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Glitch Bill and Condo Inspection and Milestone Requirements Webinar Featuring Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum and Scott Harvey-Lewis from Building Mavens Date & Time Jul 28, 2023 01:00 PM 

Glitch Bill and Condo Inspection and Milestone Requirements Webinar Featuring Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum and Scott Harvey-Lewis from Building Mavens Date & Time Jul 28, 2023 01:00 PM 

If you missed this event, You can watch the Video now.

Glitch Bill and Condo Inspection and Milestone Requirements Webinar Featuring Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum and Scott Harvey-Lewis from Building Mavens

Watch the Video NOW.

Description
Join Evan Bradley from Campbell Property Management, Michael Bender from Kaye Bender Rembaum and Scott Harvey-Lewis from Building Mavens for this Glitch Bill and Condo Inspection and Milestone Requirements Webinar. Be sure to ask your question about the webinar when you register. We will do our best to answer as many questions as possible. This webinar does not include CEU credits.

 

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Preparing for Extreme Heat: The New Natural Disaster by Donna DiMaggio Berger of Becker

Preparing for Extreme Heat: The New Natural Disaster by Donna DiMaggio Berger of Becker

  • Posted: Jul 28, 2023
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Preparing for Extreme Heat: The New Natural Disaster

by Donna DiMaggio Berger / Becker

The word “hot” has many connotations: it can reveal anger when you say someone is “hot around the collar”; it can invoke personal appeal or desirability “he’s so hot”; it can refer to a disorganized person or situation, hence the description as “a hot mess”; and can also be used to describe an emotional issue or topic as a “hot button”. However, since the earliest of times, the word hot has been used to describe the temperature and we’ve been hearing this word a lot lately in many parts of the US given the ongoing heat waves. More than 61,000 people died in 2022 because of the heat waves that swept the European continent. We won’t know for some time how many US fatalities have occurred due to our extreme heat during the summer of 2023.

Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, exacerbation of existing medical and mental health conditions, respiratory distress, and heatstroke. Dehydration can cause dizziness, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Heat exhaustion may result in heavy sweating, nausea, headache, rapid heartbeat, faintness, and muscle cramps. Extreme heat can more greatly affect people with underlying respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney disorders with extreme heat being tied to an increased risk of heart attacks or other cardiovascular events. Heatwaves have also been linked to diminished air quality in urban areas which can worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma. Lastly, extreme heat can impact mental well-being, leading to irritability, mood swings and difficulty concentrating, all of which can make communal living more stressful.

Dealing with extreme heat events in a multifamily building, especially for those on fixed incomes, can be challenging. What should your association board and management team be doing in response to an extreme heat event? Certainly, including preparation for heat waves into your emergency disaster plan is recommended. The following are some items you may wish to consider:

  • If your association has employees, work with counsel to review your employee guidebook particularly for employees whose work requires them to be outdoors. For those employees, you will want to be sure that they have access to plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and replace fluids lost through perspiration. If those employees are required to wear a certain uniform that is not well suited to an extreme heat event, you should consider an alternate uniform for extreme heat event. You may also want to be confirm that your outside vendors who provide services outdoors have provided adequate water and protection from the sun for their workers.
  • Create shade around the building by using umbrellas, awnings, or strategically placed vegetation to reduce the impact of direct sunlight. Bear in mind that some of these shade additions may require advance membership approval.
  • Revisit any architectural control guidelines you have in place which may restrict or prohibit the use of fans on patios, balconies and lanais. Fans are used to circulate air and can create a cooling effect. Consider how curtains, blinds and blackout shades may reduce the temperature inside units particularly if a unit owner is not running the AC at reasonable temperatures. Allow people to close their blinds and/or their hurricane shutters during the day to block out direct
    sunlight and prevent heat from entering the living space.
  • Consider limiting daytime hours of play for outdoor tennis and pickleball courts as well as any other outdoor recreational areas when temperatures are soaring. Installing thermometers on the common areas may also help remind your residents about climbing temperatures.
  • Consider purchasing a whole building generator if you don’t already have one. In the event that increased electric demands during a heat wave cause a blackout or brownout that generator may save lives in your building. Naturally, a generator will also help in the aftermath of a windstorm which knocks out electricity.
  • Check in with your residents who may be living alone and dealing with physical or mental health challenges as well as economic burdens. These residents may not be running their A/C as often or at a
    temperature that is needed for their wellbeing. This is also the time to confirm that you have emergency contacts for your residents.
  • Reach out to local community organizations, social services, or government agencies that provide assistance during extreme weather events. They may offer cooling centers, fan distribution programs, or other resources for your residents.

