More condo owners in South Florida failing to pay fees

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

It's the neighbors who must make up the money when condo owners don't pay their share of maintenance fees and special assessments.

And while failing to pay isn't a new problem, it seems to be happening more frequently now, callers tell the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's condo line.

Many of the delinquents are investors walking away from property, or owners who can't afford adjustable-rate mortgage payments that have ballooned.


At the Deerfield Lake condo in Deerfield Beach, 18 of the 75 owners have stopped paying since earlier this year. They are angry over a $1,400 special assessment imposed by the board to renovate roofs on the covered parking areas. They have refused to pay that as well.

"Since 1976 the roofs hadn't been repaired and they were dangerous," said Ed Stahl, an owner who has paid. "The board decided to repair them because all of us could have been liable if something happened."

When the association began filing liens against the 18, they filed their own suit, claiming the board illegally imposed the special assessment. They said the board gave improper notice to owners, did not let them speak at the meeting where the assessment was decided and questioned the choice of contractor.