HOA Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Kaye Bender Rembaum

January 15, 2022January 18, 2022

Securing Your Gated Community | Exactly Who is Allowed In?

Rembaum's Association Roundup | Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq., BCS

While living in a gated community can add peace of mind for the residents who live behind the gates, there are many important considerations for the association when crafting rules and regulations regarding who may and who may not be permitted to enter the community. In today’s gated communities, there are three entry control options: (i) live personnel to monitor the gate, (ii) a virtual gate guard where the gate guard who allows guests to pass through is off-site and monitoring electronically, or (iii) a simple call box.

Many associations adopt rules which require visitors to the community to present valid identification to ensure that the visitors are authorized by the association or a resident to enter the community. But, what kind of identification can an association require? Are there limits? In the end, the association must…[Read the full article]

December 13, 2021January 18, 2022

Deconstructing the Construction Contract | A Plain English Explanation

Rembaum's Association Roundup | Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq., BCS

If your community association has engaged the services of a contractor, engineer, architect, or other construction or design professional to perform a maintenance, repair, replacement, or capital improvement project, you know the process can be overwhelming. No matter the mad rush to execute the contract as soon as possible, when beginning such projects, no matter how big or small, the board needs to ensure the contract adequately protects the association. Even the smallest of projects can have unexpected, disastrous consequences. A few of the more common provisions which every board member should understand follow. [Read the Full Article]

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021

Elections Webinar Q&A Follow-up | November 4, 2021

Attorney Allison L. Hertz, from our Palm Beach Gardens office, returns to answer some of the questions submitted by our audience during the October 28, 2021 webinar, covering Community Association Elections.

Note: This video is for informational purposes only. Watching this video does not constitute legal advice, nor does it provide certifications and credits.

November 3, 2021January 18, 2022

Don’t Want Your Association To Be The Next Rental Community? Then You Better Read This

Rembaum’s Association Roundup | Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq., BCS

Many community associations throughout Florida struggle to deal with the increase in overnight and short-term rentals caused by the proliferation of online websites such as VRBO and Airbnb. As such, many communities fear being turned into “rental communities,” especially with so many large corporations buying homes in the South Florida area for the express purpose of renting them. These transient rentals can present nuisance and safety issues and can easily change the composition of your community. The good news, however, is that there are steps your association can take to help protect the community from becoming the next transient rental community by having the necessary language in the declaration of restrictions, as further discussed below.

There are two types of restrictions which work together to help achieve this goal. First, corporate (or business entity) ownership must be fully addressed. Second, specific criteria for approval of purchasers, tenants, and occupants residing in the community for longer than 30 days (or such other time period) must be adopted. Finally, a brief discussion regarding the applicability… [Read the Rest]

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021

It’s the Manager’s Fault…Or Is It?

Rembaum’s Association Roundup | Jeffrey A. Rembaum, Esq., BCS

Few professions have more demands placed upon them than that of the Florida licensed community association manager (CAM). Depending on whom you ask, the CAM is the organizer, rules enforcer, keeper of secrets (meaning confidential and statutorily protected information not limited to the medical record of owners and attorney-client privileged information), best friend, the “bad guy” (a frequent misconstruction), and the first person in the line of fire when things go wrong; in other words, the one who takes all the blame and gets little credit when things go right.

When things at the association go wrong, what comment is most likely heard? “It’s the manager’s fault!” But, is it? Unless the manager failed to carry out a lawful directive from the board, breached a management contract provision, or violated a Florida statute, then in all likelihood, the manager has no culpability. CAMs are licensed by the State of Florida pursuant to Part VIII of Chapter 468 of the Florida Statutes, and there are statutory standards by which CAMs must conduct themselves.

Pursuant to §468.4334, Florida Statutes, “[a] community association manager or a community association management firm is deemed to act as agent on behalf of a community association as principal within the scope of authority authorized by a written contract or [Read the Rest]

April 27, 2021January 27, 2022

Navigating the FFHA | Assistance Animal or Pet?

Learn about the new HUD regulations and new 2020 Florida Legislation pertaining to assistance animals, as well as common issues concerning assistance animals and addressing requests by residents for reasonable accommodations.

Note: Viewing this video on-demand does not offer CE-credit, nor satisfy any requirements for licensed CAMS and Board Members.