Firm News

September 25, 2022

Miami Herald Real Estate Law Column Authored by Roberto Blanch: “HOA Policies on Signs, Flags Require Diligent Discussion and Deliberation”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column was authored by partner Roberto C. Blanch and appears in today’s edition of the newspaper. The article, which is titled “HOA Policies on Signs, Flags Require Diligent Discussion and Deliberation,” focuses on the issues surrounding yard signs and flags in HOA communities that often arise prior to presidential and midterm elections. Roberto’s article reads:

. . . Many community associations have already established rules covering yard signs, flags and displays, as they have been a long-time cause of questions and concerns in gated enclaves. Even the Florida legislature weighed in on the matter years ago by enacting a state law prohibiting HOAs from banning respectful displays of the U.S. flag as well as the state flag and those of the branches of the armed services.

For community associations that have not yet addressed policies regarding yard signs and displays, taking a proactive approach may well be the most effective option for such a significant and recurring issue. Enacting policies could help to minimize the potential for discord that may arise if neighbors with opposing viewpoints try to outdo each other with walls of signs at their property lines. Not only would such displays be unsightly; they could also significantly compromise harmony within the community and the adherence to mutual respect among fellow owners/residents.

The place to start, as with most matters involving the enacting of new rules and restrictions, is with a careful review of an association’s governing documents by qualified legal counsel. The terms of an association’s declaration, by-laws and articles of incorporation — together with an analysis of the applicable statutes — will guide the decision establishing the approach which should be taken to make the changes. While at times it may be necessary to conduct and obtain votes of a community’s owners to amend the restrictive covenants, some restrictions may be more easily achieved by having the board of directors modify existing rules or enacting new rules.

September 11, 2022

Miami Herald Real Estate Column by Shari Wald Garrett: “Drones Can Get Tempers Flying High in HOA Communities”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The latest edition of the firm’s “Real Estate Counselor” column is authored by partner Shari Wald Garrett and appears in today’s edition of the Miami Herald. The article, which is titled “Drones Can Get Tempers Flying High in HOA Communities,” focuses on the issues stemming from the use of drones in communities with associations and the types of restrictions that many communities are putting in place. Her article reads:

. . . Owners and residents in HOA communities across the country have expressed concerns over drones equipped with cameras being capable of surveilling their properties and backyards. There have also been outcries that have made local media headlines over associations’ use of drones.

To address these issues, the Florida legislature enacted in 2015 the “Freedom from Unwanted Surveillance Act,” which bans the use of drones “equipped with an imaging device to record an image of privately owned real property or of the owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of such property with the intent to conduct surveillance on the individual or property captured in the image in violation of such person’s reasonable expectation of privacy without his or her written consent.”

The law further clarifies that a person is presumed to have a “reasonable expectation of privacy on his or her privately owned real property if he or she is not observable by persons located at ground level in a place where they have a legal right to be, regardless of whether he or she is observable from the air with the use of a drone.”

Interestingly for municipalities and possibly also for licensed community association managers acting as agents of associations, the law does not prohibit the use of a drone “by a person or an entity engaged in a business or profession licensed by the state, or by an agent, employee, or contractor thereof, if the drone is used only to perform reasonable tasks within the scope of practice or activities permitted under such person’s license.”

September 4, 2022

Miami Herald Column by Michael Clark and Susan Odess: “Don’t Let Down Your Guard: Here Are Some Hurricane Prep, Recovery Reminders for Storm Season’s Second Half”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

Shareholders B. Michael Clark, Jr. and Susan C. Odess authored the latest edition of the firm’s “Real Estate Counselor” column appearing in today’s Miami Herald. The article, which is titled “Don’t Let Your Guard Down: Here Are Some Hurricane Prep, Recovery Reminders for Storm Season’s Second Half,” focuses on the types of activities and initiatives that condominium associations along the coast and other Florida community associations should be taking in advance of as well as in the aftermath of a severe hurricane. Their article reads:

. . . Given the precarious condition of the Florida insurance marketplace today, it behooves property owners and community associations throughout the state to take the upmost precautions to prepare for any storms and recoveries as the season draws to a close in November.

For condominium associations on or near the coast, they should consider pre-negotiated service contracts with vendors who typically assist in the aftermath of a storm. This can include water restoration companies to mitigate flooding, debris removal companies, and security providers.

If a storm is approaching, boards of directors should begin by ensuring they have up-to-date paper rosters of the current residents stored at a secure and accessible location. Accompanying it should be a copy of the governing documents, a certified copy of the insurance policy, bank account information, service provider contracts, and contact information for all residents, staff and vendors.

It is also highly advisable to take date-stamped videos and photos of the entire property, including all mechanical and common elements.

