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Find Blog Articles for Florida’s Condo, HOA and the Management Industry. 

SUMMER IS HERE: GRILLING RULE VIOLATORS RISK FINES/IMPRISONMENT

SUMMER IS HERE: GRILLING RULE VIOLATORS RISK FINES/IMPRISONMENT

SUMMER IS HERE:  GRILLING RULE VIOLATORS RISK FINES/IMPRISONMENT

by Steven J. Weil, Ph.D., EA, LCAM, Royale Management Services, Inc.

 

The Florida Fire Prevention Code (FFPC) prohibits cooking, using or storing gas or charcoal grills on balconies.   This prohibition also includes fire pits and any other use of fire or flame devices.

The Code also prohibits the storage or use of liquid propane (L.P.) gas in quantities greater than one pound above the first floor in any apartment or condominium. Thus, L.P. gas grills cannot be stored on a balcony. It is important to note that neither can L.P. gas cylinders be stored inside the residential unit or anywhere above the first floor.

Electric grills had been permitted in years past, but the FFPC was amended, effective December 31, 2011, to prohibit their use as well.  The current regulation provides that no hibachi, grill, or other similar devices used for cooking, heating, or any other purposes can be used or kindled on any balcony, under any overhanging portion, or within ten feet of any structure (other than one- and two- family dwellings).  A subsequent amendment in 2014 also prohibited storage of these items.

The only exception to this rule is that listed equipment permanently installed in accordance with its listing, applicable codes, and manufacturer’s instructions may be permitted.

Smoking, while not prohibited by law, also can be regulated under individual association rules.

 

What enforcement action will be taken for violators?

The local enforcement procedures and penalties for failure to comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code, or the Uniform Fire Safety Standards, are found in Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention F-101.4.

The ordinance states that violators of the fire code may be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors; and, upon conviction, they may be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in the County Jail not to exceed 60 days or both.

The ordinance also states that fire inspectors may issue civil citations to violators. A separate citation may be given for each violation, and each day that a violation continues is a separate offense. If the citation is not contested the penalty is $50.00, plus court costs of $8.00. If a violator chooses to contest the citation and is convicted, the judge may impose a penalty up to $500.00 plus court costs for each violation.

 

Safety Tips from the National Fire Protection Association

Don’t let fire make your summer memorable for the wrong reasons.  The National Fire Protection Association offers these grilling safety tips:

  • Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
  • The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
  • Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
  • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Never leave your grill unattended.

It pays to be safe at all times. Protect yourself, your neighbors and your property.

 

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Over the past several years, all of Florida’s community association statutes have been amended to require that board members be “certified.”

Over the past several years, all of Florida’s community association statutes have been amended to require that board members be “certified.”

  • Posted: Jun 11, 2017
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Board Members Courses:

Newly elected or appointed board members must sign a form, that provides that the board member has read the association’s governing documents, and that such board member will work to uphold such documents to the best of his or her ability.

Further, the board member must agree that he or she will faithfully discharge his or her fiduciary duty to the association’s members.

In lieu of signing this written certification, a newly elected or appointed director may instead provide a certificate demonstrating that they have satisfactorily completed an approved educational course.    

 Find Upcoming Board Member Courses on our Calendar on SFPMA.COM

A prospective board member can attend and complete such an educational course up to one year in advance of taking a seat on the board.

In the event that a board member fails to either complete an educational course or sign the required form within ninety days of their election or appointment to the board, such board member is suspended from service on the board until they complete the requirement.

SFPMA.COM has a full list of Courses that are offered by our members. View our Calendar of Events and keep informed. Take advantage of these required courses.

