Florida HOA And Condominium Law: Insights From RAND Interview With Erik Perez

A National Policy Conversation Involving Florida Homeowners

Our firm’s co-founder and preeminent Boca Raton, FL HOA lawyer, Erik Perez, was recently interviewed by representatives from RAND, one of the nation’s most respected policy research institutions. The interview was conducted as part of research prepared for the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), an agency that provides lawmakers with the tools, research, and insights they need to draft effective policy.

The purpose of the interview was not collaboration, but contribution. RAND sought input from subject-matter experts on Florida’s association laws—how they operate in practice, where they succeed, and where they create challenges for the very people they are supposed to protect. Mr. Perez was invited to share his perspective as an attorney who has dedicated his career to defending homeowners and condominium residents facing disputes with their associations.

Why Florida’s Association Laws Matter Nationally

Florida is home to one of the largest populations of condominium and HOA residents in the country. The Florida Condominium Act (Chapter 718, Florida Statutes) and the Homeowners’ Association Act (Chapter 720, Florida Statutes) govern nearly every aspect of community association living, from how boards are elected and how dues are collected, to the scope of a board’s authority and the rights of individual property owners. Because of the sheer number of residents affected, Florida serves as a bellwether for the rest of the country. The successes and shortcomings of Florida’s legal framework often preview the challenges other states will encounter as association living expands nationwide. RAND’s interest in Florida law reflects this reality: what happens here is instructive for policymakers everywhere.

Strengths And Weaknesses In Practice

During the interview, Mr. Perez emphasized that Florida’s statutes are robust on paper. They provide detailed governance structures, require transparency, and give boards the authority to maintain shared property and enforce community standards. These strengths help maintain order and protect property values.

But in practice, the picture is often very different. Mr. Perez explained that assessments can place sudden and sometimes overwhelming financial burdens on homeowners, often without clear connection to actual community needs. He discussed how residents face significant hurdles in obtaining records they are entitled to see, which creates frustration and distrust. He highlighted instances where boards overstep their authority, imposing restrictions or penalties without proper legal basis. And he stressed how unequal the power dynamic can be, with individual homeowners left to face boards that have access to attorneys, resources, and leverage that residents rarely possess.

These tensions, he explained, are not abstract issues. They affect real families who are forced to decide between paying a disputed assessment or risking liens and foreclosure. They affect retirees living on fixed incomes who worry about being priced out of their homes. They affect working parents who must divert money away from essential household expenses to cover association demands. Florida’s association laws are designed to balance the rights of homeowners with the need for organized governance, but in practice that balance is often tilted against residents.

The Value Of Homeowner Perspectives In Policy

RAND’s mission in speaking with experts like Mr. Perez was to capture perspectives that cannot be gleaned from statutes alone. While lawmakers often see only the legal text, attorneys working in this area see the daily reality of how those laws are enforced and experienced in neighborhoods across Florida. By participating in this interview, Mr. Perez ensured that the voices of homeowners and residents were represented. His insights underscored both the strengths of Florida’s statutory framework and the systemic challenges that continue to generate conflict. For policymakers at the national level, this type of input is critical to designing reforms that are both practical and effective.

Why This Matters For Homeowners Everywhere

Although the focus of the interview was Florida, the implications extend far beyond the state’s borders. Other states are increasingly adopting community association models, and many already face the same disputes over transparency, assessments, and governance. Lessons drawn from Florida can guide policymakers in creating statutes that protect homeowners, prevent board overreach, and ensure that residents have meaningful rights and remedies. Florida’s sheer size and the complexity of its association laws make it a testing ground, and the insight provided by practitioners like Mr. Perez is invaluable for shaping fairer systems nationwide.

Perez Mayoral, P.A.: Advocates On The National Stage

At Perez Mayoral, P.A., we are proud that our co-founder was invited to provide his perspective to RAND and the LRB. While the interview was not a collaboration, it was recognition of the authority and experience our firm brings to the field of association law. For years, our attorneys have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with homeowners and condominium residents across Florida. We have challenged unlawful assessments, fought back against board overreach, and demanded transparency and fairness where it was lacking.

Being invited to share these experiences in a national policy conversation underscores the importance of our work and the growing recognition that homeowners’ rights deserve protection at every level of government. Mr. Perez’s contribution reinforced the fact that meaningful reform must account for the real experiences of residents who live under these laws, not just the intentions of lawmakers who draft them.

Protecting Your Rights

For Florida homeowners, the statutes may appear daunting, but it is essential to remember that while associations are granted power, that power is not unlimited. With the right legal support, homeowners can challenge improper board actions, dispute unfair assessments, demand access to financial records, and ensure their property rights are respected under the law. Perez Mayoral, P.A. remains dedicated to guiding clients through these challenges, holding associations accountable, and restoring balance to the relationship between boards and residents.

Closing Thought

Erik Perez’s participation in RAND’s interview was an opportunity to ensure that the lived experience of Florida homeowners was heard by policymakers shaping the future of association law. It was not a collaboration—it was a contribution, grounded in the day-to-day advocacy work that defines Perez Mayoral, P.A. We remain committed to our mission: protecting homeowners, ensuring accountability, and shaping a fairer future for communities in Florida and across the nation. If you need help with an issue with your association or management company, we are here to help. Reach out to us today.