August 21, 2022

Miami Herald Column by L. Chere Trigg: “Community Association Officers, Watch Out for Fraud: If You See Something, Say Something”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column appears in today’s edition of the newspaper and is authored by shareholder L. Chere Trigg. The article, which is titled “Community Association Officers, Watch Out for Fraud: If You See Something, Say Something,” focuses on preventing fraud and theft, as well as responding to them whenever they are suspected, in condominium associations and HOAs. Her article reads:

. . . In the community association setting, fraudsters can come in many forms including directors, property managers, bookkeepers, accountants, attorneys, contractors and others. Those who commit fraudulent acts typically pose as experts and work diligently to gain the trust of their victims, then these unscrupulous individuals deploy their schemes and begin to syphon funds from association accounts.

In many ways, modern technology has exposed associations to new sources of potential fraud and financial abuse. The deceit involved in some cases of fraud can be immense, and it often takes much more than cursory reviews of financial and account statements by board members and property managers to determine whether something is amiss.

Some of the telltale signs of potential malfeasance include unusual payments for unbudgeted purchases, payments remitted to unknown vendors, and/or unauthorized signatures appearing on checks or other official documents. However, the variety of potential schemes, which can also include bribes and kickbacks involving unscrupulous vendors, demands the upmost vigilance for effective prevention and detection.

August 14, 2022

Miami Herald Real Estate Law Column by Evonne Andris: “The Costs of Community Association Lawsuits, And How to Avoid Them”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column authored by partner Evonne Andris appears in today’s edition of the newspaper and is titled “The Costs of Community Association Lawsuits, And How to Avoid Them.” Evonne’s article focuses on the potential impacts of community association litigation, and the benefits of alternative options for resolving association disputes. It reads:

. . . In such an environment where emotions can run high, boards of directors and the owners they represent should always strive to let cooler heads prevail. While in certain situations litigation is a necessary tool to assist in the governance of a community, it is a tool that should be used with the understanding that escalating conflicts into litigation is almost always detrimental for both sides in association disputes, including those who eventually prevail in the matter.

Litigation is a disruptor of community harmony, and it could lead to very public squabbles that often make the local news. Such coverage can have long-term negative impacts for communities with their indefinite online lifespan via internet searches under a community’s name, making them potentially detrimental for property values.

Real estate brokers can also become keenly aware of communities that are rife with conflicts, and they will steer their clients elsewhere. Some lenders will also inquire about pending litigation in their loan pre-approval questionnaires, and they may become reluctant to approve mortgages for prospective buyers in communities involved in potentially significant lawsuits, or in those that regularly attempt to enforce their rules, policies and decisions through litigation as opposed to other forms of dispute resolution.

August 2, 2022

Miami Herald Op-Ed Column by Gary Mars: “Federal Condo-Safety Financing Proposal Can Prevent More Tragedies Like the Surfside Collapse”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

For the second time in the last several months, firm shareholder Gary M. Mars authored an op-ed editorial column in the Miami Herald on a vital new piece of federal legislation to provide for condo-safety financing options for condominium associations and their unit owners. Gary’s new article, which is featured in today’s op-ed Opinion page of the Herald, discusses what he calls a perfect storm of rising insurance, inspections, repairs and reserves expenses that could jeopardize the finances of many South Florida condominium associations and force some owners to either sell or face the prospect of foreclosure. It reads:

. . . A recent Palm Beach Post article chronicled how the Portofino South Condominium in West Palm Beach received an 82% increase from its insurance carrier, while its directors and residents had expected an increase of about 25%, which the community got in 2021.

Mary McSwain, 67, who bought her one-bedroom unit in January, said her monthly dues are going from $914 to $1,347.

For most communities, increased insurance costs will come first, but increases created by the provisions of the state (and some county) mandates for structural inspections, repairs and reserve funding are sure to follow. Those provisions do not start until 2024 for the affected buildings, but association boards would be well advised to begin securing and vetting offers from qualified professionals for their long-term budgetary planning.

A federal proposal introduced recently by Florida U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, together with another bill from the same lawmakers introduced in April, could provide relief for communities in immediate need of substantial repairs and renovations. The new Rapid Financing for Critical Condo Repairs Act of 2022 would let the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration insure condominium association building rehabilitation loans issued by private lenders.

July 31, 2022

Miami Herald Real Estate Column by Jonathan Mofsky: “Ruling Shows Pitfalls of Associations Enacting Changes Without Required Votes”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest “Real Estate Counselor” column in today’s Miami Herald is authored by partner Jonathan M. Mofsky and titled “Ruling Shows Pitfalls of Associations Enacting Changes Without Required Votes.” It focuses on a recent ruling by Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal that illustrates the potential consequences of associations that undergo alterations to their amenities and enact rule changes without the required vote and approval of their unit owners. Jonathan’s article reads:

. . . The case initially stems from a filing for mandatory non-binding arbitration with the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Michelle and Kevin Flint, owners of several units at the Lexington Place condominium in Orlando, objected to the condo association’s elimination of a common element dog park and a court for wallyball (i.e., a sport similar to volleyball played on a racquetball court). They alleged the association performed these material alterations without a vote and majority approval of the unit owners in violation of its own declaration of condominium.

