Florida's Regulatory Response to Condominium Conversions: The Roth Act

The author examines the provisions and policies of the Roth Act, recently enacted by the Florida Legislature to regulate the practice of converting existing improvements, particularly rental apartments, to the condominium form of ownership. The Act protects tenants by requiring notice of intended conversion, extension of existing leases, disclosure of building condition, right of first refusal, converter reserve accounts and warranties, and nondiscriminatory treatment of tenants who do not purchase their apartments. Additionally, the legislation permits local government incentives to ease the increasing shortage of rental housing.