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DonM17 (Florida)
Posts: 9
Posted:
Some in the community feel this is still in effect and could possibly be used to screen potential owners or leases.
Seems to me that the Declarant was the builder, and is no longer in effect. Where do we go from here.
Thanks in advance

DECLARATION OF COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS
AND PARTY FACILITIES
OF
XXXXXXXXX OF XXXXXXXXX

THIS DECLARATION OF COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS AND PARTY FACILITIES made this 24th day of December, 1987, by XXX, XXX, a Florida Corporation, hereinafter referred to as DECLARANT.
WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the DECLARANT, on the date thereof, is the owner of certain real property located in XXXXXXX County, Florida, hereinafter referred to as DEVELOPMENT, more particularly described as follows:

WHEREAS, DECLARANT intends to convey the said real property, subject to certain protective covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, liens and charqes as hereinafter set forth,

NOW, THEREFORE, DECLARANT hereby declares that all of the real property as hereinabove described shall be held, sold, conveyed, leased, mortgaged and otherwise dealt with subject to those easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, liens and charges as hereinafter set forth, all of which are for the purpose of enhancing and protectinq the value, desirability and attractiveness of the Development. These easements, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, liens and charges shall run with the real property and shall be binding upon all parties having and/or acquirinq any right, title or interest in the Development or any part thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of each and every person or entity, from time to time, owning or holding an interest in the real property.

1.8 Declarant shall mean and refer to xxx xxxxxxx, Inc., a Florida Corporation, the Developer of the Development and shall include where applicable its successors and/or assigns. As these terms are used herein and as these terms are used in the Articles of Incorporation of xxxxxx of xxxxxxxxx Property Owners Association, Inc., and the By-Laws of xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxof xxxxxxxxx Property Owners Association, Inc., the term Declarant shall mean and refer to the Developer, and the term Developer shall mean and refer to the Declarant

10.5 Rights of Declarant to Sell or Lease Dwelling Units. So long as Declarant, or any mortgagee succeeding Declarant in title, shall own any Dwelling Unit, it shall have the absolute right to lease or sell any such Dwelling Unit to any person, firm or corporation, upon any terms and conditions as it shall deem to be in its own best interest, and as to the lease or sale of such Dwelling Unit, the right of the first refusal and any right of redemption herein granted to the Association shall not be operative or effective in any manner.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
We did it. All you have to do is change your documentation with the changes you want. It's all in the documents on how to do so. Some require special meetings and/or majority owner vote. It's not that cheap to do and will need a lawyer. There are some filing fees involved which can be a few hundred dollars. Not to mention distribution expense, drafts, and final copy costs.

Former HOA President
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Is it still in effect? Yes. It's written in your governing documents.

Is it an issue? Well, if the declarant (or whomever may have acquired the declarant rights) no longer owns property within the development, it's not an issue.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DonM17 on 01/03/2017 11:56 AM
Some in the community feel this is still in effect and could possibly be used to screen potential owners or leases.
Seems to me that the Declarant was the builder, and is no longer in effect. Where do we go from here.
Thanks in advance

10.5 Rights of Declarant to Sell or Lease Dwelling Units. So long as Declarant, or any mortgagee succeeding Declarant in title, shall own any Dwelling Unit, it shall have the absolute right to lease or sell any such Dwelling Unit to any person, firm or corporation, upon any terms and conditions as it shall deem to be in its own best interest, and as to the lease or sale of such Dwelling Unit, the right of the first refusal and any right of redemption herein granted to the Association shall not be operative or effective in any manner.

As far as I can tell, the declarant had the ability to do what they wanted with units they owned, I don't see where this gave the declarant any say over units owned by anyone else.

As Tim mentioned, if the declarant owns no units, then they are out of the picture. If they still own one or more units, they can rent or sell to anyone they want. Of course, any relevant laws would still apply, but are not the associations concern.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
DonM17 (Florida)
Posts: 9
Posted:
The contractor lives in the community, and has owned one unit for the last 30 years, and is a board member. He is easy going,and probably does not know these entries still exist.

Can anyone use these declarations besides him.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DonM17 on 01/03/2017 6:13 PM

Can anyone use these declarations besides him.

No.

However, you should take the time and spend the money to amend your documents to remove references to the declarant.
JeffT2 (Iowa)
Posts: 880
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DonM17 on 01/03/2017 6:13 PM
The contractor lives in the community, and has owned one unit for the last 30 years, and is a board member. He is easy going,and probably does not know these entries still exist.

Can anyone use these declarations besides him.

Keep in mind that the Declarant is or was a corporation, not a natural person. If the house is now owned by a person, then the house is not owned by the original Declarant (the corp). It is possible that the Declarant formally assigned Declarant rights to the owner of the house. The only way to know is to ask the current owner and review the assignment. If it hasn't come up in 30 years, chances are you no longer have the declarant, and no one, even the contractor, cannot use those provisions.

LauraT (Florida)
Posts: 15
Posted:
Also look at the effect of MRTA in florida. Your docs are approaching the 30 year timeframe.
DonM17 (Florida)
Posts: 9
Posted:
1.8 Declarant shall mean and refer to xxx xxxxxxx, Inc., a Florida Corporation, the Developer of the Development and shall include where applicable its successors and/or assigns. As these terms are used herein and as these terms are used in the Articles of Incorporation of xxxxxx of xxxxxxxxx Property Owners Association, Inc., and the By-Laws of xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxof xxxxxxxxx Property Owners Association, Inc., the term Declarant shall mean and refer to the Developer, and the term Developer shall mean and refer to the Declarant

What about the words and shall include where applicable its successors and/or assigns.

Could the board now be the successor and/or assigns
DonM17 (Florida)
Posts: 9
Posted:
What about the words and shall include where applicable its successors and/or assigns.

Could the board now be the successor and/or assigns

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