with multiple definitions of the word “nuisance”, listing all the activities which constitute a nuisance or affording a black and white guideline for determining when a particular condition rises to the level of a nuisance is far more difficult, if not impossible. Nevertheless, the following definitions may be of some help, especially when combined with the discussion which follows:

Florida’s Legislature Gets One Right – and A Few Wrong

30 Jun 2021 in
This year’s Florida legislative session was fairly productive for community associations. Among the statutory amendments scheduled to take effect July 1, 2021 are two which could significantly impact our clients’ covenant enforcement and collection procedures, and we are thus supplying this brief update.

Changes in the Law for “55 and Older” Communities

25 Jun 2021 in
Florida Law governing “55 and Older” Communities, which Communities are permitted to exist under exceptions to the Federal and Florida Fair Housing Acts (Chapter 760.20), has been revised. The revisions to the Statute no longer require a “55 and Older” Community to file bi-annual reports to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, nor the payment of a registration fee.

Ding Dong! Association Calling!

24 Jun 2021 in
Starting a new resident off in your community may be one of the most important tasks you do as a Board Member. If a resident is welcomed into the community and in a warm, friendly manner advised of their responsibilities as a member of a deed restricted community, it can pay off in dividends to the community. They can be a friendly resident and supportive of the Association’s rules and regulations and a productive, involved resident. Or they can become one of your worst nightmares.