For those that move to Florida from other parts of the country or from other parts of the world, one bit of culture shock may be the reality that homeowners associations are commonplace in our state.  You may know them by another name:  neighborhood association, community association, condo association, etc. — but they are all the same essentially: a non-profit organization established to provide services, regulate activities, levy assessments, and otherwise monitor and control things including filing lawsuits if they choose to do so.

These groups are created as part of the development itself, be it a condominium project, a planned unit development, etc. and they are run by a board of directors and a group of officers, and sometimes they even have committees with memberships that oversee specific concerns, like the community pool or safety concerns through a neighborhood watch.

For many who buy condominiums, townhouses, or single family homes in Florida the reality is that the rules and regulations and the Powers That Be that implement them through the local homeowners association (or community association) may impact their daily lives in their new home much more than the laws of the city, county, or state governments.

There’s no choice here, you cannot opt out:  if you buy the property, you buy it subject to the control of the association.  The association’s governing rights “run with the land.”

Needless to say, problems come up.  Sometimes there are difficult property owners who don’t care about their neighbors or property values.  Other times, there are out of control association officers or boards that exceed their powers – or exert favoritism for some, or at the other end of the continuum, do nothing that they are supposed to do.

What Conflicts Arise with Homeowners’ Associations in Florida?  You Name It, We’ve Seen It.

Issues that come into conflict between individuals and homeowners’ associations run the gamut, and can include things like:  Noise Issues, Construction Defect Claims, Condominium Foreclosure Defense, Construction Contracts, Developer/Turnover Issues, Election Abuse/Annual Meeting Assistance, Lien Foreclosures, Improper Rule Enforcement, Selective Rule Enforcement, Slip, Trip and Falls, Preparation and Review of Purchase Contracts, Purchase and Sale of Condo Units, Terminating Contracts, Disputes with the Association/Other Residents, Late Fees and Assessments, Improper Special Assessments, Damage Caused by Residents and/or Guests, Theft, Damage to Vehicle, Slander, Parking Issues, Pet Issues, Broken Pipes /Air conditioners and Discrimination.

In Florida, There’s Practically a Homeowners’ Association On Every Corner: Consider Hallandale Beach as an Example

For example, here is a list of the homeowners’ associations located within the city limits of Hallandale Beach, Florida, where our law offices are located:

