What You Need to Know About Condo Construction Codes

 

Golf Lake Condos

While under construction on March 27, 1981, the five-story Harbour Cay Condominium building in Cocoa Beach, Florida, collapsed during the placement of concrete for the roof slab, killing 11 workers and injuring 23 more. The Threshold Inspection law was created in response to the findings of engineering and construction problems after the Harbour Cay Condominium collapse.


A threshold building is defined in Section 553.71(7), Florida Statutes, as 

  1. Any building greater than three stories or 50 feet in height; OR 

  2. A building having an assembled occupancy that exceeds 5,000 sq.ft and has an occupancy content of greater than 500 persons.


The intent is that inspections be made of critical structural elements while they are installed or constructed. In addition to those stated above, there are many different condominium construction codes. They are designed to protect not only those who live within the condominium, but also protects the condo association against unlicensed contractors any resident may hire for home improvement projects. Although licensing is not a guarantee of the contractor’s work, it can protect the Association from a number of potential problems such as:

  • Unlicensed contractors are often unfamiliar with building codes, inspection sequences and inspection requirements.

  • Limited recourse for breach of contract and/or defective work. When dealing with a licensed contractor, the Association always has the option of contacting the appropriate licensing agency. Some agencies are able to resolve issues and assist in recovering consumer losses. At a minimum, licensing agencies have the authority to suspend or revoke licensing privileges. This does not eliminate all contractor problems, but does provide contractors with an incentive to conduct fair business practices and comply with the law.

  • Unlicensed contractors are usually uninsured. If an Association uses an unlicensed contractor and property damage occurs, the individual may have no way of reimbursing the Association for damages caused. Furthermore, if a third party suffers an injury at the Association’s property, there may be no insurance coverage. Many homeowners insurance policies exclude claims arising from unlicensed construction practices.

  • Unlicensed contractors cannot pull permits. If the Association pulls the permits for an unlicensed contractor, then the Association, not the person doing the work, is held responsible.

  • If the Association hires an unlicensed contractor, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Building Department may issue a cease and desist order to stop the work, and may decide to take legal action against the Association to impose civil penalties for aiding and abetting unlicensed activities.

  • If the Association hires an unlicensed contractor and the work is not completed in accordance with state and local building codes, the Association may have to pay additional monies to have the work brought into compliance.

  • If an unlicensed contractor does not pay his subcontractors or suppliers, the Association may be liable for these costs. Subcontractors and/or suppliers who work for unlicensed contractors still have the right to file liens on the Association’s property.


If you’re looking for the answers to common condo construction questions, we suggest checking out this FAQ page.


Looking for wonderful, maintenance-free living for you and your family? Golf Lake Condos

offer an effortless, gracious lifestyle in your piece of this quiet, hidden, beautiful paradise of nature and wildlife. Come visit our models today! We’re waiting for you at 960 Starkey Rd, Largo, FL 33771.
Location: 960 Starkey Rd, Largo, FL 33771, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Purchase a Condo

Image
  Buying a condo may seem like a daunting task. With all the things to consider in a condominium, like location and amenities, you may find your head spinning-- and that’s not even including things like financing and closing! Fortunately, with the right realtor and condominium association, the condo-buying process can go from stressful, to stress-free.  At Golf Lake Condos , we want our residents to have not only the best living experience but also a carefree and easy buying process. We’ve made you a quick checklist of things to do when buying a condo so that when it comes time to make the tough decisions, you’re prepared.  Define Your Lifestyle. Before you buy a condo, make sure that the condominium lifestyle is best suited for you. Note that a condo is much different than a single-family home; though your condo may look like a single-family house, it is much more like living in an apartment. Most condos, however, have shared walls, little private backyard or outdoor spa...
Read more

Benefits of Condo Living

Image
When you think of owning a piece of property do you automatically think of a white picket fence somewhere in the suburbs? Homeownership has a myriad of benefits but oftentimes the upkeep can be too much for many to consider, if this describes you, owning a condo might be the perfect alternative. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to your housing preference so finding something that fits your needs and lifestyle is key. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) , condominiums are often the most affordable homeownership option for first-time buyers, small families, single people, and older Americans. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a condo.  Sense of community and amenities  Looking for resort-like amenities without leaving home? Many condos have clubhouses, pools, walking paths, hot tubs, and social environments for hosting friends and family for residents to use. The closer proximity of condos allows residents to forge strong relation...
Read more

Condo Living Best Practices

Image
  Whether you’re looking for a condo or already have one, you’ll want to make sure that you’re aware of condo living best practices. These practices can help enhance your quality of life, and ensure that you love where you live. Here are some of those best practices. Run for the Board Now, we understand that volunteering for a job with no perks doesn’t necessarily sound like the best way to improve your quality of living. However, believe it or not, there is a lot of value in being part of the decision making body for the condo association. For example, you get to weigh in on important matters that make a real impact on both quality of life in the building and your investment by making sure that things get fixed, repaired, and addressed properly. Don’t Be Rude Living in a condo means you’re going to be living very close to many other people. The more friends you have the better. You never know when you’re going to need your neighbor’s help for something. So, don’t be a jerk. Say he...
Read more