Thank You SFPMA

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Rembaum’s Association Roundup: Florida’s Newest Non-Native Invasion – Overnight Rentals

Rembaum’s Association Roundup: Florida’s Newest Non-Native Invasion – Overnight Rentals

  • Posted: May 30, 2017
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With little doubt, purchasing a home is one of the most significant investments you can make. In order to help protect that investment, many purchasers choose to buy homes within community associations that include homeowners’, cooperative and condominium associations. Behavior within community associations is governed by a declaration of condominium or declaration of restrictions, along with the bylaws, articles of incorporation and, importantly, and more often than not, the rules and regulations generated by the board of directors. Those of us living within community associations, for the most part, did not sign up to live in a community with transient overnight housing. Yet, if left to the vices of VRBO and AirBnB that is exactly what can happen in your community. Do you know what to look for? Do you know how to prevent this from occurring? What if it is occurring in your neighborhood? What can your community association do about it?

For a variety of reasons, none which are the subject of today’s column, local governments may have difficulty in promulgating local ordinances prohibiting overnight housing offered by VRBO and AirBnB. Therefore, it is left up to your community association’s board of directors to ensure proper measures are in place to prevent homes in your community from becoming the newest unnamed hotel/motel.

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FREE CONDO BOARD CERTIFICATION CLASSES AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

FREE CONDO BOARD CERTIFICATION CLASSES AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

  • Posted: May 30, 2017
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ROYALE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, FT. LAUDERDALE, HOLDS FREE CONDO BOARD CERTIFICATION CLASSES AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SEMINARS

Fort Lauderdale, May 30, 2017 — A series of free certification classes for condo Board members as well as educational seminars for Board members of condos, homeowners associations and co-ops take place on Monday evenings.  All sessions are held at the offices of Royale Management Services, 2319 North Andrews Avenue. 

Open to all who register, the Board certification classes and property management seminars are conducted by Steven J. Weil, Ph.D., EA, LCAM, president of the 31-year old Fort Lauderdale property management firm.  Refreshments and networking begin at 5:30 p.m. The seminars follow promptly at 6:00 p.m. and include a Q&A. Space is limited. Reservations may be made by calling 954-563-1269.

Condo Board Certification Classes are held on the second Monday of the month and cover topics such as condo law, fiduciary responsibility, governing documents, official records, financial reporting, budgeting, enforcement, elections, et al. Upcoming dates are:  6/12/2017, 9/11/2017, 10/9/2017, and 11/13/2017.

The Property Management Seminars listed below take place on the third Monday of the month: 

06/19/17       Conducting Meetings & Getting The Work Done

09/18/17       Reading & Using Association Financial Statements

10/16/17       Building a Budget That Works

11/20/17       Condo Elections – Getting It Right

Dr. Weil has appeared on Good Morning America and is frequently quoted by major media.  His bylined articles are regularly published on the South Florida Property Management Association website.  “The Condo Board Certification Classes are designed to help new board members meet the Florida 718.112 Statute requirements for Condo Association Board Members,” Dr. Weil said. “Our seminar goal is prevention — to help keep Board members of condos, HOAs and Co-ops from frequently having to call their attorney.”

ABOUT ROYALE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.

Steven J. and Theresa Weil, each of whom has earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration, are the principals of Fort Lauderdale-based Royale Management Services, Inc. A licensed, full-service Community Association Management (CAM) firm, RMS provides professional residential property management services throughout Broward County, Florida, specializing in management, consulting and accounting for Condominium Associations, Home Owners Associations and Co-Ops.

RMS has a team of 16 full-time employees dedicated to working closely with association Boards to hold down costs while improving the quality of life for their residents. RMS strives to ensure that proper procedures are followed to keep the association in compliance with all of the rules governing elections, budgeting, accounting, operation, collection and assessment. The work includes educating board members on the responsibilities, duties, and obligations involved in governing the association.

Royale Management Services, Inc. has been serving South Florida since 1984. Originally founded to provide high-quality management and accounting services for business and individuals, the company expanded into the property management business in 2000. The firm and its president are members of the Community Association Institute (CAI) and the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

CONTACT:
​Rose Sexton, Business Communications Services, Deerfield Beach, FL 

Phone: (954) 480-9906    Email: sextons.r@gmail.com

OR

Steven J. Weil, Ph.D., EA, LCAM

Royale Management Services, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Phone: (800) 382-1040  Email:  steve@rmsaccounting.com

CHECK OUR MONTHLY CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS TO FIND THESE AND OTHER EVENTS FOR THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY.

