Q. I live in a gated community governed by an HOA. The HOA hired a security company to man the front gate and to patrol the community. The security company patrols in marked security vehicles. Security guards enforce the posted speed limits by using radar. When...
My Neighbors Constantly Complain… I Want To Pursue Charges!
Q: Are neighbor complaints about another homeowner open for member examination under an HOA? One or two of my neighbors complain continually about my property. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my house, particularly in comparison to properties surrounding me....
Do Board Members Have Control Of HOA Expenditure?
Q: There is a dispute amongst our membership regarding certain large maintenance projects that are soon needed and whether the members need to approve the spending needed to complete these projects. Can you please provide some clarity on the issue of when the members...
What Insurance Should We Ask Maintenance Vendors For?
Q. Our association wants to hire a small landscape company because the price quoted is outstanding, but the company has been slow to provide evidence of insurance for their business. What sort of insurance documentation should we require before hiring this type of...
Should Tenants Be Discriminated Against For A Previous Criminal Record?
In a nutshell, if a purchaser or renter (who is denied) proves that the criminal screening policy has a discriminatory effect, the housing provider must then justify the policy. HUD has stated that denials based on prior arrests or prior convictions generally cannot...
Auction Without Ownership – Is This Allowed?
Q. One of the homes in our community is going to a public auction this weekend, which is strange since the bank never took title to the property and the property is still titled in the owner's name. Of course, the owner abandoned the property 9 months ago and stripped...
Is A Neighborhood Watch Program A Good Idea For Community Associations?
Q. Our community is dealing with a situation between neighbors that involves a male teenager harassing the residents across the street. The teenager threatens and intimidates and has thrown objects at the home and the vehicles in the driveway. The neighbors subject to...
Can My Family Stay In My Condo While I Am Away?
Q. My condo association has restrictions on rentals and requires leases to be at least for 30 days. My relatives want to come down this summer and use my condo for a couple weeks while I am away. Will this be allowed given the 30-day rule for occupancy? A. I would...
An HOA Fine Is Upheld By Separate Filing Committee – Can The Board Overturn This?
I know that homeowners associations in Florida have the right to fine owners up to $100 for violations of the community rules. I am also aware that a fine must be reviewed and upheld by a separate committee before the association can collect the fine. If a fine is...
If A Director Owes Money To The Association, Can They Still Serve On The Board?
Q. I know the Florida laws provide that if a Director is more than 90 days delinquent in the payment of any monetary amount owed to the Association, the Director is no longer eligible to serve on the Board. What if the unit or home is owned by a corporation,...