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What are Pooled Reserves and How Do We Implement Them?

Cash flow funding of condominium reserves, often referred to as the “pooling” method of reserve funding, is a concept that was introduced many years ago through an amendment to the state’s administrative rules regulating condominium finances.

Under the traditional, straight-line method, required reserve contributions are calculated by using a formula that divides the cost of replacing a particular item by the number of useful years that item has left, minus the reserve funds on hand for that item, with the result being the amount to fully fund that item for the next fiscal year. Each reserve component must be separately funded and must appear as a separate line item in the reserve schedule, which is part of the budget. Absent a majority vote of the unit owners, monies for each separate reserve item can only be used for that particular reserve item.

Under the pooling or cash-flow method, each reserve item is still separately funded but the money is put into one account. The reserve schedule computation is a bit more complicated and typically needs to be prepared by an accountant or reserve consultant. The basic theory is that the association attempts to predict the year a particular asset will require deferred maintenance or replacement, and a mathematical formula is then applied to calculate required contributions for each year. In theory, the money should be available when needed, with a lower contribution than required using the straight-line method.

A pooled reserve fund can then be used for any reserve item as the need arises, creating more flexibility for the board, which most associations see as the main benefit, as opposed to having to take an annual owner vote for inter-fund spending when the straight line method is used. In other words, the board can use any money in the reserve fund for an earmarked item that is within the “pool.” Conversely, with straight-line funding, the board could not, for example, use money in the painting reserve to pay for re-roofing, unless a successful vote of the unit owners is obtained.

The main benefit of pooled reserves is greater flexibility in how the money is spent. However, the same result can be accomplished by taking a yearly vote to permit the use of reserves for a non-scheduled purpose.

There are a few negative aspects of pooled reserves, however. First, the formula is complicated and most volunteer board members, community association managers and lawyers do not possess the analytical skills necessary to compute the required charts. Second, since the funding is predicated on anticipated asset failure many years into the future, an imprecise science at best, there can be substantial underfunding if the actual cash flow deviates from the assumptions in the formula. As a result, there may be a greater likelihood of the need to adopt a special assessment.

If your association currently uses straight-line reserve accounts, you would need approval of the unit owners (i.e. a majority of the owners who vote at a meeting where a quorum is attained) to put that money into the “pool.” Once the vote to switch to pooled reserves is successful, no further votes would be required in future years and the association could continue to operate under the pooling method.

 

David MullerDavid G. Muller is an attorney with the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., which represents community associations throughout Florida, with offices in Naples, Fort Myers and 11 other Florida cities. The firm focuses a substantial amount of its practice on condominium and homeowners association law. 

 

 

 

Condominium Association Statutory Required Websites – Facts and Myths

Condominium Association Statutory Required Websites – Facts and Myths

Section 718.111(12)(g), Florida Statutes, was added to Chapter 718, Florida Statutes in 2017, requiring that by July 1, 2018, an association with 150 or more units which does not manage timeshare units is required to post digital copies of the documents specified in the section on its website, and lists specific documents that are required to be posted on the association website. In 2018 the section was amended to change, among other things, the effective date to January 1, 2019, as well as changes as to what must be posted.

The website must be an independent website or a web portal wholly owned and operated by the association, or a website or web portal operated by a third-party provider with whom the association owns, leases, rents, or otherwise obtains the right to operate a web page, dedicated to the association’s activities and on which required notices, records, and documents may be posted by the association. The purpose of this requirement is that in the event of a change in management companies or manager, the association must maintain control of the website.

The website must be accessible through the Internet and must contain an area that is inaccessible to the general public, accessible only to unit owners and employees of the Association.

While the statute provides that “upon an owner’s written request” the association must provide the owner with a username and password to access the protected areas of the website, obviously it makes sense to notify all owners of the manner in which to obtain their username and password.

Some of the requirements that must be posted on the association website include:

  • The association’s governing documents (Declaration, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Rules and Regulations).
  • A list of all executory contracts or documents to which the association is a party or under which the association or the unit owners have an obligation or responsibility (this was changed from “Any management agreement, lease or other contract”).  An association is not required to post entire contracts on its website.  Only a listing of such contracts is now required.
  • After bidding for the related materials, equipment, or services has closed, a list of bids received by the association within the past year.
  • The association’s annual budget and any proposed budget to be considered at the annual meeting.  While the statutes only technically requires the posting of “any proposed budget to be considered at the annual meeting”, as a practical matter many, if not most, budgets are not considered at the annual meeting but at a separate budget meeting.  I suggest the association post any proposed budget, even one not to be considered at the annual meeting, on the website.
  • The association’s annual financial report for the preceding year and any monthly income or expense statement proposed financial report to be considered at a meeting.  This appears to require the posting of an association’s monthly financial statement if it is to be considered at a meeting.
  • The board member certification of each director.
  • All contracts or transactions between the association and any director, officer, corporation, firm, or association that is not an affiliated condominium association or any other entity in which an association director is also a director or officer and financially interested.
  • Any contract or document regarding a conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest as provided in ss. 468.436(2)(b)6., and 718.3027(3).
  • The notice of any unit owner meeting and the agenda for the meeting, no later than 14 days before the meeting.  The notice must be posted in plain view on the front page of the website, or on a separate subpage of the website labeled “Notices” which is conspicuously visible and linked from the front page. The association must also post on its website any document to be considered and voted on by the owners during the meeting or any document listed on the agenda at least 7days before the meeting  at which the document or the information within the document will be considered.
  • Notice of any board meeting, the agenda, and any other document required for the meeting, which must be posted no later than the date said notice is required to be posted on the condominium property pursuant to statute.

In addition to the above requirements, an association is also required to insure that official records that are not releasable to owners are not posted on the association website.  However, the association is not is not liable for disclosing information that is protected or restricted pursuant to this paragraph unless such disclosure was made with a knowing or intentional disregard of the protected or restricted nature of such information.

If an association does not post any of the required information, such failure will not invalidate any action or decision of the board.  In other words, if an association does not post meeting minutes or meeting notice as required, such failure, in and of itself, will not act to invalidate any board actions taken at such meeting.