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Remember that it’s important to vet all vendors who do work at your properties!

Remember that it’s important to vet all vendors who do work at your properties!

  • Posted: May 07, 2017
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Nothing should occupy more space in your mind than property maintenance.

And how you manage it often makes the difference between contented tenants and constant complainers, between praising your team and yelling at them. The good news is that you can avoid most of the hassles and headaches by simply taking full advantage of our property management vendors.

If you’re still handling maintenance with sticky notes, business cards taped to walls and numbers stored in your cell phone, there’s a lot you can do quickly and easily to improve not only your team’s enjoyment of their jobs, but also the loyalty and satisfaction of your tenants and maintenance providers. Here are some suggestions.

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ARE WE TOO COMPLACENT ABOUT HURRICANE PREPARATION?

ARE WE TOO COMPLACENT ABOUT HURRICANE PREPARATION?

  • Posted: Apr 28, 2017
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ARE WE TOO COMPLACENT ABOUT HURRICANE PREPARATION?

Steven J. Weil, president, Royale Management Services

by Enrolled Agent Steven J. Weil, Ph.D., EA, LCAM, president, Royale Management Services, Inc.

It’s likely that we don’t have to react with any great urgency this summer to the long-term threat of sea level rising, but it’s probably a very good idea to think seriously about hurricane preparation right now.

Floridians may have become a bit complacent about hurricanes, knowing that South Florida has not been hit by a major hurricane since 2005.  However, hurricane researchers tell us that the current 11-year drought in the Sunshine State is almost twice as long as the previous one of six years’ duration (from 1979-1985).  They warn that it’s just a matter of time before storms start coming this way again.

Association residents have some options, depending upon the strength of a storm.

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Entering the Gate at The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo, Ready to meet Leading Companies working in Florida’s Property Management Industry.

Entering the Gate at The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo, Ready to meet Leading Companies working in Florida’s Property Management Industry.

  • Posted: Apr 26, 2017
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The Broward County Condo & HOA Expo
Special thanks goes out to L&L Exhibition Management, Nick Vetter and his Team for putting on this event.

I stopped in to meet with many of our SFPMA (South Florida Property Management Association) Members. Starting with Multi-Housing Team Bob and Sergio with Aaxon Laundry Systems, Rodger Kopp III of Commercial Laundries, Rudy Silva and James Friedman with Sherwin-Williams, Introducing myself to Buster Cash with Coast to Coast General Contractors, Proper Introductions to Steven J Weil Owner of RMS Accounting and Royal Management Services, Getting to meet more team members Ana Echeverri and Pedro Diez with The Falcon Group and SFPMA Legal Experts for Community Associations Kaye,Bender,Rembaum Attorneys At Law where Michael Bender Pompano Beach Office was giving a “Seminar on Legal and Legislative Changes and how it affects your Communities”. Among other attorneys present was my pleasure to finally meet Lisa Magill Esq. who brings her Expertise in Community Association Laws to one of Florida’s Leading Law Firm.

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I made new sales by going to Condo & HOA Board meetings!

I made new sales by going to Condo & HOA Board meetings!

  • Posted: Apr 15, 2017
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With the numbers of service companies that are competing for work in the Property Management Industry I get these questions asked almost every day. How can my company increase sales?  How can I get in front of the decision makers? 

Both are great questions, So you want to get in front of the decision makers letting them know what your company does and how your services can help them. We feel strongly about joining with others in an Industry Organization or Association, one that is committed to the industry you are trying to get work from.

First Look at how much they charge. There are so many that charge from 400 up to over 700 per year to be listed on their directory. We ask you to understand that many of these organizations and associations charge service companies more than other members, why would that be. Well they know that you want to join and get noticed they charge you more because there are more service companies looking to do this. We think this is unfair taking money out of the pockets of hard working companies. The property managers, property owners, landlords, should be the ones paying more to find the Top Professionals that are listed and ready to help save them on the services they provide.

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