denKeyAwards
NOMINATION PROCESS
To submit a nomination, visit www.aago.org/GKAAwards and complete one form for each nomination. There is no limit to the number of entries in a category. All members of AAGO are eligible to enter.
Each nomination must be submitted with the following details:
Individual Awards Team/Property Awards
Account Executive of the Year
Assistant Manager of the Year
Corporate Support Person of the Year
Housekeeper of the year
Leasing Consultant of the Year
Maintenance Supervisor of the Year
Maintenance Technician of the Year
Management Company
Executive of the Year
Porter | Groundskeeper of the Year
Property Manager of the Year
Regional Manager of the Year
Regional Service Director of the Year
Rising Star Award |
Property Management
Rising Star Award| Supplier
Supplier Technician of the Year
Affordable Community of the Year
Best Curb Appeal
Build To Rent Community of the Year
Community of the Year
Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year
Interior Design Award
Luxury Community of the Year
Maintenance Team of the Year
Mixed Use Development of the Year
Multifamily Development of the Year
Renovation or Remodel of the Year
Resident Experience Award
Supplier Company of the Year
JPEG Photo Summary of Accomplishments Letter(s) of Recommendation
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Saturday, December 2, 2023 Orlando ONLINE NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FROM JULY 6TH - AUGUST 25TH FifteenthAnnual Register Today GoldenKeyAwards for the AAGO| 19
The 2023 legislative session of the Florida Legislature has ended This has been one of, if not the, most successful legislative session in quite some time for the multi-family industry.
Here is a brief overview of the legislation the Florida Apartment Association identified as a priority and how they fared during the legislative session:
Senate Bill 102/ House Bill 627 – Property Tax Discounts & Apartment Scarcity (Live Local Act)
Provides a record-breaking $811 million for affordable and workforce housing and includes a variety of other tools for local governments to leverage to address the need for more housing supply, such as:
Prevent local governments from requiring affordable housing developments to obtain a zoning/land use change for use, density, and height
Preemption of rent control
Status: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill, and it became effective on July 1st, 2023.
Senate Bill 236/House Bill 837 – Insurance and Premises Liability
The bill establishes a safe harbor in negligent security cases that involve a criminal act by a third party at multifamily properties that comply with certain security standards
The bill specifies that in premises liability cases that involve a criminal act committed by a third party when assessing damages, the jury must consider the faults of all persons who contributed to the injury.
Status: Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation on March 24th
By: Brandon U. Johnson
Senate Bill 1614/House Bill 1575 – Fire Radio System Communication Requirements
The bill requires inspections of this equipment to occur not more than once every 3 years for high-rise buildings. It prevents local jurisdictions from withholding certificates of occupancy and provide buildings with 180 days to cure any signal strength issues after a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued
The bill nullifies existing and prevent future ordinances that seek to enforce more stringent requirements
Status: Passed unanimously out of both the House and the Senate and has been signed by Governor Ron DeSantis
Senate Bill 1586/ House Bill 1417 – Residential Tenancies (Florida Landlord Tenant Act Protections)
Amends Chapter 83, Florida’s Landlord Tenant Act, to preempt the regulation of the landlord/tenant relationship to the state to ensure a consistent framework of landlord/tenant law across Florida.
This includes but is not limited to the resident screening process, security deposits, and lease agreements.
Special note: this specifically nullifies the recently passed Orange County Tenant Bill of Rights
Status: This legislation has been approved and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis
As you can see, the FAA team along with our lobbyists, Ron Book, and Kelly Mallette, surely had their work cut out for them but because of the great support via APAC and your physical presence during our “IMPACT” days on the Hill, we were able to have a very historic legislative session.
However, the work does not end here! We must keep the pressure up and to do that, we still need your support. Please consider making a donation to APAC so that we can continue to support our allies not only in Tallahassee, but here at home as well.
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A recent Florida trial court ruling dealt with a landlord being sued by a guest of a tenant who was struck in their apartment by bullets fired from a car and whether the landlord could be held accountable.
This article will review the case of McSwain v Community Havana, LLC, 2dCircuit Gadsden County February 14, 2023)
THE MCSWAIN FACTS:
On January 2, 2019, Community Havana owned and operated an apartment complex (“Havana Heights”). McSwain and her daughter were visiting a tenant in one of the units. While in the unit, McSwain heard gunshots and she went to the bedroom window to investigate After the shooting stopped a vehicle made a u-turn and additional gunshots were heard. During this 2nd onslaught, McSwain and her daughter were both struck by the bullets
McSwain and her daughter sued the landlord for negligent security. The landlord sought summary judgment claiming that it had no legal duty to McSwain and her daughter and the criminal acts were unforeseeable
Written by Kevin Knight
In response to the landlord’s motion for summary judgment, McSwain and her daughter offered a police grid (summary of criminal activity reports) for the subject property for the four years leading up to the subject incident. Among other things, the reports document: multiple incidents of fighting with knives and guns, gun shots, robbery at gunpoint, and at least one injury from gunshot.
THE COURT’S RULING:
the Court denied the summary judgment motion finding that there was enough evidence for a jury to determine whether the landlord was negligent and should be held accountable.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULING:
The trial court’s ruling points out the need for landlords to make sure they have adequate security for their apartment complex especially in a high crime area.
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Monica Ramsey Executive Vice President
Carina Rawley Director of Meetings & Events
Heather Alzate Director of Career & Professional Development
Melanie Santiago Director of Member Engagement
Brandon Johnson Government Affairs Director
Torquiose Ware Communication & Branding Manager
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER
SECRETARY ASSOCIATES VICE PRESIDENT IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Debbie Gentry Kathy Hensley Melissa Dugas Eddy Perez Justin Frost Rachelle Hundley
CAM, CAPS, HCCP Concord Management CMP Greystar CAPS Royal American Management CAM, CAPS, LEAP, ARM Wendover Housing Partners Affinity Waste Solutions Highmark Residential ARM, HCCP, CPO, CAPS
Alex Colasuonno Amanda Otey Ashlee Partin Bridge Property Management Bell Partners Inc.
Austin Cotton Stephens and Company LLC
David Bales Cushman & Wakefield Residential
Domonique Messeroff Joelis Barandica - Rodriguez Linda Beach ConAm Linsay VanWagoner Contravest
Mallory Hoffmeyer Range Water Real Estate
Affinity Waste Solutions ConAm Massey Services Inc.
Meredith Torres Michael Krause Shana Jackson Greystar
