THE PILOT PROGRAM

"HOW TO CATCH A THIEF"

 

 

 

 

 
Condominium Crimes Screening Checklist and Unit Owner Resource Guide

 

 

 

 

 Law Enforcement Meets State Regulators and Condominium Ombudsman to Provide Direction and Assistance to Unit Owners


In response

to rising concerns from condominium unit owners regarding

alleged misuse of funds by Boards of Directors and Community Association Managers, members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) met with the representatives from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman (OCO) in order to conduct a Condominium Awareness Seminar for many South Florida law enforcement agencies.  With guidance from the DBPR, this Condominium Awareness seminar resulted in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement issuing a checklist for affected unit owners to follow in order to resolve their complaints more efficiently. 

   

This guide is designed to assist the unit owner in filing

complaints regarding alleged fraud or financial impropriety by a member  or members of a board of directors or by a community association manager.

The Office of the Condominium Ombudsman will act as a liaison to review and evaluate whether the complaint is administrative, civil or criminal in nature.

So, you’re first question is probably, “What is an Ombudsman?”, followed quickly

by, “Who is the Ombudsman?

An Ombudsman, as granted authority in Section 718.5012 Florida Statutes, generally acts as a liaison between unit owners, board members, boards of directors, community association managers and other affected parties in order for them to understand their rights and responsibilities. The legislature requires that the ombudsman acts as a neutral resource to those involved.

Currently, Danille Carroll is the Florida ombudsman for Condominiums, with a satellite office located at the North Broward Regional Service Center, 1400 West Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The phone number is 954-202-3234. 

What follows is the checklist that DBPR and FDLE have developed in order

to better assist the ombudsman in determining how and where your complaint should be filed. Please read through it carefully and provide all the information that is requested (attach additional sheets if necessary).

   

How to File a Complaint with the Condominium Ombudsman:

Mail this completed form and copies of any documentation to:

Office of the Condominium Ombudsman, 1400 W. Commercial Boulevard,

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

 

CONDO CRIMES SCREENING CHECKLIST

 

 Name:___________________________  Contact Number(s): (        )                                                     

Address:__________________________  (         )                                                                                  

Are you a condo unit owner? Yes  No        Address / Unit #: ______________________________   

What is the name of the condominium?                                                                                                      

What is the address of the condominium?                                                                                                  

What is the name of the Condominium Association?                                                                                  

What position do you hold regarding this Association? (director, officer, unit owner, etc…)

Association Board of Directors:                   Names and contact numbers

                       President:                                                                      (         )                                        

               Vice President:                                                                      (         )                                       

                       Secretary:                                                                      (         )                                       

                       Treasurer:                                                                      (         )                                       

Does the Condominium have a community association manager?  Yes          No 
Name/contact number:                                                                                  (        )                                    
Have you brought your complaint to the Board of Directors?        Yes           No 

     If so, when, where, and what was their response?                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                               

 

Have you submitted a Condominium / Cooperative Complaint Form to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes (DBPR)?

        YES           No
If so, please enclose a copy of the complaint and answer the following questions: 
Name and contact number of DBPR Representative(s): 
                                                                                                                        (        )                            
                                                                                                                        (        )                            
               
What is the status of the complaint filed with DBPR?                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                              

 

Have you previously contacted the Ombudsman?      Yes       No

 

What is the name of the person you feel is responsible for the alleged financial wrongdoing? If they are a condominium officer, please include their position. 
                                                                                                                                                             
Have you made a request pursuant to Florida State Statute 718.111(15)(c) to inspect the records? 

     YES           No

Have your reviewed the financial records of the condominium to identify evidence of financial wrongdoing? 

     YES           No

What was the result of your review / request?                                                                                          

Please list any evidence of what you believe to be any financial wrongdoing? (checks, contracts, invoices, receipts, bank records, etc…) 

                                                                                                                                                              

 

Please list any witness who can provide evidence of the financial wrongdoing. List names, contact information and the substance of their knowledge. 

                                                                                                                                                             
Has any audit or accounting been done to confirm these allegations? If so, please include a copy of the financial statements.
   YES           No

 

Please do not submit this form until you have sufficient documentation to support your allegations. Do not expect immediate results. Investigations are complicated and take time to facilitate. Thank you for your patience.


PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS FORM INTO YOUR WORD PROGRAM FOR PRINTOUT!

THIS IS THE FLYER AND THE FORM/ FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO THE EDUCATION VIDEOS PLEASE CONTACT US AT: [email protected] 


CONDO ARTICLES

HOME

HOW-TO PAGE