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ACCESS TO UNITS?
By
Jan Bergemann
Published March 15, 2019
Once again we are talking about an important issue, important
especially for snowbirds or folks who are absent from their
condo-unit for quite some time.
We had the discussion about having to leave a key with the
association, in order for the association having access to the
unit in an emergency while you are away. The Florida Condo
Act [FS
718.111(5)] gives associations the right to have access
to your unit – in an emergency!
But that always causes problems, because all too often we have
condo-owners complaining that somebody, with a key, entered
their unit, watched TV, drank some of their liquor and/or left a
mess in their unit while they were gone. Some of the “intruders”
even had their pictures taken by surveillance cameras. Many
condo owners just don’t trust the board members/managers enough
to feel comfortable allowing them to have free entry to their
home. I agree, because in many condo offices these keys are
easily accessible and are often used for other purposes than
emergencies.
So, if you are leaving for a lengthy period of time, make sure
that you have the right insurance (HO-6 policy) and a
friendly neighbor who is once in a while looking after your unit
while you’re away.
Both these precautions can save you a lot of money!
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Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice,
Florida
's largest state-wide property owners' advocacy group.
CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in
community
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associations. He moved to
Florida
in 1995 - hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the
developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues
for his own purposes. End of retirement!
CCFJ was born in the year 2000, when some owners met in
Tallahassee
- finding out that power is only in numbers. Bergemann was a
member of Governor Jeb Bush's HOA Task force in 2003/2004.
The organization has two websites to inform interested
Florida
homeowners and condo owners:
News Website: http://www.ccfj.net/.
Educational Website: http://www.ccfjfoundation.net/.
We think that only owners can really represent owners, since all
service providers surely have a different interest! We are
trying to create owner-friendly laws, but the best laws are
useless without enforcement. And enforcement is totally lacking
in
Florida
!
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