Utility Temporarily Pulls Plug On S. Florida Condo Association Ravaged By Foreclosure & Unable To Pay Light Bills; Residents Dodge Getting Booted

In Hialeah, Florida, WFOR-TV Channel 4 reports:

• After FPL and a property management company struck a deal, families living in a Northwest Miami-Dade condo complex are getting the lights turned back on in areas such as parking lots, hallways and other common areas. Tuesday night CBS4 News learned that the homeowner's assocation and FPL reached an agreement that allows the lights to be turned back on, but it hasn't been easy for residents living in the complex in recent months.

***

• The power [had been] out in all the common areas, stairwells, hallways, and parking lots at the Coral Gate Apartments. Florida Power & Light pulled the plug after the condo association failed to pay the bill.

***

• The problem is nearly half of the 424 units are in foreclosure or pre-foreclosure and the units owned by the bank are not paying any assessments. The county said it's unsafe to live in conditions like the ones at Coral Gate Apartments and ha[d] given the complex five days to come up with the nearly $200,000 in back assessments due, or move everyone out.

***

• Florida Property Management group deflected the blame saying they just manage the site. They said it is up to the owners to pay the assessments. The same company has a similar problem at one of its other buildings, Mirassou Condos.(1) Residents at Mirassou had to go without tap water because the bills weren't being paid.

For the story, see Lights Are Coming Back On At NW Dade Condo Complex.

(1) See Hundreds Of Residents In 310-Unit S. Florida Condo Face Water Shutoff As Delinquent Maintenance Fees Result In Unpaid Bills; 100+ Units In Foreclosure.