Posted: | July 26, 2021 11:36 AM |
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From: | Senator Wayne D. Fontana |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | High-Rise Condo Inspections |
On June 24, 2021, a condominium tower collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing at least 97 people. The 12-story, 40 year-old structure that gave way as residents slept had previously been inspected in 2018 and received a troubling report. The same firm returned two years later to conduct a far more extensive inspection which was then sent to condo board members in October 2020 with little action in fixing the deficiencies.
In trying to prevent a tragedy like the one that occurred in Surfside, I will soon be introducing legislation that will require recurring inspections for high-rise-type condo’s of all common elements and spell out a timeline on when founded needed repairs and maintenance must occur. Furthermore, my bill would mandate the contents of a condo’s declaration contain a statement regarding how assessments for costs associated with inspections and any maintenance, repair, or replacement would be levied against unit owners.
I feel that now is an appropriate time to think about the conditions of high-rise condo buildings in the commonwealth and how decisions are made on maintenance, reserve funds and the hiring of experts to do essential fixes. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation in hopes that our actions now will prevent lives from being lost in another potential condo disaster.
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