Moving can be a costly undertaking in the Miami area, and the process typically includes expenses while searching for a place to live as well as those related to the lease or purchase. Whether a person wants to rent or buy a property, condominiums often have rules and regulations that make it difficult to become a resident. To prevent these from becoming too burdensome, Florida statutes impose some regulations.
Many condominiums employ a property management company that undertakes certain services for the members of the association. The Florida Division of Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes states that although paying others to complete tasks such as credit checks may lead to costs exceeding $100, this amount is the most the association can levy against the applicant. This is because the costs of these responsibilities are considered part of the transfer fee.
Critics believe the limit should be raised, citing the expense of background checks and interviews, and they argue that the fees should not be restricted by the rules if it is the management company that charges them. While this is not the case, it is true that homeowners’ associations are not bound to the limit, and landlords can charge much higher fees for tenants who wish to rent apartments.
Locating a new residence in South Florida may be an ordeal that includes identifying the neighborhoods that are acceptable options, narrowing down the list of properties and paying application fees on each of them. However, an attorney may be able to provide assistance in ensuring that a person does not encounter unreasonable or illegal costs when moving into the new home.
Source: Miami Herald, “South Florida condo boards rip off consumers with high application fees,” Nicholas Nehamas, June 3, 2016