A report says a key piece to fixing the affordable housing issue is figuring out how to incentivize not just homebuilders, but homeowners to build more accessory dwelling units. | Darryl Brooks/dbvirago, stock.adobe.com
Florida lawmakers say they have plan to fix condo crisis
Florida lawmakers are looking for ways to ease the financial burden many condo owners are facing after the legislative body passed laws requiring condo associations to make routine inspections and keep reserve funds for repairs.
The rules were a response to the 2021 Surfside condo collapse, which killed 98 people.
St .Augustine Republican Sen. Tom Leek’s idea is increasing home improvement grants offered by the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program.
“The program is intended to harden structures and reduce the risk of hurricane damage,” Lee told the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Monday. “Those grants should only be provided for work that will accomplish this purpose.”
If HB 393/SB 592 is passed, condo owners who use the My Safe Florida program to improve their roofs, doors and windows could see a decrease in their property insurance. The bill would also:
• Revise the definition of “condominium” to exclude detached units on individual parcels of land.
• Limit participation in the program to condominiums that are three stories or more in height and require the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant to include at least one residential unit within such structure or building.
• Require approval of at least 75% of all unit owners who reside within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant, rather than a unanimous vote of all unit owners.
Coast Guard boats patrol in front of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside on July 1, 2021. | Mark Humphrey, AP
Eight condo-related bills have been filed this session. Here’s a few of them:
HB 6005/SB 586: Statute of Repose for Actions by Condominium Associations. Removes statute of repose for certain actions.
HB 1015/SB 948 Real Property and Condominium Flood Disclosures: Requires landlord of residential real property to provide specified information to prospective tenant at or before time rental agreement is executed.
HB 799/SB 1200:Special Alcoholic Beverage Licenses Issued to Residential Condominiums: Excludes certain residential condominiums that sell alcoholic beverages from limitation of number of specified licenses issued; requires licenses to be issued only to person or corporation that manages food & beverage operations.
HB 1073/SB 1020: Coverage by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Revises eligibility for coverage of residential structures in certain counties by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
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Adrian Andrews - WFSUAdrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer. Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp. and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.
If HB 393/SB 592 is passed, condo owners who use the My Safe Florida program to improve their roofs, doors and windows could see a decrease in their property insurance. The bill would also:
• Revise the definition of “condominium” to exclude detached units on individual parcels of land.
• Limit participation in the program to condominiums that are three stories or more in height and require the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant to include at least one residential unit within such structure or building.
• Require approval of at least 75% of all unit owners who reside within the structure or building that is the subject of the mitigation grant, rather than a unanimous vote of all unit owners.