The strategies your board and management team use in response to an extreme heat event depends, in large part, on your building’s location and infrastructure as well as the available monetary and personnel resources. However, there are some basic steps all associations can take to educate their residents about the dangers of extreme heat. The phrase, “we’re having a heat wave” doesn’t have to spell disaster in a well-prepared community.

For additional information please listen to my podcast conversation with Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dade’s Chief Heat Officer which can be found here.

 

 Donna DiMaggio Berger is a Shareholder with the Becker law firm, is Board-certified, is a Fellow with the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) and is a keynote speaker and the host of the popular Take It To The Board podcast on association issues.

Donna DiMaggio Berger is a Shareholder in Becker’s Community Association Practice in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is a member of the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), a prestigious national organization that 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. She is also one of only 190 attorneys statewide who is a Board Certified Specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law.

As Founder and Executive Director of Becker’s Community Association Leadership Lobby (CALL), Ms. DiMaggio Berger has led various community association advocacy initiatives, working with legislators and other public policymakers on behalf of those who live, serve, and work in common interest ownership communities. She has testified before the Florida Legislature regarding community association law and frequently appears on radio talk shows and in print media discussing these issues.

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NEW LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THE ASSOCIATION MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. BUT SUPPOSE MONEY IS TIGHT AND THE DOCS ARE RESTRICTIVE?

NEW LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THE ASSOCIATION MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. BUT SUPPOSE MONEY IS TIGHT AND THE DOCS ARE RESTRICTIVE?

  • Posted: Jul 27, 2023
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NEW LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THE ASSOCIATION MUST MAKE THE REPAIRS. BUT SUPPOSE MONEY IS TIGHT AND THE DOCS ARE RESTRICTIVE?

NEW CONDO LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE CONDO MUST MAKE THE REPAIR

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

I get so many calls and e-mails each week about whether the condominium or the unit owner is responsible to fix something that’s broken.  Florida Statute 718.113 was recently amended and here’s what it says:

 

(1)   Maintenance of the common elements is the responsibility of the association, except for any maintenance responsibility for limited common elements assigned to the unit owner by the declaration. The association shall provide for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the condominium property for which it bears responsibility pursuant to the declaration of condominium.

 

That kind of clarifies it, doesn’t it?  The association shall provide for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the condominium property for which it bears responsibility pursuant to the declaration of condominium.  Notice the word shall is used.  In simple terms, shall means must.  So there is no argument……if the declaration says the association is responsible, the association must repair it.

But suppose the association does not have money to make the repair?  Now what?  The association can certainly special assess right?  But suppose the docs place a limit on the amount of the special assessment or require a unit owner vote to approve a special assessment and the unit owners won’t vote in favor of it?  Now what can you do?

Of course you may be able to borrow money.  Florida’s not for profit statute allows condominiums to borrow money.  So, the condo is in the clear right?  Not so fast.  Suppose the condo docs require a vote of the owners in order for the condo to borrow money and the owners won’t vote in favor of a loan?

 

How can the condominium make the repairs it is required by law to make if it can’t assess or borrow?

So here is this attorney’s opinion.  I don’t care about any language in a declaration that prevents an association from passing an assessment in order to make mandatory repairs.  The board can and must pass the assessment in order to comply with their statutory obligation to repair and maintain the common property.

On the other hand, if the governing documents do not prevent an association from borrowing money, the association certainly can.  However……if the governing documents will not allow the association to borrow money unless a certain number of the owners approve, the association cannot borrow unless the owners vote to approve.  No bank will approve a loan if the governing documents require the owners to vote in order to borrow, and the vote has not been obtained.  Get legal advice if you need money and you feel tied up by your docs.