If you have any questions concerning the website requirements, you should contact your association attorney.  Of course your association attorney should review any association website contract before the association executes such contract to insure the contract complies with the statutory requirements.

 

Howard PerlHoward J. Perl is an attorney with the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., which represents community associations throughout Florida, with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and 11 other Florida cities. The firm focuses a substantial amount of its practice on condominium and homeowners association law. 

 

 

 

alligator

Tragic Alligator Attack Should Cause Community Associations to Consider Alligator Dangers

The recent and devastating death of Shizuka Matsuki, a Florida woman attacked by an alligator, has alarmed and dismayed Floridians while raising many questions for community associations and their residents about alligator safety measures. Floridians are understandably fearful of alligator attacks due to the widespread prevalence of alligators in our state (similar considerations apply to less common and more localized crocodile populations in coastal areas). The disturbing details about the attack bring to mind the horror experienced in 2016 when a child, Lane Graves, was killed at a resort lagoon. While these types of attacks may not happen very often, even a single person or pet taken by an alligator is far too many.

For community associations maintaining the areas abounding bodies of water that are known possible alligator habitats (or at least areas they may occasionally frequent), safety is the primary concern. Associations do not and should not assume a duty to act as protectors and insurers of resident and/or invitee safety when it comes to wildlife; however, associations should, with advice of counsel and in consideration of insurance coverage requirements, take reasonable measures to warn residents and invitees by posting signage regarding the presence of alligators. In addition to signage, associations can, but are not required to, provide barriers (such as fencing) that prevent access to known areas of alligator habitation, while taking care to comply with requirements in the governing covenants and restrictions applicable to any “material alterations” or improvements of the property administered by the association.

Association directors and management personnel should educate themselves and can adopt policies to address the presence of alligators (and other dangerous wildlife). These policies can include contact information for appropriate agency hotlines, such as the nuisance alligator hotline of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWC”), the administrative agency that handles alligator conservation and removal. The hotline can be reached at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). The policy can provide for appropriate animal sighting protocols, such as a requirement that residents and guests report sightings to management in writing, mass notification to residents of alligator sightings, immediate calls to the FWC hotline, strict rules against engagement by unqualified residents, owners, invitees, or association or management personnel, etc. The association can also provide educational materials to new owners and residents regarding the potential or known presence of alligators, including a link to the website for the FWC (www.myfwc.com). Associations with websites should strongly consider including links to these resources. Again, legal counsel should be consulted to discuss the best way to enact these types of policies.

Legal authorities concerning an association’s duties and liabilities relating to this issue are scarce. For example, there are no Florida statutory duties governing or requiring association signage relating to this issue (an issue the Florida Legislature may wish to address), and case law regarding alligator attacks has generally concerned itself with liability to invitees, a group that may be treated differently than residents. Under a longstanding doctrine concerning animals ferae naturae (wild animals) various cases hold that property owners do not have a general duty to invitees to anticipate the presence of alligators (or other dangerous wildlife) or to take extraordinary measures to protect invitees from wildlife, especially when that wildlife is in its natural habitat. However, this doctrine does not necessarily override competing negligence doctrines concerning a reasonable duty of care to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition in light of knowledge of a foreseeable risk of harm. Accordingly, there is a potential duty to warn (and possibly a duty not to actively encourage or invite access to areas where alligators are known to frequent) if there is knowledge about the ongoing presence of dangerous wildlife.

For example, in a 2011 appellate case in Georgia that addressed the liability of an association to a house sitter attacked by an alligator, the appellate court permitted the plaintiff to survive a summary judgment motion by the association (i.e. – their case had legal merit and sufficient factual evidence that they could go to trial). The appellate court was then reversed in a Georgia Supreme Court decision that found that the house-sitter assumed the risk in walking by the lagoon at night with knowledge of the potential presence of alligators. While based upon specific local Georgia statutes and doctrines and not necessarily binding on Florida Courts, the decision illustrates a situation in which a jury could potentially find a breach of the association’s duty to warn in relation to an alligator attack and the type of knowledge of the threat that would prevent such a case from going to a jury. The association at issue did in fact have a policy for frequent alligator removal, but did not have signage that could have warned the house sitter. Notwithstanding these issues and uncertainties, associations should work with counsel to focus on reasonable policies to attempt to avoid these types of tragedies, by establishing a plan in the event of alligator sightings, education and notice, and signage that warns residents and invitees of potential alligator dangers.

Jonathan Goldstein

Jonathan Goldstein is a partner with Haber Slade P.A. Goldstein’s practice includes community association law, real estate, construction, and commercial litigation. His email is jgoldstein@dhaberlaw.com.

 

Florida Supreme Court’s Latest Construction Defect Decision

Florida Supreme Court’s Latest Construction Defect Decision: Triggering the Insurer’s Duty to Defend in the Pre-Suit Process

The issue of whether a chapter 558 notice serves as a “claim” under a commercial general liability (“CGL”) policy, such as the one issued by Crum & Forster Specialty Ins. Co. (“C&F”) in Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Ins. Co., No. SC16-1420, 2017 WL 6379535 (Fla. Dec. 14, 2017), has finally been resolved and construction defect claimants can expect earlier participation from their carriers.

Prior to the Altman decision, homeowners and/or condominium associations were frustrated during the chapter 558 process after sending a notice of claim because insured construction parties could not get insurers to become involved in pre-suit negotiations.  Such a result was antithetical to the purpose of chapter 558 – which was instituted specifically to streamline the construction defect claims process and encourage early alternative dispute resolution.

In Altman, the following question was presented to the Florida Supreme Court: “Is the notice and repair process set forth in chapter 558, Florida Statutes, a ‘suit’ within the meaning of the CGL policy issued by the insurer, C&F, to the general contractor, Altman Contractors, Inc. (“Altman”)?”  The Florida Supreme Court recently answered in the affirmative and held that the notice process set forth in chapter 558 does indeed constitute a “suit” within the meaning of the CGL policy at issue – which in turn means that insurance carriers can no longer sit back following receipt of a chapter 558 notice and must instead take an active role earlier in the process. 

