IT’S ELECTION TIME AGAIN
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published January 30, 2023
This is going to be a very interesting election year for
condos. I perceive that there is definitely going to be two
types of candidates. The first will run a campaign that
basically says:
CANDIDATE ONE:
I have lived here for twenty years. In light of the tragedy in
Surfside, the dramatic rise in property insurance, mandatory
reserves starting in 2025, and all of the new inspection laws
that are now in effect; I have taken time to learn these new
laws by studying them, taking a Board Certification class, and
I’m sorry to say that our annual assessments will be going up.
I will do my best to avoid a large increase but make no mistake
our assessments will be going up. I hope to get your vote.
CANDIDATE TWO:
I also live here for 20 years. I was on the Board most of the
time and we always ran a tight ship. I tell you that there is
not a dam thing wrong with this building. Every time that a
repair was needed, we made it. We don’t need to ring up a new
reserve account. We can keep things the way they were; when a
repair is needed we will make the repair. There is no way I
will make any of you pay one dollar extra. When a repair is
needed we will fix it. If we don’t have enough money we will
special assess, but as far as these new laws go……..as far as I’m
concerned, Tallahassee can kiss my you know what. I hope to get
your vote.
And here is what I predict………………..CANDIDATE TWO WILL WIN IN A
LANDSLIDE!
I’m so sorry to say that but I really think it’s true. I’m not
convinced that most condominium owners learned anything from the
tragedy at Champlain Towers in Surfside. They still just care
about keeping the assessments low no matter what. Terraces have
spalling concrete? Who cares, keep the assessments low. Thirty
year old roof is leaking? Who cares? Keep the assessments
low. The pool has been inoperable for two years? Who cares?
Keep the assessments low. The elevator hasn’t gone up or down
in six month? Who cares? Keep the assessments low.
The problem is that CANDIDATE TWO is delusional. Mandatory
inspections, mandatory repairs and in two years mandatory
reserves will all be required. The Board must adhere. It’s
like the kid in 7th grade running for Class President
and telling everyone that he promises to ensure that there will
no longer be any school on Wednesday. Can he pull this off? Of
course not. Will he win? I bet you he does.
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About
HOA & Condo Blog
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Eric Glazer graduated
from the University of Miami School of Law in 1992 after
receiving a B.A. from NYU. He has practiced community
association law for three decades and is the owner of
Glazer and Sachs, P.A. a five attorney law firm with
offices in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
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Eric is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in
Condominium and Planned Development Law.
Since 2009, Eric has been the host of Condo Craze
and HOAs, a weekly one hour radio show that airs at 11:00 a.m.
each Sunday on 850 WFTL.
See:
www.condocrazeandhoas.com.
Eric is the first attorney in the State of
Florida that designed a course that certifies condominium and
HOA residents as eligible to serve on a Board of Directors and
has now certified more than 20,000 Floridians all across the
state. He is certified as a Circuit Court Mediator by The
Florida Supreme Court and has mediated dozens of disputes
between associations and unit owners. Eric also devotes
significant time to advancing legislation in the best interest
of Florida community association members.
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