The Florida Condo 3.0 bill seeks to tighten regulations for condominiums. After the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021, state legislators continue to strive for safety and accountability.   What Is the Florida Condo 3.0 Bill? The Florida Condo 3.0 bill aims to fortify the state’s…

Residents self-funded a project to rip out and convert Sweetwater West septic tanks. Now, they are expressing regrets over their decision.   Sweetwater West Septic Tanks Cause Woes in Orange County Five years ago, Mike King played a pivotal role in convincing skeptical neighbors residing…

The Florida State Legislature is considering offering a hurricane hardening program. If passed, the program is set to provide assistance to many condo associations in the state.   Hurricane Hardening Program in the Works Making headway in the state Senate, a bill is paving the…

A homebuilder sues HOA at Valencia Sound for a capital contribution fee amounting to $3,900. The Valencia Sound Homeowners Association would impose this fee on all resales. However, instead of stopping at resales, the HOA levied the capital contribution fee on unsold homes as well….

State legislator Rep. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee), with the support of Victor Torres, Osceola County’s state senator, is sponsoring bills to protect the interests of homeowners. These bills include requirements for distributing governing documents and caps on HOA fines.   A State Full of Homeowners Associations…

A new law under the Florida Statutes Section 720.3045 gives homeowners in planned communities more freedom to install, store, and display items on their property. This new law effectively denies a homeowners association’s ability to regulate the storage or possession of certain items that were…

The authorities in Florida announced a new arrest on Friday, December 1, 2023. It involves a homeowner who played a key role in a $2 million fraud scam in the Hammocks Community Association.   New Arrest of Ex-President’s Cousin Hammocks Community Association is the biggest…

Residents of a homeowners association in Florida believe that there has been selective enforcement of flag rules. This comes after their HOA dealt them citations for displaying Pride flags.   Is There Selective Enforcement of Flag Rules? Residents of the Wekiva Hunt Club Community Association…

Hurricane Ian damaged condominiums around Bonita Beach. Construction is still ongoing in the condo complexes, making residents unable to access their units. Many residents have to pay rent elsewhere while still covering the cost of maintaining their condominium unit ownership.   Hurricane Ian and Displaced…

Developer plans for a luxury condo include a loading dock and garbage collection site on 88th Street in Surfside. The street was dedicated as a memorial site for the 98 people who died in the Champlain Towers South building collapse in 2021. Families, as well…

A large special assessment may push residents out of their homes at Carriage Hills. The special assessment, according to the condo association, will go toward much-needed maintenance and repairs.   A Condo’s Declining Condition Residents of Carriage Hills feel concerned and angered after facing a…

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed four new members to Florida’s Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers. The Florida Senate has yet to confirm the appointments.   Regulatory Council of CAM Welcomes New Members Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced the appointment of four people to the…

House Bill 437, which Gov. DeSantis recently approved, expands the right of homeowners to display certain flags in Florida regardless of HOA rules. The newly passed law will take effect on July 1.   What Is House Bill 437? Homeowners associations are known for their…

Condo retaliation is a real problem for residents. And according to an expert, it’s more common than most people think.   Residents Punished for Exercising Rights There are many condominium associations in Florida. These associations are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of common elements,…

A Boca Raton HOA has filed a lawsuit against a homeowner over unapproved architectural changes, including removing a fence and repainting a home.   Multiple Unapproved Architectural Changes Umit Yigit is a homeowner in the Fieldbrook Estates property owner’s associations. The association recently filed a…

A loud condo parking bell has surrounding neighbors up in arms, even leading to a lawsuit.   Warning Bell in Parking Garage For many years now, a condo parking bell at the Ovation condo tower in St. Petersburg rang every time a vehicle left the…

Believe it or not, there are currently no laws against corrupt HOAs in Florida. That’s why advocates have sprung to action.   Corruption Rampant in HOAs Homeowners associations deal with a lot of money — sometimes even in the millions. Because of this, there is…

Several women have come forward complaining of a Hallandale Beach HOA president’s harassment of them. And the co-op association may find itself in equally hot water.   Verbal Abuse Caught on Camera A camera has captured footage of a Hallandale Beach co-op president verbally abusing…

Residents of a condo in Miami are complaining about noise from jail inmates nearby. The Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami houses more than a thousand inmates. Downtown 5th, a high-rise condo, towers over the detention, and residents say noise coming from the inmates is…

An HOA president dead in a Florida community has led to the arrest of her neighbors in Stuart, Florida. Cedar Pointe Condominiums is arguably a peaceful neighborhood. But, in early December, a disgruntled neighbor took up arms and decided to settle matters on his town…

Five current and former board members have been arrested for theft and racketeering in a Florida community. On Tuesday afternoon, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrests at a press conference. According to Fernandez Rundle, the arrested individuals had been financially benefitting from…

An HOA alligator attack has recently occurred in a gated retirement community in Bradenton, Florida. The attack resulted in the hospitalization of a resident.   A Dangerous Stroll Kathleen Marder, 77, was on an evening stroll through the Del Webb retirement community when, suddenly, an…

A Florida president’s abuse of power and use of a deadly weapon has resulted in his arrest. According to residents, this was years in the making.   Arrested for Aggravated Assault Joseph Steckler has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The 77-year-old president…

A homeowners association president arrested for grand theft managed to steal $44,000 from his HOA. And residents understandably feel dumbfounded by the turn of events.   The Duty to Collect Fees Anyone who has ever been a part of a homeowners association knows that paying…

An HOA sues an insurance company after the latter refused to give the former a payout for their claim. And it all started with a virus.   Dead Lawns Everywhere Valencia Reserve Homeowners Association, an active adult community located in Boynton Beach, Florida, represents 1060…

A couple in Margate installed a new condo door to prepare for hurricane season. However, the change quickly triggered a dispute between the two owners and their association.   Secured Approval Frank and Nicole Torres are residents of Viewpointe of Margate, a condominium in Florida….

An 11-year-old Maltese dog has allegedly been killed by other dogs in the neighborhood of Charlee Estates. Now, the owners are suing the HOA.   Owners Sue HOA Over Dog Attack Gloria Cabrera is the owner of Toby, an 11-year-old Maltese dog. On January 13,…

In a community in Punta Gorda, Florida, owners are still paying HOA fees on homes that burned down months ago.   No Homes, Yet Obligation to Pay Persists Four months ago, a number of homes in Emerald Pointe Community burned down. And while the owners…

Homeowners associations have started installing HOA license plate readers in Bay County, Florida. But, some organizations are raising concerns over privacy.   A Big Help to Local Police The police typically use license plate readers to catch car thieves, identify drivers, and recover missing persons….

Squatters in HOA communities are becoming a real problem, as one Orlando neighborhood has found. In fact, the problem became so bad that it took the association months to get rid of the squatters in its community.   How It Started Residents of Kingswood Manor,…

One condo association in Panama City Beach is charging a hefty sum for an HOA renovation. But, unit owners are pushing back. Now, a legal battle begins.   Condo Owners File Motion Unit owners in the Shores of Panama condo have filed a motion asking…

Can I install cameras in my condo? This is a question asked by many condo unit owners. But, one condominium in Florida has asked a resident to remove their doorbell camera after an incident of theft.   Theft Caught on Camera Back in June, a…

In Florida, condo safety has become a top concern after the collapse of the Surfside condominiums. In response, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the new Florida condo safety law, which aims to minimize the risks associated with the structural engineering of condo buildings.   The…