B.C. from Florida writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
The condo president is a nightmare. The Board is a nightmare. This condo is intentionally making it difficult for guests to get in and out of the building. The intention is increased security but it is just increased harassment. If a nurse or CNA visits every day, calling the gate every day is absurd. They get too many phone calls and don’t have time to make parking passes for the number of visitors we have during the winter. Disabled parking is not required for condos in FL — but they have a sign saying that if a resident parks in a guest spot (even with a handicap sticker) the car will be towed. There is a sign saying I can be fined for drinking water while swimming. Funny thing is….they have no one to enforce any rules or call the tow company so the folks who rent here ignore the rules and the board and work everything out with the parking amongst ourselves. I cannot be evicted by a condo board and my landlord will never evict me. They can’t “put pressure” on the landlord because he will ignore them. I have spoken with the President of the Rec Center and he sees my side but refuses to hire his incompetent manager who is the cause of ALL problems here. I never agreed to follow any rules. I don’t even have a written lease anymore….because my landlord trusts me. If the Board of this condo refuses to let in my guests, I will either have a panic attack and call the police or I will insult someone who will then hit me and then I will file battery charges. Can I file a law suit against the Condo Board for discrimination against the disabled? The manager is hated here…how do I get her fired without ending up in jail myself?
Mister Condo replies:
B.C., I can’t for the life of me understand why you would live in a place that is so out of touch with your living needs. A condominium is not an assisted living center and the association is under no obligation to change its rules to suit your needs. You, and everyone else, need to follow the rules of the community. The Board, democratically elected by all unit owners, including your landlord, conducts the business of the association as it sees fit but does have to answer to unit owners at annual elections. If they aren’t doing their jobs they are likely to be voted off the Board. That doesn’t seem to be the case from what you have told me. Your lack of lease agreement with your landlord does not exempt you from the rules of the community. In fact, my guess is that your landlord is in violation of the rules for renting units by not having a written agreement with you on file with the association. You claim you can’t be evicted by the association but without a valid rental agreement to defend yourself, I am not so sure you are correct. You would be unwise to do anything illegal such as verbally assault any of the Board members or Property Manager at your condo. You would do well to speak with your own attorney and see what, if any, legal rights you have. From what you have told me here, I don’t see where any laws are being violated but I am not an attorney and offer no legal advice here. You might consider moving to a more suitable community when your lease ends, whenever that is (who knows with an unwritten lease?). Whatever you decide to do, I wish you a happier condo life experience. All the best!