A group of condo owners say their condo association is forcing them to live in unhealthy conditions after Hurricane Ian destroyed their homes. The conditions are so bad many of the residents can't live in their homes.Seven residents who live on the third floor of the Berkshire Condos, just off of Barkeley Lane in Fort Myers, say they've been forced to live in horrendous conditions Ian struck. Cynthia Ruke had just installed a new carpet and had the walls of her condo painted just before Ian struck, and she was ready to move in.Then Ian ripped the roof of the condo off.“You had to have had an umbrella if you came in here, it was just sobbing wet,” Ruke said.While the roof was ultimately repaired, the home sustained damage to the firewall and drywall.Her condo and six others on the third floor were gutted.“They're living in open rafters and cement floors,” Ruke said.When asked why it wasn’t fixed, she pointed fingers at her Home Owners Association or HOA for dragging their feet.“The management company and the board of directors give you the runaround,” Ruke said.Her brother, Tommy Ruke, a licensed insurance agent and consultant, put it more bluntly.“This is ridiculous. It's incompetency by the board,” Tommy Ruke said.He explained that condo residents don't own the structures of their homes.“Florida law says that the condo association owns a common element, and the common elements are the bare walls, the bare ceilings and bare floors,” Ruke said.A condo association representative said they're working diligently to repair the issues.Ruke’s nephew David White, who owns the property, doesn’t believe the association has been diligent at all.“I don't know what their definition of diligence is, but there is no production from what they're doing,” White said.White, who no longer lives in the area, flew in to help her get things in order until he discovered there was little he or anyone besides the HOA could do.“Our hands are held. We can't do anything until they get their job done,” White said.Other residents on the third floor also have gutted condos, and while most can't live in them, Charles Silas has no choice. He walks on cement floors and runs his air conditioning despite the fact that he has no ceiling or insulation above him.“It is like camping. That's a good analysis. I just like roughing it,” Silas said.He points out, though, that camping trips only last the weekend.“Well, it looks like I’m in for the long haul,” he said.The HOA board of directors has not answered our questions or returned our phone calls.“I don't think this would ever have happened this long if some of the board of directors lived on this floor,” Ruke said.The residents say they’re now considering legal action.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
A group of condo owners say their condo association is forcing them to live in unhealthy conditions after Hurricane Ian destroyed their homes. The conditions are so bad many of the residents can't live in their homes.
Seven residents who live on the third floor of the Berkshire Condos, just off of Barkeley Lane in Fort Myers, say they've been forced to live in horrendous conditions Ian struck.
Cynthia Ruke had just installed a new carpet and had the walls of her condo painted just before Ian struck, and she was ready to move in.
Then Ian ripped the roof of the condo off.
“You had to have had an umbrella if you came in here, it was just sobbing wet,” Ruke said.
While the roof was ultimately repaired, the home sustained damage to the firewall and drywall.
Her condo and six others on the third floor were gutted.
“They're living in open rafters and cement floors,” Ruke said.
When asked why it wasn’t fixed, she pointed fingers at her Home Owners Association or HOA for dragging their feet.
“The management company and the board of directors give you the runaround,” Ruke said.
Her brother, Tommy Ruke, a licensed insurance agent and consultant, put it more bluntly.
“This is ridiculous. It's incompetency by the board,” Tommy Ruke said.
He explained that condo residents don't own the structures of their homes.
“Florida law says that the condo association owns a common element, and the common elements are the bare walls, the bare ceilings and bare floors,” Ruke said.
A condo association representative said they're working diligently to repair the issues.
Ruke’s nephew David White, who owns the property, doesn’t believe the association has been diligent at all.
“I don't know what their definition of diligence is, but there is no production from what they're doing,” White said.
White, who no longer lives in the area, flew in to help her get things in order until he discovered there was little he or anyone besides the HOA could do.
“Our hands are held. We can't do anything until they get their job done,” White said.
Other residents on the third floor also have gutted condos, and while most can't live in them, Charles Silas has no choice. He walks on cement floors and runs his air conditioning despite the fact that he has no ceiling or insulation above him.
“It is like camping. That's a good analysis. I just like roughing it,” Silas said.
He points out, though, that camping trips only last the weekend.
“Well, it looks like I’m in for the long haul,” he said.
The HOA board of directors has not answered our questions or returned our phone calls.
“I don't think this would ever have happened this long if some of the board of directors lived on this floor,” Ruke said.
The residents say they’re now considering legal action.