10 Smart HOA Questions to Ask Your Attorney (with HOA Expert George Root)

Welcome home to Tampa Home Talk! I'm your host, Katrina Madewell, joined by HOA attorney George Root of Stockholm Law Group to unpack the 10 smartest questions every board member, community manager, and condo/HOA homeowner should ask their lawyer. We cover today's hottest pain points—records requests and penalties, architectural disputes, street parking and commercial vehicles, emotional support animals vs. service animals, selective enforcement, board training requirements, insurance & D&O, milestone/SIRS reserve studies after Surfside, special assessments and financing, and when (and how) to amend your governing docs. If you serve on a board (or live in a deed-restricted community), this episode will help you reduce risk, defuse conflict, and protect property values with practical, legally sound steps. Featuring candid stories from real Florida communities, we talk about what boards should—and absolutely should not—do, how to calm hostile meetings, when to mediate, how to avoid selective enforcement traps, and the common insurance blind spots that put volunteers at risk. Plus, we dig into parking realities on public vs. private streets, Kaufman language, what "habitable stories" means for inspections, and why a quick consult with the right attorney up front often saves months of costly litigation later. If your community needs sharper legal coaching, records readiness, policy updates, or board training, connect with Stockholm Law Group and tell them Tampa Home Talk sent you.