Raise without notice

Q. We just received a notice from our condo association stating that our monthly assessments just went up by $20 due to required maintenance on our clubhouse. There was no board meeting or anything. May the board arbitrarily raise the assessments?

A. Itsoundslikethe board may have passed a special assessment for the needed repairs. In order for the board to properly pass a special assessment in a condo association, the board must deliver at least 14 days’ notice to the owners before the board meeting at which the board votes to pass the special assessment. The notice that goes to the owners must state the estimated cost of the special assessment and the purpose of the special assessment.

Q.

Does

the

law

require Michael Bogen

homeowners’ insurance in homeowners or condominium associations?

A. No. Over the past several years, the Florida Legislature has made many changes to homeowner and condominiumassociation law. Afew years ago, homeowners’ insurance was required, then itwasn’t. But now, it depends. Whether or not homeowners’ insurance is required is dependent onyour association’s declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions (HOA) or your association’s declaration of condominium (condo association). If your declaration requires owners to have insurance, then you must have it.