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Could my condo building collapse like the one in Florida? Expert says problems can be found faster in Canada

When Jack Driscoll saw the video of the collapsed condo building in Surfside, Fla., his first thought was: “That’s horrendous.” Then he started wondering: Could that happen to his home? Driscoll lives on the second floor of a 12-storey building on the Dartmouth side of Halifax Harbour. He can lean over his balcony railing and…

Surfside condo collapse exposes gaps in Florida's inspection process

At the site where Champlain Towers South once stood, a mountain of rubble remains a disastrous and heartbreaking reminder of loss, failures and questions. Each day for the past three weeks, the county’s Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, has had the tragic task of announcing the number of new victims recovered from the collapse. On Tuesday,…

Surfside inspectors visited Champlain Towers South dozens of times. Now its collapse is spurring calls for reform

In the wake of last month’s deadly building collapse, inspectors from around South Florida have fanned out to review other high-rises for damage in an attempt to avert another tragedy. But Champlain Towers South had been visited regularly by officials in the years before it fell. Inspectors from the town of Surfside conducted permit-related inspections…

Florida condo collapse spurs many citiesto action — but some worry residents will resist

Three years ago, Florida lawyer Eric Glazer offered a dire warning: The state’s condo buildings faced an “absolutely avoidable” crisis stemming from years of willfully neglected maintenance combined with lax government oversight. Writing on his blog “Condo Craze and HOAs”, Glazer warned that building after building lacked the savings to fund increasingly common repairs. He…

Condos’ reserve funds, delayed repairs under new scrutiny since Surfside tragedy

The deadly collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside has brought a little-noticed loophole in Florida law to the attention of lawyers, condo management companies, Realtors, insurance companies and consumer advocates. Called the “kick the can down the road” provision by one attorney, Section 718.112 of the Florida Condominium Act allows condominium associations to waive…

Florida has collected millions for condoowner education. Lawmakers divertedthe money instead.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The state of Florida collected $13.7 million in fees in 2020 from condominium owners associations, vacation timeshares and mobile home parks. But instead of using that money for its intended purpose — including training condo associations about things like maintenance — the Florida legislature swept $5 million of it into the state’s…

Condo collapse prompts statewide condo law task force led by West Palm Beach attorney

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Surfside condo collapse is prompting a push for sweeping statewide condo law reform to prevent another mass casualty collapse. The Florida Bar confirmed with CBS12 News that it has organized a condo law task force. After this catastrophic collapse, a legal task force is investigating Florida’s laws surrounding…

A 2020 report found Surfside condo lacked funds for necessary repairs. One expert called it a 'wake-up call'

An independent budget review warned the Champlain Towers South condo association that its financial reserves were critically underfunded in the face of urgently needed structural repairs a little over a year before the building collapsed, a document obtained by CNN shows. The condo association only had 6.9% of the recommended level of money to complete…

A 2020 report found Surfside condo lacked funds for necessary repairs. One expert called it a 'wake-up call'

An independent budget review warned the Champlain Towers South condo association that its financial reserves were critically underfunded in the face of urgently needed structural repairs a little over a year before the building collapsed, a document obtained by CNN shows. The condo association only had 6.9% of the recommended level of money to complete…