The Flints also challenged a board-enacted rule that prevented tenants from maintaining pets at the condominium, which they claimed violated the pet restrictions contained in the declaration.

The couple prevailed in these proceedings on both issues. However, the association chose to escalate the matter by filing a lawsuit in Orange County circuit court based on the same arguments originally presented in arbitration.

The circuit court also ruled in favor of the Flints and affirmed the arbitrator’s decision. After considering the different provisions in the association’s declaration as well as the arguments of the parties, the court found that because the association’s declaration required approval by a majority vote of the unit owners prior to performing the alterations, the association’s board of directors alone lacked the authority to eliminate the community’s dog park and wallyball court.

July 18, 2022

Firm’s Laura Manning-Hudson Quoted in Condominium Terminations Article on Front Page of Today’s Sun Sentinel

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

Firm partner Laura Manning-Hudson is quoted in an article on the rise in condominium terminations in South Florida, and the disputes that often arise in communities considering such buyouts of all the units by developers hoping to raze the building and raise a new one its place. The article reads:

. . . The process is known in Florida as a condominium termination. In other states, it’s called a deconversion and it’s happening in cities like Chicago where apartment-to-condo conversions during the early 2000s haven’t succeeded as planned.

According to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, terminations of 336 condominiums encompassing 24,761 units were approved by the state Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes over the decade beginning July 1, 2012. They ranged in size from two units to 544. Thirty-nine were in Broward County, 86 were in Miami-Dade County, and 24 were in Palm Beach County.

Between 2013 and 2019, the annual number of terminations ranged from 32 to 43. During the pandemic, as eviction moratoriums were imposed, the number of terminations fell to 19 in 2020 and 22 in 2021. Eleven terminations have been approved by the division so far in 2022.

But real estate experts predict that terminations will increase in Florida as condo associations seek to avoid strict and costly requirements enacted in May in the wake of the Champlain Towers collapse last year in Surfside. The new laws require associations with buildings at least 30 years old and over three stories high to, before 2025, conduct structural inspections and amass enough money in their reserves to fund necessary structural repairs.

July 17, 2022

Firm’s Latest Miami Herald Real Estate Column by Lindsey Thurswell Lehr: “Condo Terminations Require Ample Consideration by Association Directors and Unit Owners”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest “Real Estate Counselor” column in the Miami Herald appears in today’s newspaper and is again authored by partner Lindsey Thurswell Lehr. Her column, which is titled “Condo Terminations Require Ample Consideration by Association Directors and Unit Owners,” focuses on the rise in South Florida in condominium terminations involving building-wide purchases of all the units by developers. While such terminations may be inevitable for some buildings, Lindsey writes that they are typically contentious with some owners steadfastly opposed to the forced sale of their property. Her column reads:

. . . Florida’s condominium termination statute is one of the most controversial aspects of the state’s condo laws. The current statute, which has seen several significant changes over the years, enables owners to work together in the bulk sale of their units to a developer hoping to demolish a condominium and build a new one in its place.

Currently, the statute allows for an optional termination with a vote of 80 percent of the unit owners, but it also enables five percent or more of the owners to block a termination from proceeding for a period of 24 months by rejecting it in writing or via a negative vote.

As my fellow firm partner Oscar Rivera wrote in this column in February, condominium developers are now setting their sights on many potential targets for termination bids in South Florida’s red-hot real estate market.

For aging properties that are now uncovering potential structural life-safety issues, the lessons from Surfside cannot be ignored. They must either immediately ratify a plan to fund and execute the necessary repairs and remediation, or they must work to secure the best possible condo termination exit strategy for all the unit owners as expeditiously as possible.

July 3, 2022

Firm’s Miami Herald Real Estate Column by Lindsey Thurswell Lehr: “Community Associations Should Consider Amending Their Amendments Process”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The latest edition of the firm’s Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column appears in today’s edition of the newspaper and is authored by Lindsey Thurswell Lehr. The article, which is headlined “Community Associations Should Consider Amending Their Amendments Process,” focuses on the inability for many community associations to amend their governing documents, and it suggests a possible solution. Lindsey’s article reads:

. . . Declarations, covenants and bylaws are recorded in the local court registry and provided to all buyers prior to their purchase, as they essentially set the terms of the contract and serve as mini constitutions setting forth the rights and duties between unit owners and their association.

These governing documents are originally codified by a community’s developer, and they often include dated and problematic provisions that are in dire need of updating as communities grow and owners’ goals change.

However, amendments to an association’s recorded governing documents often require a vote of the unit-owner membership, and sometimes the documents demand a minimum approval of two-thirds or even three-quarters of all the owners for an amendment to be ratified.

Such voting thresholds are extremely difficult for most communities to achieve. In fact, many Florida communities have difficulty achieving the legally mandated minimum voter-participation requirements to conduct valid board member elections or hold membership meetings.

Indeed, changing the recorded governing documents is often significantly more difficult than matters requiring only a simple vote of the board of directors, but communities with troublesome and outdated provisions should still take the challenge head on and make it a priority.