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GaryJ5 (New York)
Posts: 14
Posted:
In the Village I own a home there are 52% of the homeowners having purchased a certificate from the
Master Association and belong to a non profit corporation in their subdivision. These certificate holders have voting rights to vote representatives to that board. There are 2 of these subdivisions. Each paid from $10,500 - $29,500 for these certificates. 4 highest vote getters go to serve on the master board. Certificates are not available to all homeowners just the 52%. There are 48% of homeowners that don't have certificates and no voting rights. These 48% have no representation, not allowed at board meetings, and have no say in any village budgets, and etc. The non certificate holders pay much higher fees. Why does Florida allow such blatent disregard of homeowners rights. The Master Board makes all the decisions and doesn't require any approvals to change any rules. Is this legal. or can something be done?
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Is this something that happened recently or did you just find out about this certificate? Without reading them, no one can answer for certain - and besides most of us aren't attorneys and it's never a good idea to get legal advice off the internet on specific legal matters. You don't say if your community is run by the homeowners or the developer - if it's the latter, perhaps they've cooked up a different type of community, and so there are separate documents on how they're run.

Gather your documents and get to a private attorney. You might also want to check the articles of incorporation or whatever your association has on file with the secretary of state's office to see what they say.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Gry

I have seen similar in Private Golf Clubs meaning voting and non-voting memberships. In some cases it was a matter of a buy-in to become a voting member. In other cases it required was both seniority and a buy-in to become a voting member.

What type association are you? Sounds like a Social Member Type arrangement which I have seen in Mobile Home Parks in FL and in a "camping" lot situation (no permanent structures and no year round living) around a lake in NY or PA. I forget which.

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