This episode is the first of a two-part condominium building structural safety series. In the wake of the Surfside condominium collapse in Florida, this series is meant to give the Single Lady Estate community information to consider when purchasing a condo along the East, West, or Gulf Coasts.

Josh Thompson is CEO and Founder of Thompson Exterior Services which is a full-service exterior building service company servicing the Northeast.

Josh joins us to talk about how potential and current coastal condominium homeowners can take a proactive approach towards understanding their building’s structural maintenance plans.

The importance of condo building maintenance and structural integrity was brought into sharp focus after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida on June 24, 2021.

Bobbie and Josh discuss how the Surfside condominium collapse has already changed building recertification laws. He also touches on the differences between building recertification in New York City (every 5 years) and Florida (every 40 years at the time of the collapse).

NOTE: May 2022, Florida passed the Condominium and Structural Safety Law: “Recertification will be required after 30 years, or 25 years if the building is within 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the coast, and every 10 years thereafter. The Champlain Towers South was 40 years old and was going through the 40-year-recertification process required by Miami-Dade County when it collapsed last June”. – U.S. News

Here are a few tips Josh recommends when considering a beachside condominium purchase:

1. Find out what the HOA and building management is doing about preventative maintenance.

To connect with Josh Thompson or learn more about Thompson Exterior Services visit his website.