 

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COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WEBSITES By Eric Glazer, Esq.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WEBSITES By Eric Glazer, Esq.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WEBSITES

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

As you all know by now, Florida condominiums having 150 or more units must have a website that only owners can access and which posts the official records of the association.  Here’s a little background as to how the law was passed.  When originally drafted, the law was only to apply to condominiums with 500 or more units.  That was ridiculous.  So, I flew up to Tallahassee and met with the then Speaker of the House and informed him that the law was a fake, inasmuch as less than one percent of all condominiums in the state contained 500 or more units.  I suggested 50 units.  The compromise was 150.

I never heard one person tell me this was a bad law.  In fact, it’s a great law.  It’s about transparency.  It takes the burden off of managers having to respond to requests for records.  It prevents lawsuits or arbitrations, as long as the website is kept up to date.

Just because the law requires condominiums of 150 units or more to have a website does not mean that condominiums of less than 150 units cannot have a website.  In fact, in this attorney’s opinion, if your condominium contains 50 units or more, you can and should have a website for the same reason that condominiums with 150 units should.

Think about how large some HOAs are.  Many contain well in excess of 500 homes and are sprawling mini cities.  You would think that those communities should be required to post their records on an official website as well.  But no.  HOAs are not required to have a website.  There is simply a hands off approach when it comes to HOAS.

Again, just because the law requires condominiums of 150 units or more to have a website does not mean that HOAs cannot have a website.  In fact, in this attorney’s opinion, if your HOA contains 50 homes or more, you can and should have a website for the same reason that condominiums with 150 units should.

This is one law the legislature should amend.  All communities, both condos, co-ops and HOAs with 50 or more units or homes should be required to have a community association website where the official records and notices of meetings are posted.  Bottom line…….it will make the residents less suspicious and happier.

Community associations, whether condominiums, co-ops, or HOAs, are responsible for providing transparency to their owners. One way to achieve this is through a community association website. In Florida, the state recognizes the importance of transparency in community associations and requires condominiums with 150 or more units to have an owners-only website that posts official records. However, this requirement should extend beyond just large condominiums.

Community associations of all sizes should consider having their website to give owners transparency. Even if a community does not meet the state-mandated requirement, having a website is still a good idea.

A website can provide owners with easy access to official records, notices of meetings, and other important information. It can also help reduce the burden on managers to respond to document requests. Additionally, it can prevent lawsuits or arbitrations if the website is kept up-to-date. It’s about more than just meeting legal requirements. It’s about providing owners with a sense of transparency and openness. This can build trust between the board, management, and owners and foster a happier community.

However, it’s important to note that the community association website should be more comprehensive than just the required information. It should also include commonly asked questions, how to apply to the association, how to pay fees, and other relevant information owners may need. This will help to make the website more user-friendly and informative for owners.

In conclusion, having a community association website is essential for transparency, no matter the size of the community. It can build trust and create a more positive living experience for all owners. The state of Florida has recognized the importance of transparency in condominiums, and it is time for all community associations to follow suit by establishing their websites with informative content.

I guess the Florida Legislature thought they did a great job to assure transparency in condominiums when they enacted bills in 2017 and 2018 [FS 718.111(12)(g)], that required condominium associations with more than 150 units to operate a website featuring all so-called “public documents”.

They would have done a great job — the bills were actually well intended – if there would be as well some sort of enforcement.

In the real world we are seeing lots of totally incomplete websites, only showing what board members and CAMs want the owners to see – and otherwise it’s business as usual.

The fights over record requests are keeping arbitrators and courts busy – and the attorneys are still smiling at their bank account statements.

If the legislators thought that they finally found a solution to end litigation about association records they were dead wrong.

Everybody knows that laws without enforcement are pretty useless and all these laws created each year are only laws for the rich, meaning the folks who have enough money to hire attorneys and fight for their rights, given to them by these kinds of laws, in district and appeals courts.