‘Duty to Defend’

The Altman case stems from defects in the construction of Sapphire Condominium, a high-rise residential condominium in Broward County. C&F insured Altman for the Sapphire project through a policy that provided, in pertinent part, as follows: “[w]e will pay those sums that the insured becomes legally obligated to pay as damages because of ‘bodily injury’ or ‘property damage’ to which this insurance applies.  We will have the right and duty to defend the insured against any ‘suit’ seeking those damages.” Altman sought a declaratory judgment that C&F owed it a duty to defend and indemnify as part of the chapter 558 pre-suit process to resolve claims for construction defects, and that C&F breached the liability insurance policy by refusing to initially defend Altman in the suit against Sapphire. C&F denied that Sapphire’s chapter 558 notices invoked its duty to defend Altman under the policy because the notices did not constitute a “suit.”  The insurance policy defined the term “suit” as follows:

“Suit” means a civil proceeding in which damages because of “bodily injury,” “property damage” or “personal and advertising injury” to which this insurance applies are alleged. “Suit” includes:

  1. An arbitration proceeding in which such damages are claimed and to which the insured must submit or does submit with our consent; or
  2. Any other alternative dispute resolution proceeding in which such damages are claimed and to which the insured submits with our consent.

The policy neither defined the term “civil proceeding” nor defined the term “alternative dispute resolution proceeding” within the context of the definition of the term “suit.”  Notwithstanding, the Florida Supreme Court held that the chapter 558 process is included in the policy’s definition of “suit” as an “alternative dispute resolution proceeding.” [Emphasis added]

It is also noteworthy that since the Notice of Claim under chapter 558 is included in the policy’s definition of “suit” as an “alternative dispute resolution proceeding,” the insurer’s consent appears to be required in order to invoke its duty to defend the insured throughout the pre-suit process.  In Altman, the Florida Supreme Court noted that “chapter 558 does not place any obligation on the insured to participate in the chapter 558 process. The chapter 558 framework has never been anything other than a voluntary dispute resolution mechanism on the part of the insured, despite its requirement that the claimant serve the insured with a notice before initiating a lawsuit.”  Given that involvement in the chapter 558 pre-suit process is voluntary as opposed to mandatory on the part of the insurer, it remains to be seen whether insurance carriers will provide consent to participate in the process. 

Nevertheless, upon receipt of a chapter 558 notice, it behooves contractors and subcontractors to tender the notice to their insurance carriers.  It is in the insured-contractor or insured-subcontractor’s interest to encourage its insurance carrier to engage in the chapter 558 pre-suit process.  Absent the insurance carrier’s involvement in the chapter 558 pre-suit process, the insured will be forced to incur its own costs and fees if the insured chooses to participate in the process without the consent of its insurance carrier.  In the event that the insurance carrier fails to provide consent to engage in the chapter 558 pre-suit process and defend the insured, it may be in the insured-contractor or insured-subcontractor’s interest to litigate the matter because the insurance carrier’s duty to defend is then triggered and the insurance carrier will be forced to investigate the construction defect claims – shifting the financial burden from the insured-contractor or insured-subcontractor back onto the insurance carrier.  In light of the foregoing scenario, it is more likely that the insurance carrier will be inclined to give consent to avoid the costs of litigation and to attempt to expeditiously settle the matter – but that is yet to be determined. 

Settling Construction Defect Claims Now More Likely

Moreover, the insurance policy at issue in Altman is a standard commercial general liability policy and as such it is likely to have a profound impact on future chapter 558 construction defect litigation.  Accordingly, defense carriers are more likely to be engaged in construction disputes, particularly during the pre-suit stage after a chapter 558 notice is received – or at least they should in light of this decision.  As such, the chapter 558 process, unlike in many past years, is now likely to encourage the claimant and insured to attempt to settle construction defect claims prior to expending time and resources litigating those claims.  Such a notion is consistent with the legislature’s aim in creating chapter 558 as an effective alternative dispute resolution mechanism, intended to curb construction defect litigation.  Indeed, the Florida Supreme Court in Altman even stated, in dictum, that chapter 558 provides for a “statutorily required presuit process aimed to encourage the claimant and insured to settle claims for construction defects without resorting to litigation.”

In light of the foregoing, it is imperative that individual homeowners, homeowner associations and/or condominium associations, along with their experts, prepare detailed inspection reports that set forth the various construction defects affecting their property, what resulting damage is occurring as a result of those defects, the locations of the defects throughout the property, and determine compliance with the applicable building code, plans, and specifications.  By virtue of more detailed reports in compliance with the requirements of chapter 558, it seemingly becomes more likely that construction defect disputes will result in settlements at an earlier stage – thereby saving the parties exorbitant amounts of money that otherwise would be expended in litigation.

 

David Haber David B. Haber is the founding partner of Miami-based Haber Slade, P.A. He is a commercial litigator with 30 years of experience who has handled multiple complex commercial disputes throughout Florida, including complex commercial litigation, construction, and condominium and homeowners’ association disputes. David can be reached at dhaber@dhaberlaw.com

 

 

David T. Podein Frank Soto is a partner with the firm. He focuses on construction litigation. Frank can be reached at fsoto@dhaberlaw.com.

 

 

 

Brett Silverberg is a JD/MBA student at the University of Miami and a law clerk at Haber Slade. The firm is on the internet at www.haberslade.com.

 

hurricane irma

Hurricane Irma: Tips for Navigating Your Way Through the Insurance Claim Process

Hurricane Irma has made a significant impact on many properties and people throughout Florida. The insurance claim process for condominium and homeowner associations can be complicated and frustrating. As soon as possible, associations should coordinate the claim process with their property management and legal counsel. These five issues are critical to that process: 

Review and Document the Damage

You (the association and its management team) must promptly survey the properties for potential and/or actual damages that need to be reported and addressed. Document all actual and potential damage with photographs and video. This documentation should be accompanied by confirmation of the time, specific locations, and the person taking the photographs and video. Additionally, this documentation should be compared against the pre-storm documentation in order to prove that the damage did not exist prior to the storm. The “before” and “after” documentation is critical to fighting against insurers’ potential defenses. Associations should also gather any applicable maintenance records, vendor and repair records, and related documentation in order to establish the condition of the property pre-hurricane and the association’s regular maintenance practices and procedures. This helps prove that the damage caused by a hurricane (or similar insurable event) was not a “pre-existing condition” and/or a result of “lack of maintenance” at the property.

