Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tenant Rights topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Condo association and unit owner clash over inspection access; board orders 56‑day extension and mandatory reappearance
Summary
At a prolonged exchange the association and a unit owner argued over contractor licensing, insurance and access for inspections. The board ordered a 56‑day extension and a mandatory reappearance on Sept. 22 to resolve outstanding inspections and insurance documentation.
A heated, multi-party exchange at the July 28 Fort Lauderdale Code Enforcement hearing centered on access to a condo unit for required inspections and whether the contractor’s insurance and licensing were up to date.
James Richardson, the unit owner, said he would not allow an inspection when he believed the contractor’s workers' comp and liability insurance were not current. “If someone gets hurt in my apartment, you’re asking the city for a lawsuit,” Richardson said, urging the association to provide proof of insurance. The condo association’s counsel, Lauren Schwartzfeld, said the association has made repeated attempts to schedule access and that association contractors believe licensing issues are resolved. City attorney Ronald Montoya Hassan and Assistant Building Official Joe Pasquale advised that plumbing and other rough inspections must be completed in the correct sequence and that lapsed insurance documentation should be submitted so inspections can proceed.
After discussion the board granted a 56‑day extension to allow both sides to coordinate inspections and required a mandatory reappearance at the Sept. 22 hearing. The board also directed the owner and the association to confirm contractor insurance and scheduling with the permitting office.
