Pests are a part of life—wherever there are people, vermin of one kind or another are sure to follow. This is particularly true in a subtropical environment like that of Western and Central Florida. These insect pests are not merely gross.…
Of all the modern conveniences we take for granted, perhaps none is as profoundly basic —and indispensable—as indoor plumbing. Carrying fresh water into our homes and taking waste water away, the pipes in our condo or co-op buildings are t…
Running the day-to-day business of a condo development or an HOA of any size—be it a sprawling, multi-building community, or a single self-contained building—requires not just a functional board but a team of competent outside professional…
From the outside, the structure of a condo or co-op building may appear to be monolithic; just one big piece of brick and steel, punctuated with some glass here and there. That's an oversimplification, however. A multifamily building is pe…
Mark your calendar! The Western & Central Florida Cooperator’s first annual Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo will be coming to the Tampa Convention Center on Tuesday, December 9th from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thanks to more than 150 vendors in a…
We have an owner in our condominium association who is several months behind in his fees. He currently has a tenant renting out his unit. The association pays the bill for his water, sewage, pool and other amenities. Do we as an association…
I’ve had an ongoing problem with water leaks in my condo. If there is damage to my roof and it leaks into my condominium unit and I reported it to the board three times with no repairs made, can I repair it myself and deduct the cost from m…
Q I own a condo unit and recently I asked to get a copy of my building's insurance policy. The board's management told me that they only give this information out when an owner is buying, selling or refinancing, none of which I am doing. …
The “Dream Team” label is often used to describe a perfect combination of highly-skilled people drawn together for a particular purpose. The 1992 U.S. mens' Olympic basketball team is probably the most famous example, but 'dream teams' hav…
Many if not most boards get along famously. There are boards that have had the same members for decades and run their communities without a hitch. “Ninety percent of boards run very, very well,” says James Donnelly, CEO and the presi…