Associations should work with their legal counsel to review the Declaration and property boundaries in order to distinguish any reported unit owner property damage from the association’s property and common elements/limited common elements. These distinctions are important for both the insurance claim process and identifying the party responsible to repair.

Duties Under Your Insurance Policies

Make sure the association has updated copies of all applicable policies (part of the official records). Consult with your legal counsel in order to evaluate if the damage might apply under the flood policy, wind policy, and/or property policy. Depending on the type of damage, your claims may apply to multiple separate insurance policies. For each policy, create a checklist of the requirements for making a claim and the insurer’s deadlines that must be strictly complied with. Locate the section(s) in your policies titled “Duties of the Insured” a/k/a “Duties in the Event of Loss.” Add these items to your claim checklist and make sure to calendar all time deadlines.

After the storm event, associations must provide written notice to their insurance companies as soon as possible. Notice merely to your insurance agent is not  notice to the insurance company. No association wants an otherwise legitimate claim to ultimately be denied because it  failed to timely notify the insurance companies in writing. Your claim checklist for each policy should include the name, address information, and policy specific requirements for providing written notice of the claim.

Additionally, notify the owners/residents to promptly document and file their own individual insurance claims for their own insured property (finishes, property, and other items within the unit boundaries).

Communications with Adjusters and Insurance Companies

All too often, an association’s property management and/or directors erroneously believe the adjuster from the insurance company is on the association’s team in this process. Wrong! The adjuster sent by the insurance company does not work for you and is not a neutral party. The adjuster is paid by the insurance company and is often a third party contractor. Keep in mind the adjuster is primarily attempting to assist the insurance company to limit the loss/exposure of the company.

All-important communications with the adjuster and insurance companies should be timely documented in writing. Internal emails and other communications between the board of directors, property management, and the association’s legal counsel should not be inadvertently shared with the adjuster and/or insurance company. Consult with your legal counsel before responding to information requests and have your legal counsel instruct the adjuster and insurance companies to direct all communications about the claim to legal counsel.

Interim Repairs

You may need to make some interim repairs at the property before your claims are fully resolved. After the damage to the property has been evaluated and documented, it is important for associations to take the necessary steps to mitigate further damages and losses – – without prejudicing your rights under the applicable insurance policies. Make sure to provide written notice to your insurers regarding: (i) your proposed interim repairs and mitigation steps; (ii) the estimated costs; and (iii) confirmation that the insurer consents to you proceeding with the interim repairs even though your claim is still under review. Document the interim repairs with photographs, videos, estimates/bids, purchase order, invoices, as well as proof of payments. Emergency mitigation should always be performed as soon as possible (i.e., covering open windows and/or roof openings).

For non-emergency repairs/remediation, you should solicit at least three bids/estimates for each scope of work (unless you cannot find three bidders or in an emergency). The Board is not required to select the lowest bid – – and should be weary of bids that are unusually low compared to the others. For larger repair projects, it is important to coordinate the bid and contract requirements with your legal counsel before sending it to prospective bidders. Including the association’s contract requirements and standard clauses in the request for bids will help reduce contract negotiation and preparation time.

Additional Factors

There are related issues that are also very important to consider, such as: (i) does your association have a loan with a lender and thus have borrower specific duties under the loan documents? Associations should carefully review their loan documents with legal counsel in order to ensure compliance with the lender specific issues; and (ii) many management companies include a provision in their standard management contract that the association is required to pay the management company additional compensation in the event of significant repair projects after insurable events (a/k/a Hurricane Irma). This is an important factor for the Board to consider when preparing repair budget(s).

 

David Haber David B. Haber is the founding partner of Miami-based Haber Slade, P.A. He is a commercial litigator with 30 years of experience who has handled multiple complex commercial disputes throughout Florida, including complex commercial litigation, construction, and condominium and homeowners’ association disputes. David can be reached at dhaber@dhaberlaw.com

 

 

David T. PodeinDavid T. Podein is a partner at the law firm of Haber Slade. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate leasing, financing, and acquisitions/closings, real estate development, condominium and community association law, and construction law. David can be reached at dpodein@dhaberlaw.com. The firm is located on the internet at www.haberslade.com.

 

Unit Owners, Beware: The Developer May Have Stacked the Board Against You

Condominium and HOA Board Members May be Neglecting the Duties You are Owed

Are you concerned that the developer of your condominium did not deliver on the promises made to you when you purchased your condominium unit? Are you concerned with the construction of the condominium in which you live? For most individuals, the purchase of a condominium unit can be their most important investment. However, many of the decisions impacting this investment are not up to the owner of the unit, but rather, are left up to a board of directors controlling the association.

At a specified time, the developer of a condominium is required to relinquish control of the association’s board of directors in favor of the unit owners. The turnover of an association from developer to the unit owners presents the first opportunity for the association’s board to hire a lawyer, an accountant, and an engineer to perform important and time-sensitive inspections of the condominium. These inspections will identify construction defects and other concerns that may exist. As such, it should not be surprising that a developer would want a “friendly” association board of directors following turnover. But imagine the havoc an unscrupulous developer could inflict if the association’s newly elected board members—or the attorney and engineer working for the unit owners—have financial ties to the developer.

 A recent Miami-Dade Grand Jury report found that there was extensive fraud, mismanagement, stacking of boards, and conflicts of interest among condominium association boards.[1] Such misconduct is not limited to Miami-Dade, however. Perhaps surprisingly, one of the largest public corruption cases set in the fast-paced, scheming neon desert notoriously dubbed “Sin City” did not involve the usual Las Vegas suspects, but rather a contractor, a lawyer, and a stacked board of condominium directors. In 2015, Leon Benzer, a construction company boss, was sentenced to 15 ½ years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme to take control of association boards for the purpose of channeling construction defect repairs to Benzer’s company. Benzer’s scheme involved a network of recruited purchasers and real estate agents who would get elected to association boards, hire Benzer’s attorney, and award lucrative contracts to Benzer’s construction company. Through these unethical practices, these individuals violated the duties owed to the association and its unit owners.

