L.H. from Lee County, Florida writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
We just bought our condo. There is enough space to add 2 slips for a boat. My neighbor wants one and I the other. The condo association owns a slip/lift that the President puts his boat on…it needs repairs. We are being told Florida condo laws state there has to be enough slips for all 16 units or no one can have slips…only 2 of us wants slips…can the slips be deeded to our units…thank you. Badly need advice.
Mister Condo replies:
L.H., congratulations on your condo purchase. I am not an attorney and offer no legal advice in this column. You may wish to speak to an attorney about specific condo laws requiring boat slips for all units within the condo. I am not aware of any such legislation. Typically, Florida Riparian Rights mean access must be granted. That doesn’t mean a boat slip needs to be provided. Amending the deeds to your units to include boat slips is also highly unlikely. The boat slips are most likely going to be common elements, owned and managed by the association, under the control of the association Board. As you have mentioned the association Board President has had no problem having the use of an association-owned boat slip. Your best bet is to ask the Board to provide additional slips. It is common for the association to manage these slips on a “first come, first serve” basis and to create a waiting list of interested slip users. Of course, getting you or your neighbor on the Board of this small association would also help your cause greatly. All the best!