Do the challenges of serving as a Board Member seem intimidating or time consuming? Is the collecting of shareholder payments getting you down? 

Have no fear – we are here!  To help Board Members, Committee Members, and Managers traverse the bumpy road of co-operative challenges.  As the firm that “Embraces Community,” we are here to support you and find creative solutions to the difficulties that you face.  We take the burden off your shoulders.  No mandatory retainer to hire us.

You asked for flat rates and we delivered!  We offer a multitude of flat rate and complimentary services including our famous small class “Community Connect Chats” and large group “Embracing Community Conferences.”    Among the many presented, we host quarterly Co-Operative Board Certification class.  The Florida Legislature passed legislation in 2010 requiring every board member to attend a Board Certification class within 90 days of being elected to the Board or sign an Affidavit “opting’ out of the class with certain promises.  The purpose of the class is to equip Board Members with the knowledge of how to operate their non-profit corporation.  Even though your co-operative is your neighborhood – it is also a corporation with all the responsibilities and liabilities such as prominent for profit corporations such as Walt Disney and Microsoft. 

We are only a phone call away.  For more information on how we can make your time on the Board easier and make you look good to your community, call our Director of Public Relations or Request a Presentation or Request a Legal Services Package or use the buttons above.

About Cooperatives

A housing cooperative, or co-op, is a legal entity, formed as a corporation, which owns real estate, consisting of residential buildings and usually including other property; it is a unique form of residential ownership.                  

According to the Free Dictionary, “a residential cooperative is “an arrangement in which an association or corporation owns a group of housing units and the common areas for the use of all the residents. The individual participants own a share in the cooperative which entitles them to occupy an apartment (or town house) as if they were owners, to have equal access to the common areas, and to vote for members of the Board of Directors which manages the cooperative. A cooperative differs from a condominium project in that the owners of the condominium units actually own their airspace and a percentage interest in the common area. In a cooperative there are often restrictions on transfer of shares such as giving priority to other members, limits on income or maximum sales price.”

Governed by Chapter 719 of the Florida Statutes, cooperatives are not as popular as other types of community associations in Florida.  The majority of Florida co-operatives are located in South Florida.  However, a large number of Central Florida cooperatives are organized as manufactured home communities. 

Need to hire a manager?  We have a Complimentary Referral Service to assist your Association in hiring a licensed Manager or Management Company.  Legislation was passed in 2010 requiring management companies to secure a management company license through the Department of Business & Professional Regulations.  If you would like to take advantage of our complimentary service either use the link above or call our Director of Public Relations.

A Sampling of our Services for Cooperatives 

We handle every type of issues for Cooperatives except criminal and tax issues that can arise  (and then we will refer you to a firm that specializes in those areas). 

Here is a sampling of the myriad issues we handle for Cooperatives:

• Issuance of Shareholder/Share Certificate

• Issuance of “Occupancy Agreements” and related documents

• Collections Services for Delinquent Assessments

• Amendments to Cooperative Documents

• Establishing, maintaining or making changes to “55 and Older” communities

• Defending against claims alleging violation of the “Americans with Disabilities Act” (“ADA”), and the Federal and State Fair Housing Act

• Responding to or defending against Administrative Actions by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Commission on Human Relations

• Covenant Enforcement Actions

• Contract drafting and review, with vendors, management firms, and building contractors

• Petitioning and Defending Arbitration and Mediation cases

• Civil Litigation, including Contract Disputes, Sexual Harassment and Civil Damage Cases

• Representation in Local and State Governmental matters