Wouldn’t that mean that all these laws, created year for year adding to the community association statutes, are only LAWS FOR THE  RICH?

Every other owner who might dare to mention at a board meeting that the board is violating statutes can still be told by the association attorney: “Sit down and shut up. You don’t have the money to sue the association!”

 

Read more industry articles on Florida HOA & Condo Blog – 

 

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Are your board meetings productive and efficient?

Are your board meetings productive and efficient?

  • Posted: Mar 08, 2023
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Board meetings should be productive, efficient meetings where the board conducts business. Stop and think about that for a minute. Are your meetings productive and efficient? Does the board meet to conduct business or socialize? Are you getting the most out of your meetings?

We’ve put together seven keys to a successful board meeting. Following these suggestions can bring new life to your association and keep volunteers interested in helping.

 

 

1.- Board meetings should not last more than one hour. Start the meeting when it is scheduled to begin and get straight to business. If you collectively have the focus to get done in an hour you’ll be amazed with how much you can accomplish. If you have no time limit, the meeting will typically drag on and a lot of time will be wasted.

When time is wasted at a meeting then people are less likely to volunteer because they feel their time is wasted. One hour meetings have a major impact on volunteers. Associations that hold focused, one hour meetings have more people volunteer. It’s also important to note that those volunteers stay active the in the community for much longer. Length of your board meetings may seem like a trivial matter, but it really does have a large impact on how the volunteers of the association view the organization and, in turn, how they view their role.

 

2.- Make your meetings action oriented. Don’t just discuss issues, make decisions. Every item up for discussion should end in a vote to move forward in some way or table the issue with a clear understanding of why the item is being tabled and when it will be revisited. When taking action on an item make sure it is clear who will be responsible for getting that task completed. Ambiguity cripples a board.

 

3.- Board Meetings are for the board. They are not neighborhood meetings or social gatherings. The purpose of a board meeting is to conduct business, not see how many people you can get to attend. Some board members try to get as many people to attend as possible. This is missing the point. Homeowners are, of course, welcome to attend but it is not a membership meeting. The purpose of the board meeting is for the board to consider the affairs of the association, make business decisions, and then have a clear plan of action.

 

4.- Take time prior to the meeting to think about what you want to discuss. Inform the community manager of this one week prior to the meeting. This way your topics of discussion can be placed on the agenda which will allow the other board members and the community manager the opportunity to think about and/or research the item you want to talk about. When you don’t come prepared and spring things on the other board members or on the community manager this typically results in a lot of unnecessary discussion with additional research needed in order to make any kind of decision. Remember, be action oriented. By planning ahead you can make more decisions at the meeting instead of causing an item to be discussed twice and delayed for months.

 

5.- There are an odd number of board positions for a reason. You will not always see eye to eye. Don’t take it personal if the other members of the board disagree with you. This will occur and is healthy. While each board member should attempt to come to a consensus with the other members, you will not be able to achieve this each time. Countless hours are wasted by board members continuing to argue a point just to obtain “victory” on a certain issue or to avoid any vote that is not unanimous. This occurs because someone is taking it personal. If your view is not shared on an issue, take a vote, and move on. Do not hold a grudge. Recognize that you can disagree and still work well with each other.

 

6.- If you think you may have a conflict of interest do not vote on that issue. Let’s say a board member’s spouse is on a committee. If the board is making a decision on an issue related to that committee then the board member with the spouse on that committee should excuse him/herself.

 

7.- Most associations should hold quarterly meetings (unless your bylaws require more). Meeting more often than that becomes excessive and unnecessary. Remember you want to have focused, short, productive meetings. This keeps people interested in serving on the board and on committees. If the association is constantly meeting then people feel it is taking too much of their time and they will stop volunteering. It is important to note that you are required to comply with the minimum meeting requirement in your bylaws. Most association bylaws require no more than quarterly meetings, but check yours to be sure.

 

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ALL ABOUT E-MAILS By Eric Glazer, Esq.

ALL ABOUT E-MAILS By Eric Glazer, Esq.

