Hoa is taking so long for approval

Started by GloriaG1 • 9 replies • 1561 views

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GloriaG1 (Florida)
Posts: 10

Posted:

It’s been 3 1/2 weeks since I submitted an application for Hoa to rent a condo in south Florida. I have given them everything they need and more. I even paid extra fee for tenant evaluation to expedite and make the process quicker. I’ve called and emailed and all I get is a receptionist saying she’s trying to get in contact with the board for an update but I never get any update. My Realestate agent and the actual landlord has reached out to them and they get nothing. Is this normal with hoas in south Florida? It’s not fair to myself as well as my landlord and is causing unneeded financial stress on both ends. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I am confused. Do you own this property your trying to lease? You mention "landlord". That would be the person whom should be talking to the HOA board. They are the member of it. Plus do not know what your HOA/COA rules are for renting. Florida has unique rules versus other places in the country in those regards. Would need more details on what the rules are for rental property in your specific HOA. It doesn't matter what other HOA's do. They are different and separate from yours.

Plus is there a rental cap? Is this for AIRNB type useage? Are you wanting to move and change the lease into someone else's name? If so, why are you dealing with the HOA in the first place? Lease agreements are usually between the owner and the renter. Not the HOA.

Former HOA President

GloriaG1 (Florida)
Posts: 10

Posted:

I’m trying to rent a condo. It was approved by landlord and we had a lease that was supposed to start November 30th. I was told I had to get HoA approved. It’s been 3 1/2 weeks and just wanted to know if this long wait is normal.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

That makes more sense. I am not sure why you have to get HOA approval. That should be on the landlord to do it. Not familiar enough with how some condo's in Florida do the rental approval process. My opinion it's a bunch of BS. That should be handled between the landlord and tenant. I don't want anyone knowing my social security number or criminal history if its none of their business. Good luck.

Former HOA President

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Condo associations in Florida have approval rights over tenants. Hopefully some of our Florida condo folks will chime in.

I'll note that things such as background checks can take a while. You can pay the HOA to speed things along, but the HOA can't force outside agencies to hurry up. And if the HOA approvals must happen at an open board meeting, then this would definitely slow things down since there are notice requirements for such meetings - they can't happen overnight.

So 3-1/2 weeks doesn't sound unreasonably long yet - but it's getting there. The landlord would be the person to ask since he's a member of the association and has a right to ask for info about this.

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GloriaG1 on 12/10/2023 6:03 AM
It’s been 3 1/2 weeks since I submitted an application for Hoa to rent a condo in south Florida. I have given them everything they need and more. I even paid extra fee for tenant evaluation to expedite and make the process quicker. I’ve called and emailed and all I get is a receptionist saying she’s trying to get in contact with the board for an update but I never get any update. My Realestate agent and the actual landlord has reached out to them and they get nothing. Is this normal with hoas in south Florida? It’s not fair to myself as well as my landlord and is causing unneeded financial stress on both ends. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

I am sorry the COA did not expedite this. I think they should. However --

Do understand that by law, these associations are run by all-volunteer boards of directors. These directors give many hours, completely unpaid.

What does this mean for you? It means often anything involving the COA may be less than professional and less than expeditious.

In my opinion any recourse you might have is strictly via the landlord. If the landlord will not take steps to expedite this, then you are stuck waiting.

I also think these delays are not uncommon. It is the price of living in a community run by volunteers. Background checks may possibly add to the mayhem.

Lastly the rental market is crazy everywhere. In October-November, delays of nearly a week where I am were common just to see a unit that was vacant. In some cases, this was even after prompt payment of an application fee and the application being approved.

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

Cathy is correct. In Florida, the COA and HOA have the right to run background checks and approve tenants. Usually the system is pretty quick, but there can be some reasons for delay. In our association, the COA does their background check and then turns it over to the master association for final approval. The PMs for the our COA sub-associations are portfolio managers, meaning they have a lot of properties assigned to them. They may only work on a COA once a week. So it can take a long time for the application to reach us, then we have to do our due diligence. In our case, delays are almost always due to the PM for the COA.

Part of the blame me be on your landlord. They should know the process takes a long time and should not have promised you quick turn around. Also, there may be an issue with the landlord and the COA that you are unaware of and that may be holding up the process

But my best advice is you should call a member of the board of directors for the condo association if you are not getting any kind of answer out of the PM. At least you can get some kind of answer on the delay that way.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Gloria

Typically a BOD only meets once a month and if a background check is being done then two months or more is not out of the questions. Be polite but keep pressure on any you know to be involved. Again, be polite.

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

I can’t think of a single home OWNERS association that like rental property.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 12/10/2023 3:11 PM
Gloria

Typically a BOD only meets once a month and if a background check is being done then two months or more is not out of the questions. Be polite but keep pressure on any you know to be involved. Again, be polite.

Has your lease already started on the property?
I have never heard of Lease approvals that need to be on a board agenda to be voted on in a meeting.
Issues like these are a quick email from the property manager to the board.

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