The tragedy of the Champlain Towers South collapse, causing the death of 98 people in the early hours of the morning, was a wake-up call to Florida condominium owners and the Florida Legislature.

Early investigation into the tragedy revealed that warning signs indicating severe structural issues were known to the Board of Directors for an extended period of time. Despite this, a multi-million-dollar aesthetic facelift took priority over structural repairs. When the Tower collapsed, it had an elegant lobby .

While the investigation of the Champlain Towers collapse continues, still no complete answer is evident. Certainly, deferred maintenance was a primary cause. But the investigation continues to ascertain other contributing factors. At the time of the collapse, the Board had obtained a loan to address the much-needed structural repairs. They were in the process of hiring a contractor to address these issues when the building collapsed. Time had run out, especially for the 98 people who lost their lives on that tragic day.

Clearly new legislation was needed to protect Floridians from another such disaster. No longer could the State assume that Homeowners’ Association Boards would be proactive with the proper physical maintenance and fiscal management of a building.