  • Posted: Mar 08, 2023
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ALL ABOUT E-MAILS

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

 

There really is a lot to know when it comes to e-mails.  Here’s a brief outline:

Can Directors Communicate and Vote By e-mail?

Members of the board of administration may use e-mail as a means of communication but may not cast a vote on an association matter via e-mail.

Example:  Friday night is a board meeting.  On the agenda is whether or not to hire Joe’s Landscaping Service.  Between now and Monday the Board members can send e-mails to each other suggesting whether or not to hire Joe’s.  Even if all decide to hire Joe’s, that vote must still take place Friday night at the properly noticed Board meeting.

Are these e-mails official records of the association, accessible to the unit owners?

E-mails on the personal computers of individual directors are not official records of the condominium association. The property of an individual director does not become the property of the association because of his office on the board.  Even if directors communicate among themselves by e–mail strings or chains, about the operation of the association, the status of the electronic communication on their personal computer would not change.

Similarly, an e–mail to an individual director or to all directors as a group, addressed only to their personal computers, is not written communication to the association. This must be so because there is no obligation for a director to turn on the personal computer with any regularity, or to open and read e–mails before deleting them.  The conclusion may be different if the association owns a computer on which the management conducts business including e–mails (analogous to government public records); or if e–mails are printed up and passed around for discussion at a board meeting.

Does that Mean A Director’s E-mail can Never Be Seen By Anyone?

Just because the e-mail may not be an “official record” of the association does not mean that nobody can ever get to see it.  Trust me, if the association is involved in litigation, and I serve a subpoena on a director for their e-mails which may have relevant information, the court will require production of those e-mails.  So board members be warned, before you hit the SEND button think about whether or not you would be comfortable with a judge, jury or opposing counsel reviewing it as well.

Are the E-mail Addresses of the Unit Owner’s an Official Record obtainable by an Owner?

E-mail addresses are not accessible to the unit owners, unless the reason why the association is in possession of that e-mail address is because the unit owner signed a form consenting to receive notices by e-mail.

Have any additional questions?  Send us an e-mail.

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THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE – AFRAID TO PASS REQUIRED EDUCATION

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE – AFRAID TO PASS REQUIRED EDUCATION

THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE – AFRAID TO PASS REQUIRED EDUCATION

DOES THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WANT YOU TO REMAIN DUMB?

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

For those of you who are intelligent and decided to come to a Board Certification class in the last few months and learn all about the new safety and reserve laws, I applaud you.  It was my honor meeting you and teaching you all over the state.

I love that look in your eyes and the groan that comes over the crowd when I tell you that you do not need to be here today.  You did not have to get certified by taking what I believe is both a board certification and a life safety class.  The Florida Legislature still allows Board members to get certified by signing a ridiculous form that says you have read your governing documents and you promise to enforce them.

Are the new safety and reserve laws found in your governing documents?  Of course not.  You have to be taught them to know what you are now required to do in order that another Champlain Towers disaster never happens again.  You don’t learn these laws by staying home in your pajamas, printing a form off the computer and signing it.  When the members of your Board can get certified by signing that self-serving form, lives are at risk.

It’s ironic that they placed language in the new laws requiring the directors to follow them or face breach of fiduciary duty charges.  So…..according to The Florida Legislature, you must apply these new laws in your condominium, you just don’t have to learn them and know what is actually required of you.

Every legislator I have ever spoken to about a mandatory educational course in order to get Board certified is in favor of it.  Yet, it remains a mystery why in the past it has been removed from the statute.  The classes are free and are even accessible via ZOOM.  This year, there are several condominium bills floating around at the moment.  Not a single one has any mention of mandatory education for Board members.

Back to the title “Does The Florida Legislature Want You To Remain Dumb?”  How else would you explain it?

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JUST WALK AWAY – By Eric Glazer, Esq.

JUST WALK AWAY – By Eric Glazer, Esq.

JUST WALK AWAY

By Eric Glazer, Esq.

