Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

On June 24, 2021, a condominium tower collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing at least 97 people.  The 12-story, 40 year-old structure that gave way as residents slept had previously been inspected in 2018 and received a troubling report.  The same firm returned two years later to conduct a far more extensive inspection which was then sent to condo board members in October 2020 with little action in fixing the deficiencies. 

 

In trying to prevent a tragedy like the one that occurred in Surfside, I will soon be introducing legislation that will require recurring inspections for high-rise-type condo’s of all common elements and spell out a timeline on when founded needed repairs and maintenance must occur.  Furthermore, my bill would mandate the contents of a condo’s declaration contain a statement regarding how assessments for costs associated with inspections and any maintenance, repair, or replacement would be levied against unit owners.  

 

I feel that now is an appropriate time to think about the conditions of high-rise condo buildings in the commonwealth and how decisions are made on maintenance, reserve funds and the hiring of experts to do essential fixes.  I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation in hopes that our actions now will prevent lives from being lost in another potential condo disaster.