Condominium unit owners who serve on the board of directors are considered shareholders of the association, and act in a fiduciary relationship to each owner. In such relationships, the law demands a higher than ordinary degree of care from each director and officer, with Florida law specifically demanding directors to discharge their duties in good faith. Simply put, directors should act to protect the best interests of the association and its unit owners, rather than their personal interests or those of affiliated third parties. The actions of the board members in Benzer’s scheme were in complete disregard of the unit owners’ rights, as they participated in rigging elections and seeking only personal gain. In order to avoid a Benzer-type scheme, it is critical for unit owners to exercise due diligence in selecting truly independent individuals to become board members to represent the best interests of all the unit owners at the time control of the association is transferred from the developer. Since Florida law permits condominium association boards to settle claims concerning monies owed from the developer and matters of common interest to the owners, including construction defect claims, it is even more vital to ensure that an association’s board, their attorney, and engineer are not being led by ill-intended individuals to unscrupulously settle claims for pennies of their real worth, accept cosmetic repairs that do not fully address the underlying defective condition, and waive association claims for latent defects.

In order to ensure that meritorious claims of unit owners are adequately protected, unit owners must get involved and confirm that independent board candidates without financial ties to the developer or contractor are seeking election to the association’s board. Additionally, steps should be taken to confirm that the association’s officers and directors hire independent, knowledgeable attorneys and engineering firms, not attorneys and engineers affiliated with the developer or contractor. Unit owners should be cautious when dealing with an attorney that was selected, hired, and paid by the developer-controlled board prior to the unit owners taking control of the association. Unit owners must ask critical questions of management, those seeking election to the board, and the attorneys and engineers being interviewed to represent the association, as to their involvement or affiliation with the developer or contractor that built the condominium. Protect your investment, and avoid a Benzer “stacked board.”

For further information regarding the turnover process, self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and the duties of your board of directors, please submit your questions on our website and get the information you need to make sure you are safeguarding your investment.

 

David Haber

Nicholas Siegfried is a partner with the South Florida law firm of Siegfried, Rivera, Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & Sobel, P.A. who has focused on community association and construction law since 2006. He is based at the firm’s office in Coral Gables, and the firm also maintains offices in Broward and Palm Beach counties, representing more than 800 associations throughout Florida. He may be reached at nsiegfried@srhl-law.com and at (305) 442-3334.

[1] Final Report of the Miami-Dade County Grand Jury Spring Term 2016, Addressing Condo Owners’ Pleas for Help: Recommendations for Legislative Action, at 1-31(Fla. Cir. Ct. Feb. 6, 2017). A copy of such grand jury report may be found at: http://www.miamisao.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Grand-Jury-Report-Final.pdf.

Short-term Rentals in Private Residential Communities

Florida Appellate Court Weighs in on Short-term Rentals in Private Residential Communities

The topic of Airbnb and similar short-term rental sites is on most boards’ minds these days as more and more owners look to monetize their condominium and cooperative units as well as their single-family homes. Recently, the First District Court of Appeal issued a ruling in the case of Santa Monica Beach P.O.A. v. Acord, Case No. 1D16-4782, (Fla. 1st DCA, April 28, 2017), which held that residential use restrictions in a community’s covenants were not sufficient to curb short-term rental activity. The homeowners, Mr. and Mrs. Acord, listed their homes on the VRBO website, obtained transient rental licenses in a corporate name, and collected and remitted state sales and local bed taxes. The association asserted that such activity violated the Santa Monica Beach subdivision restrictive covenants which stated:

Said land shall be used only for residential purposes, and not more than one detached single-family dwelling house and the usual outhouses thereof, such as garage, servants’ house, and the like, shall be allowed to occupy any residential lot as platted at any one time; nor shall any building on said land be used as a hospital, tenement house, sanitarium, charitable institution, or for business or manufacturing purposes nor as a dance hall or other place of public assemblage

The trial court granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice after finding that the short-term rental use was residential rather than commercial.

The First District Court of Appeal was asked to determine whether short-term vacation rentals violate restrictive covenants requiring property to be used only for residential purposes and prohibiting its use for business purposes. The Court focused on the actual use by the short-term renters (eating, sleeping, etc.) and not the hotel-like duration of the rental. The Court cited other case law holding that a rental, even a rental for profit, does not transform the use of a dwelling from residential to either business or commercial. After all, even short-term renters are using the premises for typically residential purposes and not to run a business, and the fact that the owners of these units are deriving revenue from the rentals does not change the use of the premises from residential to commercial. Ultimately, the Appellate Court simply could not rely upon the “no business use” restriction in the restrictive covenants to prohibit short-term rental activity. Had the association attempted to rely on leasing restriction rather than a “no business use” restriction, would things have turned out differently?

Perhaps the most telling and most instructive comment from the court in the Santa Monica Beach case was the observation that the association had no specific restriction on short-term rentals. Many communities have restrictions on leasing in their governing documents, which can include minimum and maximum lease terms, a limit on the number of times per year an owner can rent, to an overall cap on the number of properties that can be leased at any one time. Enforcement of short-term rental restrictions against this kind of transient rental can be very difficult because the tenant comes and goes before there is any opportunity for enforcement action rendering the violation moot. However, an action or activity, like repeated short-term rentals, that is capable of repetition but evading review would be an exception to the mootness doctrine. In the Santa Monica Beach case, if the association had short-term rental restrictions in its governing documents, an owner’s pattern of renting out the dwelling in violation of the minimum lease terms could have been used to seek injunctive relief against future violations. The goal for most associations, however, is to deter the activity rather than having to overcome hurdles in court.

Regulate or Prohibit?

In some communities, it might make sense not to prohibit short-term rental activity, but to regulate it and perhaps even monetize it to defray the association’s operating expenses. Fees can be charged for registration, parking, and the use of recreational amenities. It might also make sense for the association to operate a mandatory rental pool in order to control all aspects of rental activity from booking to arrival and departure.

