A TRIUMPH IN LEGISLATION

By Rafael Aquino

Published July 17, 2024  

 

For years, I have been a staunch advocate for requiring HOA board members to attend a course before serving on a community association board. I am excited to announce that this requirement has finally passed. The landscape of community association legislation is ever-evolving, with new laws and regulations introduced each year. These laws have profound implications for the communities they govern. If board members are properly educated on these matters, they may fully grasp their importance and the potential impact on their community.

 

It is crucial to provide mandatory training for board members. Such training equips them with a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of their fiduciary duties. It also highlights the need to rely on professionals in each field, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and legally sound.

 

One key aspect of this training should include an association attorney. Many of the topics covered in these courses involve interpreting complex laws. Legal expertise can help clarify these interpretations and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape.

 

Furthermore, this training should be an annual requirement in my opinion. With laws and regulations frequently changing, board members must stay up-to-date with the latest developments and understand their implications. This ongoing education ensures that board members remain knowledgeable and capable of making informed decisions that benefit their community.

 

Now, all board members of both condominiums and HOAs must:

  • Become certified by taking a 4-hour educational course within one year before becoming a board member or 

  • Comply within ninety days once elected or appointed to the Board if you are an HOA member.

  • Condo Boards who were on the Board on July 1 2024, will have till June 30, 2025 to take the course and be certified. 

 Failure to do the above means you can no longer serve on the Board.

 

One key aspect of this training should include an association attorney. Many of the topics covered in these courses involve interpreting complex laws. Legal expertise can help clarify these interpretations and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape.

 

I recommend that board members take this training annually because laws and regulations frequently change. Board members must stay up-to-date with the latest developments and understand their implications. This ongoing education ensures that board members remain knowledgeable and capable of making informed decisions that benefit their community.

 

Ultimately, education enhances communication and fosters a well-informed, harmonious community. Requiring training for HOA board members can promote better governance, improved decision-making, and a more vibrant, well-lived community.

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As the Co-Founder and CEO of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to redefine excellence. They serve community   associations   efficiently

and effectively with dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and excitement when providing expert advice to its board members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running a community association.

 

Since 2007, Rafael has developed a work culture that values responsive and high-quality services. He has led his team by following a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each association. Today, Affinity Management Services maintains its success and benefits as a result of the foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by providing educational seminars, continuing education classes for association managers and board members alike.


Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’ associations save money and improve their communities. His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out for the best interests of his clients and communities, and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role requires coordination and communication, as such he takes logical and intelligent steps to approach challenges head-on.


As a graduate of Florida International University’s electrical engineering program and a licensed community association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip him with unique insights to tackle complex problems through critical thinking. He understands how each component within a system works together in order to effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple challenges of running a community association management company, he understands how each property is its own unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure that all their needs are met.

For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity Management Services please visit www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279

Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST

Suite 200

Doral, FL 33166

Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300

Plantation, FL 33324

O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053

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