Did you know?

When a new board member is elected to an Association board, they are required to actually know something! Yes, amazing. The State of Florida actually expects board members to know the laws relating to their type of association (condo, co-op, or HOA), what’s contained in their governing documents, and what their duties and responsibilities are.

To that end, new board members are required to either attend a class certified by the state (most often given by attorneys), or to sign an affidavit stating that they have read and understood those laws and documents, and that they will enforce them. Unfortunately, most board members just sign the certification without ever actually reading or understanding those documents.

My recommendation to all associations is that they adopt a rule requiring that all new board members must attend the class where they may actually learn something! If your association doesn’t have such a rule, ask for it. It’s in the unit owners’ best interests to have a knowledgeable board. 

As of January 1, 2019, these certifications must be posted online on the association’s website, so you will be able to see for yourself what your board is doing. (Website posting required only in condominiums with more than 150 units.)