For those communities who do wish to restrict this kind of activity, the starting point is to ensure that their governing documents contain a clear, unambiguous restriction which defines engaging in Airbnb activity as a violation of the contract between the association and its members. From there, the association can proceed to impose fines, suspend use rights, put the short-term rental websites on notice of the ineligibility of properties in the community to offer these services, and/or pursue arbitration or injunctive relief.

Local Government Likely Cannot Help Your Association in This Battle

There is a logical argument to be made that local governments have a dog in this fight and should be regulating and/or restricting short-term rental activity. Airbnb and similar companies understand that their business model can be greatly impacted by local ordinances, so they have been proactive in seeking out legislators who will ensure such actions are not permissible. In the 2017 Florida Legislative Session, two vacation rental bills were introduced that primarily impact local governments. The goal from Airbnb’s standpoint is to preempt local governments from regulating vacation rentals. Given Airbnb’s success so far in protecting its business model by putting the brakes on those who might oppose them, it only makes sense that private residential covenants might come up on their radar in the near future. Associations, particularly those in tourist-heavy locations, would be well-advised to review and amend their documents now to address this issue as waiting too long might result in an inability to impose meaningful restrictions.

The takeaway from this first appellate case regarding the inevitable tug of war between the desire of some association members to monetize their properties and the association’s desire to protect the residential nature of the community is that in order to curb or prevent Airbnb activity in a private residential community, the governing documents must tackle the problem head-on. No beating around the bush or relying on existing restrictions which were drafted years before the Airbnb business model came into existence.

 

Donna DiMaggio Berger

Donna DiMaggio Berger is a shareholder at the community association law firm of Becker & Poliakoff and has represented all types of shared ownership communities throughout Florida. Berger is a member of the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), a prestigious national organization which acknowledges community association attorneys who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the evolution or practice of community association law and who have committed themselves to high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of community association law. Berger can be reached at (954) 364-6031 or via e-mail at dberger@bplegal.com.

 

Insurance Appraisals and Coverage for Condominiums

Insurance Appraisals and Coverage for Condominiums

Property insurance premiums are continuing to rise, and now is a good time for condominium boards and property managers to review their understanding of insurance coverage requirements and the insurance appraisals that are used to establish coverage limits. Per Florida Statute 718, The Condominium Act, the association “…shall use its best efforts to obtain and maintain adequate property insurance to protect the association, the association property, the common elements, and the condominium property….” Additionally, the statute requires that the insurable replacement cost be “determined by an independent insurance appraisal or update of a prior appraisal.”

Hazard Insurance

Every hazard insurance policy issued or renewed after January 1, 2009, must provide primary coverage for “All portions of the condominium property as originally installed or replacement of like kind and quality, in accordance with the original plans and specifications.”

Further, the statute defines building components that are not included in the condominium hazard insurance. The Statute specifically states:

The coverage must exclude all personal property within the unit or limited common elements, and floor, wall and ceiling coverings, electrical fixtures, appliances, water heaters, water filters, built-in cabinets and countertops, and window treatments, including curtains, drapes, blinds, hardware, and similar window treatment components, or replacements of any of the foregoing which are located within the boundaries of the unit and serve only such unit.

Items excluded from the condominium association’s property insurance are the responsibility of the individual unit owners to insure. Thus, it is important for condominium unit owners to have a good understanding of the association’s insurance policies and their individual unit policy to avoid gaps or overlap in coverage. Certainly, a key goal for the Condominium Act is to clarify coverage responsibility and “to ensure consistency in the provision of insurance coverage to condominiums and their unit owners.” Additionally, standard underwriting guidelines for hazard insurance values exclude foundations and piping underground from coverage. 

Flood Insurance

While the Florida statutes specify coverage parameters for hazard insurance, they are largely silent on the issue of flood insurance. Coverage for flood insurance is defined by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA coverage is based on Replacement Cost Value (RCV) of the complete residential condominium building without the exclusions mentioned previously for hazard insurance. RCV is defined as the full current cost to construct replacement buildings (or portions thereof based on the extent of flood damage) having equal utility as the damaged property using current construction methods and materials. This coverage includes the interiors as they were originally built, and does not cover upgrades which were added by the unit owners. Federal flood insurance, underwritten by the U.S. Government, is available for residential condominium buildings up to a maximum RCV of $250,000 per unit (calculated by multiplying the total number of units in the building by $250,000). Additional flood coverage over this limit is obtained on the open insurance market.

Non-residential association buildings (defined as buildings with less than 75 percent of structure floor space for residential use) having two or more outside rigid walls and a fully-secured roof can obtain FEMA flood insurance up to a maximum actual cash value (ACV) of $500,000 per building. ACV is defined as replacement cost minus physical depreciation value. Clubhouses and pool houses would be typical examples of association non-residential buildings. Note that any amenities not meeting the rigid wall and roof requirement such as carports, walkways, pools, tennis courts, fences, etc. would not be covered for flood insurance.

The difference between hazard insurance and flood insurance values can create a great deal of confusion among unit owners and condominium boards. Typically, hazard values are typically around 65–70 percent of flood insurance values.

Insurance Appraisals

For an association property to be properly insured, an accurate, unbiased appraisal of the replacement costs must be obtained. Given the complexities of the appraisal process in determining current building costs and differentiating hazard and flood values, it is strongly recommended that condominium associations seek out an appraisal firm that has expertise in this area. A firm that has Florida state-certified and licensed appraisers assures a high level of competence. Licensed appraisers are accountable to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Appraisal Board. Cost estimators who are not state-licensed appraisers typically have no government oversight or accountability for the accuracy of their reports.

The insurance appraisal process involves a physical inspection of the buildings and amenities being insured. Photographs are taken for reference as required by the insurance carriers. When available, “as-built” architectural building plans are utilized by the appraiser to determine square footages and building details that are not observable from the on-site inspection. When plans are not available, measurements are taken and drawings are made on-site. From these, computer-aided drawings are created to accurately determine the square footage for all building areas.

Current construction costs are determined using professional building cost systems based on building type, class, size, design, quality and many other factors including local construction material and labor costs. Finally, an appraisal report is developed in the format required by the insurance carrier to properly underwrite the association hazard and flood policies.

