That statewide conversation propelled him to file legislation creating a five-year structural inspection of condominiums over three stories tall to go hand in hand with a reserve study to determine how much to set aside for repairs and maintenance to avoid extraordinary assessments.
“We added that provision, which required structural inspections of the entire building, the roof, elevators, parking garage, all aspects of the construction of the condominium,” Robaina said in an interview with USA TODAY Network-Florida.
The bill was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, and was signed into law by then-Gov. Charlie Crist.
Two years later, lawyers and lobbyists for the condominium associations, property managers and developers pushed back. They said the law placed a financial burden on condominium unit owners, especially elderly ones on fixed incomes.
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Former state lawmaker Julio Robaina introduced HB 995 in 2008, which stated every five years associations “shall have the condominium building inspected to provide a report under seal of an architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state attesting to required maintenance, useful life, and replacement costs of the common elements.”
Robaina’s bill passed the Florida House and Senate unanimously. It was later signed into law by then-Republican Governor Charlie Crist, who is now serving Florida’s 13th Congressional District and running for governor as a Democrat.
Robaina told NBC 6 the law aimed to bring in expert analysis to recommend needed repairs. His bill did allow associations to temporarily opt out with a majority vote but the goal, he said, was to prevent condo boards from kicking problems down the road.