1. 2300 DIANA CONDO ASSN INC
2. 8TH STREET TOWNHOUSES CONDO ASSN INC
3. AMBASSADOR NORTH INC
4. ANCHOR BAY CLUB CONDO ASSN INC
5. ANDERSON VILLAS ADD LOT 8 CONDO ASSN INC
6. APRIL BREEZE ASSN INC
7. APRIL MIST ASSN INC
8. APRIL SONG ASSOC.
9. ASHLEIGH HOUSE HOMEOWNERS ASSN INC
10. ATLANTIC LAWNS CONDO NO. 1 ASSOC., INC.
11. AVANT GARDE CONDO ASSOC., INC.
12. BAY PLACE CONDO ASSOC.
13. BEACH GARDEN OF HALLANDALE CONDO ASSOC, INC
14. BILTMORE MANSIONS CONDO ASSOC., INC.
15. CAPTAINS PARADISE CONDO INC
16. CARALLTON ISLES CONDO ASSN
17. CASA BLANCA APTS ASSN INC
18. CASA BONA CONDO APT INC
19. CHELSEA BAYVIEW CONDO ASSN INC
20. CLIFTON CONDO ASSOC INC
21. COASTAL GARDEN CONDO INC.
22. COLONIAL HOUSE CONDO ASSOC., INC.
23. CRYSTAL CONDO, INC.
24. CRYSTAL COVE INC A CONDOMINIUM
25. CURCI VILLAGE CONDO ASSOC, INC
26. DESOTO PARK NORTH CONDO ASSOC., INC.
27. DE SOTO PARK CONDO ASSN INC
28. DIPLOMAT GOLF & RACQUET CLUB CONDO ASSN INC, THE
29. ELDORADO COUNTRY CLUB TOWERS SOUTH ASSN
30. EL DORADO COUNTRY CLUB TOWERS NORTH ASSN INC
31. EL DORADO COUNTRY CLUB ASSN
32. ELDORADO PLAZA EAST ASSN INC
33. ELDORADO PLAZA WEST ASSN INC
34. ENVOY APTS ASSN INC
35. ENVOY NORTH CONDO ASSOC.
36. FAIRWAYS RIVIERA NORTH ASSN INC
37. FAIRWAYS RIVIERA ASSN, INC
38. FAIRWAYS ROYALE ASSOC INC
39. FIRST GULFSTREAM GARDEN APT CONDO INC
40. FOURTH GULFSTREAM GARDEN APTS CONDO INC
41. GOLDEN HORN CONDO ASSN INC
42. GOLDEN HORN SOUTH CONDO ASSN INC
43. GOLDEN ISLES CONDO APTS INC
44. GOLDEN ISLES LAKES CONDOMINIUM ASSN
45. GOLDEN ISLES TOWERS CONDO INC.
46. GOLDEN ISLES YACHT CLUB CONDO ASSN
47. GOLDEN LAKES CONDO ASSOC., INC.
48. GOLDEN SAILS CONDO ASSOC
49. GOLDEN SURF TOWERS CONDO ASSN INC
50. GOLDEN VIEW CONDO INC
51. GULFSTREAM VIEW CONDO ASSN
52. GULFVIEW APARTMENTS CONDO ASSN INC
53. HALLANDALE GARDENS CONDO INC.
54. HALLANDALE TOWERS EAST INC
55. HALLCREST CONDO APT ASSN
56. HEMISPHERES CONDO ASSN INC.
57. HIGHLAND PARK VILLAGE CONDO ASSN INC
58. IMPERIAL TOWERS CONDO, INC.
59. IMPERIAL TOWERS NORTH CONDO, INC.
60. IRVINGTON GARDENS CONDO ASSN. INC.
61. ISLANDS-JAMAICA ASSN., INC.
62. ISLANDS-MARTINIQUE CONDO ASSN., INC.
63. LA LAGUNA CONDO ASSN, INC
64. CONDO ASSN OF LA MER ESTATES INC
65. CONDO ASSN OF LA MER ESTATES INC
66. CONDO ASSN OF LA MER ESTATES INC
67. LAKE POINT TOWERS CONDO INC
68. LINDAL APARTMENTS CONDO ASSN INC
69. MALAGA TOWERS CONDO ASSN, INC
70. MALAGA TOWERS CONDO ASSN, INC
71. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 10 INC
72. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 1 INC
73. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 2 INC
74. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 3 INC
75. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 4 INC
76. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 5 INC
77. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 6 INC
78. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 7 INC
79. MEADOWBROOK CONDO ASSN BLDG 8 INC
80. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO A INC
81. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO B INC
82. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO C INC
83. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO D INC
84. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO E INC
85. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO F INC
86. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO G INC
87. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO H INC
88. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO I INC
89. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO J INC
90. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO K INC
91. MEADOWBROOK TOWERS CONDO L INC
92. MOFFETT CONDO INC
93. MOFFETT PLACE CONDO ASSN INC
94. OCEAN VIEW TOWERS ASSN., INC.
95. OCEANVIEW PARK CONDO ASSN
96. OLYMPUS ASSOC., INC. PH A-C
97. OLYMPUS ASSOC., INC. PH A-C
98. OLYMPUS ASSOC., INC. PH A-C
99. ONE TWENTY ONE GOLDEN CONDO ASSOC., INC.
100. PARADISE BY THE SEA CONDO ASSN
101. PARADISE VILLAS CONDO ASSOC
102. PARK LAYNE TOWERS OWNERS ASSN
103. PARKER DORADO CONDO ASSN, INC.
104. CONDO ASSN. OF PARKER PLAZA ESTATES, INC
105. PARKER TOWER CONDO ASSN INC
106. PARKSIDE MANOR CONDO A ASSN., INC.
107. PARKSIDE MANOR CONDO B ASSN INC
108. PARKSIDE MANOR C CONDO ASSN INC
109. PARKSIDE MANOR D CONDO ASSN INC
110. PARKSIDE TOWERS CONDO ASSOC INC
111. PLAZA APTS ASSN INC
112. CONDO ASSN OF PLAZA TOWERS NORTH INC
113. PLAZA TOWERS SOUTH CONDO ASSN INC
114. PRINCE GEORGE CONDO ASSN, INC.
115. ROYAL PALM VILLAS CONDO ASSN INC
116. SABAL PALM VILLAS CONDO ASSN INC
117. SECOND GULFSTREAM GARDEN CONDO INC
118. SEVENTEENTH GREEN CONDO ASSN INC
119. SEVILLA PALACE AT HALLANDALE BEACH CONDO ASSOC, INC
120. STAR PARADISE CONDO ASSOC
121. STRAND PLAZA ASSN INC
122. THIRD GULFSTREAM GARDEN APT CONDO ASSN INC
123. TOWERS OF OCEANVIEW EAST CONDO ASSOC.
124. TOWERS OF OCEANVIEW POINT ASSN INC
125. TOWERS OF OCEANVIEW SOUTH CONDO ASSN
126. TROPICS CONDO ASSN.
127. TURF CONDO., INC.
128. VENETIAN PARK CONDO I ASSN INC
129. VENETIAN PARK CONDO II ASSN., INC.
130. VENETIAN PARK CONDO III ASSN INC
131. VENETIAN PARK CONDO IV ASSN INC
132. VENETIAN PARK CONDO V ASSN INC
133. WOODLAKE APTS. CONDO ASSOC.
134. YACHT CLUB CONDO ASSN OF HALLANDALE, INC
135. 932 MOFFETT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION
136. BEACH CLUB THREE OF HALLANDALE CONDO ASSN, INC
137. BEACH CLUB TWO OF HALLANDALE CONDO ASSN INC
138. BEACH CLUB OF HALLANDALE CONDO ASSN INC
139. BELLAVISTA CONDO OF HALLANDALE CONDO ASSN INC
140. DUO CONDO EAST ASSN INC
141. DUO CONDO WEST ASSN, INC
142. HALLANDALE BEACH PRIVATE RESIDENCE CONDO
143. HALLS VILLAGE CONDO OF HALLANDALE, INC
144. L’SOLEI AT HALLANDALE BEACH CONDO ASSN INC
145. OCEAN MARINE YACHT CLUB CONDO ASSN INC
146. TERRA AT HALLANDALE BEACH CONDO ASSN INC
147. THIRD AVENUE CONDO ASSN OF HALLANDALE, INC

Bottom line, if you are buying property in Florida, then you need to consider the community association that comes with that purchase.  Check it out.  Be aware of the impact it can have upon your day to day enjoyment of that property in the future.

Know your rights – and don’t hesitate to get legal counsel to protect your rights under Florida law if you have a conflict with a community association.  Resolving a legal conflict need not be time consuming and costly in homeowner association disputes.