Accurate Appraisals Are Critical

The risks associated with poorly developed and inaccurate insurance appraisals can be high. No association wants to find itself in a position of being over or under-insured. If the appraisal is low, the risk of co-insurance penalties and insufficient insurance proceeds to replace a total loss are very real. Conversely, if appraised value is high, the insurance premium will be higher than necessary and a waste of association budget dollars.

 

Rick Logan

Rick Logan and Bob Townsend are both Florida State-Certified General Real Estate Appraisers and have more than 50 years combined appraisal experience. Their firm, Townsend Appraisals, specializes in developing insurance appraisals for condominium associations and commercial building owners to establish coverage limits for hazard and flood policies. Their office is in Naples, Florida, and they service all Southwest Florida from Everglades City to Tampa. All staff appraisers are state-certified and licensed. For more information, visit www.townsendappraisalsinc.com.

 

Wait Times at the Gate

Frequently Asked Questions: How Can a Community Reduce Wait Times at the Gate?

It’s a question and issue that almost everyone faces. Whether you are the property manager, a resident living in a gated community, a vendor, or a visitor who uses a community’s gate often—it is easy to relate to the frustrations that come with long wait times at a community entrance. Many people refer to this as stacking, or the buildup of vehicles at an entrance. While it is unlikely that this issue will be resolved at all times, with technological advancements, there are methods that can greatly decrease the chances of stacking.

Before a community discusses the options to alleviate wait times at the entrance, it’s important to determine the cause, and there can be several explanations. First, a telephone entry system is a common culprit for stacking. Not only are these systems typically unreliable and antiquated, but the codes can be misused or time consuming as visitors search through a long list of names to find the resident he or she would like to see. Just one driver dealing with this can create a long back-up of vehicles at a community, especially during busy times of the day.

There are other instances with gate guards that can cause stacking at communities. If the guard does not have an updated system that allows him or her to quickly verify visitors and complete transactions, it is likely that stacking will frequently occur. While a revised method for verification would help expedite transactions, there are also cases where the drivers trying to enter a community create a backup. Unfortunately, this type of situation is difficult to control. The visitor may not be approved to enter or cannot reach the resident he or she is trying to visit. This type of circumstance makes it even more important to have a quick transaction process that can speed up the verification of other guests after a backup.

Once a community determines the main cause or causes of stacking, then the options for expediting the process can be examined. The most efficient method to decrease stacking at a community is to incorporate a form of automation at the entrance. The two main types of automation are automatic license plate recognition and automatic driver’s license recognition. Both allow permanent and pre-registered visitors to quickly gain access to a community after immediate verification.

Automatic license plate recognition verifies visitors at a community when a license plate is associated with a registered visitor. When an image of the license plate is captured, the plate is cross-referenced with the database of approved vehicles, and the gate opens for permitted guests. Not only does this expedite wait times, but it easily verifies repeat visitors with a high capture of vehicle information to keep the community secure. If a vehicle’s license plate is not recognized, the driver can speak with a virtual guard or gate guard, depending on what the community uses.

Automatic driver’s license recognition easily recognizes verified guests by capturing an image of the name on the driver’s state-issued identification. Typically, drivers insert their license into an ATM-like scanner that will verify the name and automatically open the gate for permitted visitors. If the driver’s name is not recognized, the driver can speak with a virtual guard or gate guard, similar to the process with automatic license plate recognition.

Both types of automated systems also increase the security of a community. With simple tracking and recording of all visiting drivers entering, the community has the capability to recall identification information of guests should a problem ever occur at the gate or in the neighborhood. In addition, a virtual guard kiosk can record the audio of a transaction, and more cameras can capture angles of an entrance for added security.

While every community has different needs and preferences, both automated options are effective and efficient for reducing wait times at a gate. Allowing permanent and pre-registered visitors to have automatic entry expedites the entire transaction process and is easier for the guests, residents, and property managers at the community. Plus, the automation systems keep the entrances secure with a high capture of identification and/or vehicle information. If you have security questions or concerns, please e-mail ask@enverasystems.com.

 

Brie Peterson

Brie Peterson is the Business Development Consultant for Envera Systems. She works closely with the sales and marketing departments to provide best-in-class service to the communities that Envera works with. Envera Systems specializes in security technology systems with remote guards to replace or enhance guards at communities. Contact info: (855) 380-1274 or www.EnveraSystems.com.

 

The 2017 Spring Legislative Session: Medications for Community Association Corruption (May Have Serious Side Effects)

Consumer protection for community association members from board or management corruption is the most dominant theme of the pending legislative session. The following is an overview of proposed legislation as of March 29, 2017.

Liability for Directors, Officers, and Management Companies (SB 1682, HB 1237, SB 1258, and HB 1001)

This proposed legislation was prompted by a Grand Jury Report issued after Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle investigated complaints of alleged widespread corruption and fraud in condominiums. The controversial Report, released on February 6, 2017, was in response to a multitude of owner complaints of fraud and disenfranchisement. The Report diagnosed the following issues: (1) inaccessible records; (2) association management issues; (3) director conflicts of interests; (4) ineffective enforcement by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (“DBPR”) Division of Condominiums, Time Shares, and Mobile Homes (the “Division”); and, (5) fraud in Board Elections. Consequently, the Report seeks legislative changes to curtail these issues.

The Report argues that the DBPR is ill-equipped to prevent the recurring problems afflicting associations. Consequently, it seeks a more active role for an already over-worked judiciary and criminal justice system. The Report proposed introducing financial and/or criminal liability for wrongdoing directors, officers, and/or management companies. The resulting outcry from industry professionals and associations includes commentary that the Report is somewhat one-sided, does not give due consideration to DBPR funding issues that impact its enforcement abilities, and makes overly harsh recommendations attacking volunteer directors, which will increase operating costs and dissuade board service. The Report counters that those individuals you want running boards would never engage in criminalized conduct.

