An Opinion By Ron Bibace

Published March 7, 2025

To all condo owners seeking relief from excessive Milestone condo assessments:

There are 2 ways to fight the current Milestone compliance assessments: The first is in the Legislature. That is being done now. However, with very limited expectations.

The second is to limit the cost to what the law requires and no more. The background of this blogger,  who is a qualified Canadian CPA,   and very experienced Real estate condo construction, condo management,  and condo director, (13 years on Condo Boards) is the basis for this view.

In 2014 I was personally in charge of the 40 Year BORA inspection of a 207 unit, 20 story Oceanfront Building in Fort Lauderdale. (BORA was the Milestone equivalent in Broward County before Milestone became law). The cost was very substantial.

It was only after the job was well over half done, that I realized that the  circumstances of my building justified a very substantial reduction in  costs, while in full compliance with the law.  I would urge all Condo Boards to seek information about their own buildings on this issue.

My research on the subject indicates that in the entire country only 2 concrete apartment buildings over 3 story buildings ever collapsed. Surfside in 2021 and the Davenport apartment building in Iowa, already scheduled for demolition on   May, 28, 2023. Moreover, not a single U.S.  state has any law like Milestone.

Saving money, perhaps $millions, faces many difficult hurdles. The first is to agree  that work should not exceed what is mandated. Particularly since what is mandated exceeds any mandate in any other state.

I hope this helps.  Good luck to all of you.  

I look forward to replies from others who are seeking to avoid such an experience, I may be able to help.

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