Rob Samouce writes articles and newsletters which are of interest to community associations, condominium associations and homeowners associations. The articles have been published in the Naples Daily News (www.naplesnews.com) and the newsletters are periodically sent to our clients. Those articles and newsletters that are listed below, and can be searched by key words in the articles or by date the article appeared in the Naples Daily News.
HOA House Bill 1203 Becomes LawAugust 12, 2024 - 2:10 PM
“Surfside” Condo Bills SB 4-D and SB 154 are Law of the LandJuly 1, 2023 - 11:10 AM
In a Condo who insures what and who pays for the damage?
/in Condos and HOA'sQuestions often arise when there is an insurable event (such as when a water or sewer pipe bursts), who pays for the damage? The Condominium Association or the Unit Owner. The answer will depend upon what the damaged items are. Section 718.111(11)(f), Florida Statutes, provides that: “(f) Every (Condominium Association) property insurance policy issued […]
Unit owners’ right to speak, tape record or videotape meetings
/in Condominium Associations, Homeowners AssociationsThis is the time of year during Season is when most Condominium Associations have their annual members meeting as well as board meetings. For some reason we see a scattering of Condominium Association directors who believe these Association meetings are for the directors to talk, argue, and make decisions and the members are there at […]
Condo director’s term limits and other qualifications for the board
/in Condominium AssociationsBack in 2018, a bill passed the Florida Legislature that said: “A board member may not serve more than 8 consecutive years unless approved by an affirmative vote of unit owners representing two-thirds of all votes cast in the election or unless there are not enough eligible candidates to fill the vacancies on the board […]
Do purely virtual association meetings comply with the law?
/in Condominium Associations, Homeowners AssociationsThe first quarter of the year is when the vast majority of Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations hold their annual members meetings. With the risk of spreading COVID-19 still around until vaccinations get widely distributed, many Associations are continuing to turn to having virtual meetings, rather than in person meetings, utilizing internet services such as Zoom […]
Do your Association COVID rules need adjusting as we move into Season?
/in Condominium AssociationsWith the cold weather up north and new lock downs in some states put in place from COVID spikes we are seeing a lot of snowbirds flying and driving back down here escaping from their lockdowns up north. While many Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations had loosened their COVID rules over the summer with many owners […]
Voting on amending governing documents
/in Condominium Associations, Homeowners AssociationsWell, Tuesday will be the day folks will go vote in person for President of the United States. That is for those who did not already vote by absentee ballot. When the votes are counted anybody who did not vote is not counted at all in determining who will win and be our next President. […]
Condominium budget preparation issues
/in Condos and HOA'sIt is that time of year when Condominium Associations start working on preparing their budgets for 2021. Usually a small committee or the board will have a “workshop” to come up with a preliminary budget and later in the year the board will vote on the final budget. We are often asked whether this budget […]
Association’s powers during pandemic
/in Condominium AssociationsMany associations are scheduling few regular board meetings now because of concerns of risk of spread of COVID-19 from gatherings. However, while fewer board meetings are taking place, association business needs to continue and the association needs to continue to contract for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the condominium and homeowners’ associations properties. So […]
When to enforce, when to change rules
/in Condos and HOA'sMost Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations have governing documents containing a number of restrictions and rules and regulations. They are designed to keep the communities attractive and the residents happy. Exteriors of homes and yards are to be kept up, roofs cleaned and condo lanai’s kept from becoming eye sores. Businesses with commercial vehicles and […]
Virtual meetings are the norm for now
/in Condominium Associations, Homeowners AssociationsUnder the emergency powers granted by the Governor and to ensure social distancing under his COVID-19 orders, many Associations cancelled their Annual meeting (usually held between January and March each Season) to be rescheduled at a later time. We are now into May and we are not sure when all social distancing orders or suggestions […]