SB 1682 and HB 1237 attempt to address the concerns raised by the Report. The main legislative proposals are as follows:

  • Directors can’t serve four (4) consecutive two (2) year terms absent a two-thirds (2/3rds) membership vote approving lengthier service;
  • Expediting recall procedures;
  • Prohibiting dual legal representation of an association and its management company;
  • Prohibiting directors and managers from acquiring foreclosed real estate at a foreclosure sale or through deed in lieu and prohibiting managers from acquiring more than 50 percent of the units or any unit subject to an association lien;
  • Introducing conflict of interest disclosure requirements and preventing associations from dealing with companies owned, operated, or associated with directors or any person with a financial relationship to them;
  • Criminalizing knowing and willful prevention of access to the association’s records and defacement or failure to maintain association accounting records by directors or management companies;
  • Criminalizing knowing and willful fraudulent voting activities in elections;
  • Modifying voting suspension rights for delinquencies by requiring at least $1,000 to be owed and thirty days of notice;
  • Requiring the digital posting of certain records for associations with more than 500 units;
  • Allowing for private sector Division Arbitrators;
  • Bids for materials, equipment, or services are added to the list of records; and,
  • Providing official record access to tenants.

The criminal penalties range from misdemeanors (first to third degree) for repeat failures to provide association records upon authorized request to third degree felonies for election fraud. Regarding conflicts of interest, the proposed legislation overlooks protections already in place for interested director transactions under a theory that permitting any interested director transactions creates a moral hazard—a slippery slope towards corruption.

SB 1258 and HB 1001 (on no committee agendas at present) proposed to establish personal financial liability for directors or officers where the board or the Division determines that the director or officer knowingly violated governing documents or Chapter 718. The director or officer would be personally liable for increasing civil penalties based on the number of offenses. SB 1258 and HB 1001 emphasize deterrents and a Division role, but threaten liability and abuse through board overreach.

In effect, the bills seek to prevent directors from delaying or undermining rights to transparency and self-determination, which protect against abuse. While the bills reflect a positive intention by the legislature to curb abuses, critics assert that these legislative proposals go too far.

 

Protections for Homeowners’ Association Members and Buyers (HB 295)

In the case of HOAs, HB 295 (also not on any agenda) provides that a member denied access to records would be entitled to minimum damages of $500 per day for up to 30 days—a significant increase. This amount was troublesome considering that some members use records requests as a tool to harass. If a community association manager is responsible, the member could maintain a cause of action against the manager; however, manager indemnification of associations is excluded.

The bill eliminates liens for fines in excess of $1,000, modifies triggers for HOA turnover from the developer, and requires sellers to provide governing documents and budgets to prospective buyers at least seven days before closing—coupled with termination rights within three days after receipt, and also would create a cause of action against developers for enumerated grounds.

Lastly, HB 295 would expand the jurisdiction of the DBPR over homeowners’ associations, including the Division arbitration program’s applicability to HOAs, would require DBPR training programs, and would grant the DBPR the authority to enforce compliance with Chapter 720. Given the Report’s perceived funding and enforcement issues with the DBPR, it was interesting that proposed legislation seeks to expand its role while other legislation attempts to increase the role of the criminal justice system in lieu of more robust DBPR enforcement. SB 1650 also would expand Division arbitration for HOAs, bypassing presuit mediation.

 

Regarding Marketable Record Title Act (“MRTA”) Issues (SB 1046 and HB 735)

SB 1046 and HB 735 require mandatory consideration of MRTA preservation issues, mandatory periodic public records disclosures, and provides for a new MRTA preservation procedure.

Amendments and Estate Protections (SB 1186 and SB 950)

SB 1186 intends to change procedures for HOA amendments and incorporate a restriction on the applicability of rental restriction amendments to pre-existing owners who do not consent. SB 950would have protected the estate of a deceased owner from fines, interest, and late fees for certain specified periods.

Regarding Condominium Termination (SB 1520 and HB 7055)

SB 1520 and HB 7055 both enable all homestead owners who reject a plan to receive their original purchase price for their terminated condominium, not just direct purchasers from a developer, and adopt similar changes to the approval / rejection termination thresholds, making termination more difficult.

Estoppel Letters (SB 398 and HB 483)

Both would cap and categorize estoppel letter fees under varying circumstances and require a response to a request for an estoppel certificate within ten business days. They provide for certain mandatory estoppel disclosures, as well as publication of the name and contact information of a designated recipient for requests.

Operational Issues, Including Financial Reporting, Fire Safety Retrofitting, Among Others (SB 744, HB 653, and HB 6027)

Each would require associations with less than 50 units to submit more comprehensive annual financial reports and would eliminate language preventing condominium associations from reducing their financial reporting requirements for more than three consecutive years.

SB 744 and HB 653 have other wide-ranging changes. For condominiums: (1) includes electronic voting records in association official records; (2) clarifies that associations under 75 feet high are exempt from fire sprinkler/life safety retrofitting; (3) extends deadlines to opt out or perform fire sprinkler/life safety retrofitting to December 31, 2018; and, (4) allows meeting notice posting on websites. For HOAs specifically: (1) directors may communicate but not vote on matters via e-mail; (2) overhauls mandatory reserve requirements and voting procedures; (3) allows a developer to waive reserves for an association’s first two fiscal years but prevents waiver thereafter without a member vote; (4) adds language preventing accord and satisfaction in statutorily compliant allocation of payments; and, (5) prohibits write-in nominations where there is no election, unless the by-laws requires them.

Conclusion

Whether ultimately enacted or not, it is clear that the legislature is attempting to curb association abuses of power, create stronger penalties and disincentives to wrongful conduct, and in several cases, to address concerns in the Grand Jury Report. Whether the legislature will fund the criminal justice system or the DBPR to address these abuses is an entirely different story. Without proper funding for enforcement, the legislature may simply be doling out a placebo.

 

David HaberDavid B. Haber is the founding partner with Haber Slade P.A. Haber’s practice includes community association law, real estate, construction, and commercial litigation, and aviation law. His e-mail is dhaber@dhaberlaw.com. Jonathan S. Goldstein is a senior associate attorney with Haber Slade P.A. Goldstein’s practice includes community association law, real estate, construction, and commercial litigation. His e-mail is jgoldstein@dhaberlaw.com. Alexander G. Leon is an associate attorney with Haber Slade P.A. Leon’s practice includes community association law, real estate, construction, and commercial litigation. His e-mail is aleon@dhaberlaw.com. This article is for informational purposes and should not be taken as legal advice.