New Florida Condominium Law Makes Total Sense

Posted by Eric Miller on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 7:54am.

Every Fort Lauderale Real Estate blog has a posting, as of late, about a new law that went in to effect on July 1st, 2010, called the Florida Condominium Relief Act. 

I am going to be very brief about what the act does and then tell you a story about how common sense has won out.

The law allows for condominium associations, where a unit is rented but the landlord is not paying the monthly maintenance payments to require the tenant to pay the rent monies to the condominium until the landlord is up-to date. Common sense has won out.

It is has been shocking to watch Fort Lauderdale Condominiums  pay for the maintenance of beautiful amenities while the people using them were renting from landlords not paying their bills. This new law is changing this quickly and there are many smiling members of condominium boards as their balance sheets start to improve.

Almost ten years ago I met a woman named Kerry, who single handedly ran a condominium called Middle River Homes Condo. She lived there, was always on the board, and ran the association with expertise of the book keeper she was.

Kerry went to the association attorney and they drew up a form which was included in every rental application package.

The form said "the tenant and landlord agree that if the landlord does not pay their maintenance the association can get it directly from the tenant, who can deduct it from his rent". Over the years I showed the form to numerous condominium boards whose attorneys most often shot it down and said it was "illegal". Kerry's attitude was it "just makes sense", and we can apologize later.

Well, Kerry, hope your enjoying retirement,  - Common sense has won out - no apologies necessary.

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Eric Miller is an award winning Florida Realtor, salesperson and broker. His website, FortLauderdaleGroup.com provides an up-to-date guide to Fort Lauderdale Condos for sale, and the most complete buyer, seller and investor information for the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Market.

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