Cooperatives; access to units; records

Common Elements summary — Section 719.104 is the cooperative parallel to 718.111(12). It requires the association to maintain official records — articles, bylaws, ground lease, proprietary leases, rules, meeting minutes, financial records, insurance policies, contracts, ballots, voting proxies, and a current roster of members — for at least seven years. It also gives the association a right of access to individual units for maintenance, emergency, and rule-enforcement purposes on reasonable notice. Members have the right to inspect and copy the records on five-business-day written notice, at a reasonable time and place. The association can charge for copies but cannot charge for the inspection itself. Refusal to produce records that aren't exempt is a violation that triggers DBPR jurisdiction and, in litigation, potential statutory damages and fees. The exemptions parallel the condo statute: medical records, personnel records of association employees, attorney-client privileged communications, social security numbers and account numbers in member records, and security-system details. Everything else is open. Boards that withhold records on the theory that the requesting member is "just trying to make trouble" are setting up a fee award.

Not legal advice. Click through to the official source for statutory text.