I was recently watching an interview of a black belt in karate.  In addition he was built like The Hulk.  He started to say what he does when someone curses him out and even challenges him to a fight.  I was certainly expecting him to describe how he turns others into rubble.  On the contrary, he said that whenever he finds himself in that position, instead of fighting back, he simply walks away.  To say I was originally surprised is an understatement.  I mean this guy could pulverize any opponent.  Instead, he chooses to just walk away.

He spelled out why.  If he beats someone up he faces both criminal and civil charges.  And for what?  Because some dope said a few nasty words about him?  Much better to just walk away from any situation that allows for it.  Wow, I was impressed by this guy’s brain, not just his muscle.

It got me to thinking about my career in condominium and HOA law.  How much time in my life did I spend hearing board members and unit owners verbally go at each other.  How much time in my life did I spend hearing unit or homeowners argue with other unit or homeowners?  It’s ridiculous.

In none of these arguments was anything accomplished whatsoever.  They were all a waste of time for those arguing and everyone who unfortunately had to listen to the nonsense.  I’ve seen physical fights break out and even walkers and canes fly through the air.  And for what?  What was accomplished?  Nothing.

So, board members, unit owners, home owners and even managers, I’m talking to you.  Next time someone is looking for a fight, do what the karate guy does, walk away.  It will probably drive the other person crazy.

 

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ZOOM: All About Insurance | Juno Beach Town Hall w/Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq, BCS (Kaye Bender Rembaum)

ZOOM: All About Insurance | Juno Beach Town Hall w/Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq, BCS (Kaye Bender Rembaum)

All About Insurance | Juno Beach Town Hall

9:00 am-11:00 am 02/24/2023

Juno Beach Town Hall
340 Ocean Dr, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA

Coffee, Registration and Networking 9:00am | Seminar begins at 9:30am

To attend at the venue: RSVP to (302)588-3104 or email junobeachforum@hotmail.com

Attend via Zoom: Click HERE

The marketplace for insurance – Why are companies leaving Florida or choosing not to insure? What is the role of Citizen’s Insurance?

What is in the recent legislation that is helpful to condo associations and HOAs?  Is there more legislation looming?  How does helping the insurers help owners and associations?

Which upgrades to your facilities will positively impact on an insurer’s willingness to insure your association?

Panel:

  • Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq, BCS (Kaye Bender Rembaum)
  • Chris Banker, President (Patriot Insurance)
  • Steven Mock, Risk Manager (Brown and Brown Insurance)

 

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RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENTS? By Jan Bergemann on Condo and HOA Blog

RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENTS? By Jan Bergemann on Condo and HOA Blog

RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENTS?

By Jan Bergemann on Condo HOA Blog




I know that there are many good presidents who are working hard for the good of the community, keep open books and openly communicate with the members of the association.

But then there are lots of presidents, drunk with power and full of themselves. You wouldn’t believe the many ugly stories I’m hearing daily about presidents behaving like Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler or Fidel Castro. With the help of greedy attorneys and community association managers they create dictatorships that make living in community associations a living nightmare. They are even willing to ignore arbitration and court rulings and continue their evil doings even after being officially removed by elections or recalls. They are even willing to waste the association’s money on ridiculous appeals court filings.




The real reason why this can even happen in a so-called “civilized” country like the USA: The unwillingness of our government to enforce the many laws legislators create every year.

Many of these laws turn out to be just a waste of paper because too many of the so-called “specialized” community association attorneys are willing to help these dictatorial presidents to circumvent these laws, telling owners, who stand up at meetings to challenge actions of the board that violate the laws, to “sit down and shut up since they don’t have the money to sue the board anyway”!

Living in a community association isn’t something you can just enjoy by not participating, willing to ignore to happenings in the neighborhood until it’s too late. Apathy of owners allows these dictatorships to be created in the first place. Don’t let apathy destroy your community.

REMEMBER: EVEN THE BEST COMMUNITY IS ONLY ONE ELECTION AWAY FROM DICTATORSHIP.

Jan Bergemann

Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice, Florida ‘s largest state-wide property owners’ advocacy group. CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in community  associations. He moved to Florida in 1995 – hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues for his own purposes. End of retirement!

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