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KeithH7 (Florida)
Posts: 20
Posted:
Please direct me to a thread regarding how to respond to a request for the association’s records?
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
From the HOA's point of view or for a homeowner being refused records?

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491
Posted:
Here is the section of statutes the HOA is supposed to follow:
720.303 Association powers and duties; meetings of board; official records; budgets; financial reporting; association funds; recalls.—
(5) INSPECTION AND COPYING OF RECORDS.—The official records shall be maintained within the state for at least 7 years and shall be made available to a parcel owner for inspection or photocopying within 45 miles of the community or within the county in which the association is located within 10 business days after receipt by the board or its designee of a written request. This subsection may be complied with by having a copy of the official records available for inspection or copying in the community or, at the option of the association, by making the records available to a parcel owner electronically via the Internet or by allowing the records to be viewed in electronic format on a computer screen and printed upon request. If the association has a photocopy machine available where the records are maintained, it must provide parcel owners with copies on request during the inspection if the entire request is limited to no more than 25 pages. An association shall allow a member or his or her authorized representative to use a portable device, including a smartphone, tablet, portable scanner, or any other technology capable of scanning or taking photographs, to make an electronic copy of the official records in lieu of the association’s providing the member or his or her authorized representative with a copy of such records. The association may not charge a fee to a member or his or her authorized representative for the use of a portable device.
(a) The failure of an association to provide access to the records within 10 business days after receipt of a written request submitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, creates a rebuttable presumption that the association willfully failed to comply with this subsection.
(b) A member who is denied access to official records is entitled to the actual damages or minimum damages for the association’s willful failure to comply with this subsection. The minimum damages are to be $50 per calendar day up to 10 days, the calculation to begin on the 11th business day after receipt of the written request.
(c) The association may adopt reasonable written rules governing the frequency, time, location, notice, records to be inspected, and manner of inspections, but may not require a parcel owner to demonstrate any proper purpose for the inspection, state any reason for the inspection, or limit a parcel owner’s right to inspect records to less than one 8-hour business day per month. The association may impose fees to cover the costs of providing copies of the official records, including the costs of copying and the costs required for personnel to retrieve and copy the records if the time spent retrieving and copying the records exceeds one-half hour and if the personnel costs do not exceed $20 per hour. Personnel costs may not be charged for records requests that result in the copying of 25 or fewer pages. The association may charge up to 25 cents per page for copies made on the association’s photocopier. If the association does not have a photocopy machine available where the records are kept, or if the records requested to be copied exceed 25 pages in length, the association may have copies made by an outside duplicating service and may charge the actual cost of copying, as supported by the vendor invoice. The association shall maintain an adequate number of copies of the recorded governing documents, to ensure their availability to members and prospective members. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the following records are not accessible to members or parcel owners:
1. Any record protected by the lawyer-client privilege as described in s. 90.502 and any record protected by the work-product privilege, including, but not limited to, a record prepared by an association attorney or prepared at the attorney’s express direction which reflects a mental impression, conclusion, litigation strategy, or legal theory of the attorney or the association and which was prepared exclusively for civil or criminal litigation or for adversarial administrative proceedings or which was prepared in anticipation of such litigation or proceedings until the conclusion of the litigation or proceedings.
2. Information obtained by an association in connection with the approval of the lease, sale, or other transfer of a parcel.
3. Personnel records of association or management company employees, including, but not limited to, disciplinary, payroll, health, and insurance records. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “personnel records” does not include written employment agreements with an association or management company employee or budgetary or financial records that indicate the compensation paid to an association or management company employee.
4. Medical records of parcel owners or community residents.
5. Social security numbers, driver license numbers, credit card numbers, electronic mailing addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, emergency contact information, any addresses for a parcel owner other than as provided for association notice requirements, and other personal identifying information of any person, excluding the person’s name, parcel designation, mailing address, and property address. Notwithstanding the restrictions in this subparagraph, an association may print and distribute to parcel owners a directory containing the name, parcel address, and telephone number of each parcel owner. However, an owner may exclude his or her telephone number from the directory by so requesting in writing to the association. The association is not liable for the disclosure of information that is protected under this subparagraph if the information is included in an official record of the association and is voluntarily provided by an owner and not requested by the association.
6. Any electronic security measure that is used by the association to safeguard data, including passwords.
7. The software and operating system used by the association which allows the manipulation of data, even if the owner owns a copy of the same software used by the association. The data is part of the official records of the association.
(d) The association or its authorized agent is not required to provide a prospective purchaser or lienholder with information about the residential subdivision or the association other than information or documents required by this chapter to be made available or disclosed. The association or its authorized agent may charge a reasonable fee to the prospective purchaser or lienholder or the current parcel owner or member for providing good faith responses to requests for information by or on behalf of a prospective purchaser or lienholder, other than that required by law, if the fee does not exceed $150 plus the reasonable cost of photocopying and any attorney fees incurred by the association in connection with the response.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions
KeithH7 (Florida)
Posts: 20
Posted:
<< From the HOA's point of view or for a homeowner being refused records?>>

Yes I would like to see it from their point of view, thanks.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Well every board is different. Therefore, how any specific board will react may be different.
With that said:

Basically, the request is received and reviewed. If the information isn't privileged or protected by privacy rights of others, either a time is arranged for the member to view the records or the specific items are copied and mailed (or e-mailed) to the member.
AllisonD (Florida)
Posts: 449
Posted:
Keith, I send the requesting homeowner a message back saying that the records are at the management company office and can be viewed and copied except for the files that are exempt, per the statute. Then I send the PM an email telling them to expect this person and I remind them not to let the person view the attorney files etc. If they want copies, they must pay for them per the statute.
KeithH7 (Florida)
Posts: 20
Posted:
In Florida, is it legal to give a home owner in a HOA( based on written request) copies of:-
1. All account information as it relates to payment and nonpayment by name and address of all owners for a specific period?
2. Copies of the home owners checks money orders and any form of payment in relation to their monthly dues for a specific period?
AllisonD (Florida)
Posts: 449
Posted:
Keith, I would say if your reports include an aging list then the homeowner will get copies of that information if he or she requests all those reports for the specified period. I think it is unreasonable to ask the association to create reports tailored especially for the request. I would not give any copies of checks or money orders; I believe that may violate the provision of the statute that says "and other personal identifying information of any person, excluding the person’s name, parcel designation, mailing address, and property address". The statute only references amounts and dates. If grandpa wants to pay the dues for granddaughter, its no one's business to know that except to know what amount was paid and on what date.

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