Approval by Association

Homeowners’ associations, also known by their abbreviation “HOAs,” are non-profit private groups that are responsible for managing certain residential neighborhoods. People who live in a neighborhood are expected to abide by a body of rules that are established by the HOA.

In the event that you fail to obtain permission for your work and it ends up breaking the guidelines of the HOA, the board may require you to repeat the work. They could also smack you with a fee for your infraction. Stay away from it to save money and headaches.

According to the Florida Condominium Act, when an owner of a housing condo building files an authored inquest by registered letter with the panel of management, the panel from the homeowners’ association is required to give a response in writing to the homeowner within 30 days after receiving the inquest. The response must address any concerns that the unit owner may have raised regarding the condominium. The reply from the board of directors of the homeowners’ association must either provide a coherent reply to the person who made the inquiry, inform the person who made the inquiry that an attorney’s point of view has been asked, or inform the person who made the inquiry that recommendation has been asked from the segment. If the board of the condominium association obtains advice from the division, the company must, within ten days of receiving the advice, submit a written answer to the informant that addresses the advice’s content in some meaningful way. If a legal argument is sought, the board of directors for the condominium association must produce a written response to the substantial questions raised in the enquiry within sixty days of receiving the request for information. In the event that these dates are not met, there will be financial consequences. It is also important to remember that the condominium organization, through its board of management, has the ability to establish appropriate rules and regulations about the method in which it responds to enquiries made by unit owners as well as the regularity with which it does so.

The HOA and condo regulations in Florida give HOAs a significant amount of leeway in deciding whether or not to approve prospective purchasers and tenants. Even though associations have the right to use the background checks to exclude prospective purchasers and renters, their choice cannot be based on discrimination or go against the Fair Housing Act.