Condominium & Homeowner Association have diffe
Home » Important Posts » Condominium & Homeowner Association have different Rulings for Delinquencies | Gulfshore Property Mgmt
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Last updated: Tuesday, December 18, 2007

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Occasionally were asked if a unit owner is delinquent on assessments and their property is in a lien process, if the Board can revoke their voting rights, take away clubhouse and pool privileges and/or evict their renters. 

Since the condominium common-area is owned by the membership (see Condominium & Homeowner Associations Restricting Renters Rights), as long as there no “dual usage”, the owner is liven in the same community and is the legal owner of title, then nothing would prevent undivided common-area-use. Also, there is nothing written in the Florida Statute 718.106 regarding suspension of use rights or suspension of voting.

Homeowner associations on the other hand, are handle differently. Since common property is actually owned by the Board of Directors (see Condominium Verses Homeowner Associations), the Board has a little more common-area-use control. If provided for in the governing documents, and if the unit owner is delinquent, the Board can rescind the rights of common use. However, voting rights can never be annulled.

Additionally, both condominium and homeowner, the association has no rights regarding eviction due to late or delinquent assessments.

For similar posts see, “Condominium has Regulations, Where Homeowner Associations do not” and “Gulfshore Property Mgmt. Condominium & Homeowner Association Management” and lastly “Can a Unit Owner Assign His or Her Voting Rights?”. If you are the select few who donate their time to serve on a board of your Association and/or a Florida Homeowner, you do not want to miss any new important posts. Please subscribe to our community. Or our complimentary email services.

For supporting information, see Florida Statute 720.305 and 718.106 on next page: 

720.305  Obligations of members; remedies at law or in equity; levy of fines and suspension of use rights; failure to fill sufficient number of vacancies on board of directors to constitute a quorum; appointment of receiver upon petition of any member.–
(1)  Each member and the member’s tenants, guests, and invitees, and each association, are governed by, and must comply with, this chapter, the governing documents of the community, and the rules of the association. Actions at law or in equity, or both, to redress alleged failure or refusal to comply with these provisions may be brought by the association or by any member against:
(a)  The association;
(b)  A member;
(c)  Any director or officer of an association who willfully and knowingly fails to comply with these provisions; and
(d)  Any tenants, guests, or invitees occupying a parcel or using the common areas.

The prevailing party in any such litigation is entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. A member prevailing in an action between the association and the member under this section, in addition to recovering his or her reasonable attorney’s fees, may recover additional amounts as determined by the court to be necessary to reimburse the member for his or her share of assessments levied by the association to fund its expenses of the litigation. This relief does not exclude other remedies provided by law. This section does not deprive any person of any other available right or remedy.
(2)  If the governing documents so provide, an association may suspend, for a reasonable period of time, the rights of a member or a member’s tenants, guests, or invitees, or both, to use common areas and facilities and may levy reasonable fines, not to exceed $100 per violation, against any member or any tenant, guest, or invitee. A fine may be levied on the basis of each day of a continuing violation, with a single notice and opportunity for hearing, except that no such fine shall exceed $1,000 in the aggregate unless otherwise provided in the governing documents. A fine shall not become a lien against a parcel. In any action to recover a fine, the prevailing party is entitled to collect its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs from the nonprevailing party as determined by the court.
(a)  A fine or suspension may not be imposed without notice of at least 14 days to the person sought to be fined or suspended and an opportunity for a hearing before a committee of at least three members appointed by the board who are not officers, directors, or employees of the association, or the spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister of an officer, director, or employee. If the committee, by majority vote, does not approve a proposed fine or suspension, it may not be imposed.
(b)  The requirements of this subsection do not apply to the imposition of suspensions or fines upon any member because of the failure of the member to pay assessments or other charges when due if such action is authorized by the governing documents.
(c)  Suspension of common-area-use rights shall not impair the right of an owner or tenant of a parcel to have vehicular and pedestrian ingress to and egress from the parcel, including, but not limited to, the right to park.
(3)  If the governing documents so provide, an association may suspend the voting rights of a member for the nonpayment of regular annual assessments that are delinquent in excess of 90 days.
(4) If an association fails to fill vacancies on the board of directors sufficient to constitute a quorum in accordance with the bylaws, any member may apply to the circuit court that has jurisdiction over the community served by the association for the appointment of a receiver to manage the affairs of the association. At least 30 days before applying to the circuit court, the member shall mail to the association, by certified or registered mail, and post, in a conspicuous place on the property of the community served by the association, a notice describing the intended action, giving the association 30 days to fill the vacancies. If during such time the association fails to fill a sufficient number of vacancies so that a quorum can be assembled, the member may proceed with the petition. If a receiver is appointed, the homeowners’ association shall be responsible for the salary of the receiver, court costs, attorney’s fees, and all other expenses of the receivership. The receiver has all the powers and duties of a duly constituted board of directors and shall serve until the association fills a sufficient number of vacancies on the board so that a quorum can be assembled.

718.106  Condominium parcels; appurtenances; possession and enjoyment.–
(1)  A condominium parcel created by the declaration is a separate parcel of real property, even though the condominium is created on a leasehold.
(2)  There shall pass with a unit, as appurtenances thereto:
(a)  An undivided share in the common elements and common surplus.
(b)  The exclusive right to use such portion of the common elements as may be provided by the declaration, including the right to transfer such right to other units or unit owners to the extent authorized by the declaration as originally recorded, or amendments to the declaration adopted pursuant to the provisions contained therein. Amendments to declarations of condominium providing for the transfer of use rights with respect to limited common elements are not amendments that materially modify unit appurtenances as described in s. 718.110(4). However, in order to be effective, the transfer of use rights with respect to limited common elements must be effectuated in conformity with the procedures set forth in the declaration as originally recorded or as amended under the procedures provided therein. This section is intended to clarify existing law and applies to associations existing on the effective date of this act.
(c)  An exclusive easement for the use of the airspace occupied by the unit as it exists at any particular time and as the unit may lawfully be altered or reconstructed from time to time. An easement in airspace which is vacated shall be terminated automatically.
(d)  Membership in the association designated in the declaration, with the full voting rights appertaining thereto.
(e)  Other appurtenances as may be provided in the declaration.
(3)  A unit owner is entitled to the exclusive possession of his or her unit, subject to the provisions of s. 718.111(5). He or she is entitled to use the common elements in accordance with the purposes for which they are intended, but no use may hinder or encroach upon the lawful rights of other unit owners.
(4)  When a unit is leased, a tenant shall have all use rights in the association property and those common elements otherwise readily available for use generally by unit owners and the unit owner shall not have such rights except as a guest, unless such rights are waived in writing by the tenant. Nothing in this subsection shall interfere with the access rights of the unit owner as a landlord pursuant to chapter 83. The association shall have the right to adopt rules to prohibit dual usage by a unit owner and a tenant of association property and common elements otherwise readily available for use generally by unit owners.
(5)  A local government may not adopt an ordinance or regulation that prohibits condominium unit owners or their guests, licensees, or invitees from pedestrian access to a public beach contiguous to a condominium property, except where necessary to protect public health, safety, or natural resources. This subsection does not prohibit a governmental entity from enacting regulations governing activities taking place on the beach.

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