Whether the revamping of the condominium termination procedures began in 2003 due to known problems in Florida’s termination procedures or whether the revamping occurred in 2007 as a result of several prior horrific storm seasons which led to distressed, fractured and unsustainable condominium projects throughout the State of Florida, the obvious fact is that, in 2007, the Florida legislature completely revamped the condominium termination process in an effort to simplify the termination process. But, is the cure even worse than the disease?
Prior to July 1, 2007, to terminate the condominium, a condominium association needed to obtain the approval of 100% of both the condominium unit owners and mortgage lienholders, unless otherwise provided in the declaration of condominium. In the off chance that such a vote was obtained, the condominium property became owned by the unit owners as “tenants in common” which would then require the filing of an “equitable partition” lawsuit – a lengthy process – so the condominium property could be sold and the proceeds distributed. At risk of pointing out the obvious, one sole disgruntled owner could prevent a justifiable and necessary termination necessitated by extreme damage to the condominium incurred as a result of casualty.
After the 2007 amendment, the new condominium termination procedures provide that the affirmative vote of only 80% of the unit owners, unless otherwise provided in the declaration of condominium, is needed to approve, what Chapter 718, Florida Statutes calls, a “plan of termination”, so long as not more than 10% of the unit owners vote to object the “plan of termination”. In this new termination regime, mortgage lienholders consent is not needed and thus irrelevant. According to attorney Martin A. Schwartz, “there is a lack of clarity in the statute on whether a mortgagee has to receive the full amount of its mortgage or only the value of the underwater unit. Lenders have generally accepted less than their principal amount since they are receiving the full current value of their collateral.” This could lead to continued liability for the borrower to satisfy the shortfall.
While these relaxed procedural hurdles to condominium termination have helped numerous real estate projects get back on their feet in one manner or another, a disturbing trend has arisen in which developers are using these termination provisions as a means of taking over condominiums and forcing unit owners out of their homes to turn these fledgling condominiums into rental properties, or to perhaps build newer, more dense condominium projects. After the condominium bubble burst and the condominium recession in Florida grew, investors, like sharks sensing blood in the water, sensed opportunities to purchase condominium units at incredibly low prices, sometimes purchasing the majority or all of the units in a condominium project, otherwise known as a “bulk purchase”. Having purchased a majority, if not all, of the units in a condominium, the developer, or “bulk buyer”, then had control over the condominium association. An owner of more than 50% of the units can legitimately control the board of directors and thus control the condominium association, too.
With control of the condominium association, the bulk buyer could commence the termination of the condominium. In this new termination process, governed by section 718.117, Florida Statutes, a termination trustee – typically, the condominium association itself – records a “plan of termination” which meets the requirements of Chapter 718, Florida Statutes. Once the “plan of termination” is recorded, title to all of the units automatically transfers to the termination trustee, and all liens automatically transfer to the sale proceeds. The “plan of termination” typically grants the termination trustee the power to sell the condominium property, including all of the units, at fair market value as determined by an independent appraisal, which amount can be below the amount borrowed by the owner.
The proceeds of the sale then get distributed in the following manner: (1) to the termination trustee for its reasonable fees and costs; (2) to any lienholders of liens recorded prior to the declaration of condominium; (3) to any purchase money lienholders, (aka, lenders- but the amount of their share could be less than the amount borrowed by individual owners); (4) to any lienholders of liens entered into by the condominium association which have been consented to by the unanimous consent of unit owners; (5) to any creditors of the condominium association; and finally (6) to the unit owners as set out in the “plan of termination”.
This trend of condominium take over and termination which, in today’s market, is likely the conversion of condominiums into rental properties, has the practical and real world possibility of forcing unit owners to sell their homes at depressed prices, likely for less than what is owed to their lenders, leaving them without a home, with the remaining debt on their mortgage liens, and with no money for a down payment on a new home. Can you think of worse situation?
This is a very unfortunate turn of events to what was created as a panacea to save otherwise defunct properties. In fixing the problem, the Legislature could at least ensure that no condominium owner will be left owing money to their lender as a result of their condominium’s termination when the termination is the result of a bulk buyer acquiring control as compared against a termination necessitated by a casualty event.
Although amendments to the condominium termination provisions of section 718.117, Florida Statutes, failed during the 2014 Florida Legislative Session, change must be made to avoid, or at the very least, curb, the incidences of abuse of its procedures. Will Floridians be harmed before the Legislature acts?