guest blog by Deborah Goonan
Former FL Representative Julio Robaina calls the Timberlake management company run by the Duggers the “Condo Crime Family,” in this special News 10 report by Bob Norman. Take a look at the video of some of these communities that the Duggers manage – clogged storm drains, flooded streets every time it rains, trash all over the place. Exactly all of the blight that HOAs are supposed to prevent, right? Have these HOA property values been enhanced over the years? Not on your life!
Supposedly, Florida has the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to oversee condominiums, timeshares, and mobile home parks, to protect homeowners from financial misconduct and abuse. But how many complaints must be filed before Timberlake is shut down for good, and the Dugger family is held accountable? Apparently more than 30! Florida’s DBPR, a state level agency, does very little to protect condo owners.
That may explain why, for two years in a row, the FL Legislature has not even considered a bill that would extend DBPR authority to include oversight of Homeowners Associations. Meanwhile, the state has taken nearly half of the revenue paid by condo owners ($4 per condo unit across FL) and spent it on other services. Another slap in the face to condo owners.
Anyone who owns or resides in Association-governed property in Florida should be outraged. In fact, even if you are lucky enough not to have to live under HOA rule, as a taxpayer, you should still be very concerned about obvious incompetence and corruption that affects the lives of millions of your family members, friends, and neighbors.
I have a townhouse in Oak view which is run by Timberlake Managment since I bought it in year 2001
And is being a nightmare for me!,,
Can we change Managment? The President of the association she is behind since 2001 I this legal?
What can we do to change Managment?
Hi Sylvia. About all you can do is get a supermajority of the neighbors together to throw this clan out. Even then, they might refuse to leave office. Best idea is to unincorporate the neighborhood. Disband the HOA. Turn government functions back over to the city or county. It’s tough to do. But the next option is just to sell and move, and swear to yourself you’ll never again live under a communist or fascist system. I don’t usually say, “the government is your friend.” But in the case of life in an HOA, traditional government at least gives you access to your rights under the U.S. Constitutions. Homeowners Associations do not.