‘Surfside’ Florida Condo Collapse Brings Changes To New Jersey

The Condominium sector changed forever on Thursday, June 24, 2021 and few realized it until now.

At 1:22 a.m., The Champlain Towers South, of a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida partially collapsed.

It resulted in the deaths of 98 people. It has brought into question whether regular and proper structural engineering inspections were done over many years. It was built in 1981.

Understandably, the federal government has implemented a new form that is required to be completed before a condominium can be sold anywhere in America.

Few, even in the real estate and mortgage industries knew that this new required paperwork was coming prior to the start of this year.

It requires the condominium homeowners association or property management company to fill out a 2-page federal government form.

It’s hard to imagine that this new form, which went into effect on January 1, 2022 is not direct result of the tragic Surfside, Florida Condominium collapse.

Among many other specific items, the form requires that the property must reveal the last date that a structural engineer has inspected the property.

This is not to suggest that Atlantic City’s Ocean Club Condominiums prohibited all of their residents from using their balconies (yesterday) is only because of this new (form) requirement.

Yet, it’s most likely not a coincidence either.

The Ocean Club letter, which you can read in its entirety is included in our report from yesterday (link below) … it outlines concerns about balcony hardware and the potential for pieces of concrete falling.

Here is a link to our previous coverage about the various findings as a direct result of a structural engineering report commissioned by the Ocean Club Condominiums.

Read More: Atlantic City Ocean Club Residents Told They Can’t Use Balconies

The above photo is the view from Atlantic City’s Ocean Club Condominiums. Yesterday, all residents were notified in writing that they cannot use the balconies until further notice, while structural engineering issues are resolved.

Get our free mobile app

We project that you’re going to see and hear a lot more about condominiums bringing in structural engineers to inspect their properties.

For example, the Ocean Club Condominiums are now 40 years old. So, of course, there is a need to evaluate various parts of the structure.

The Ocean Club Condominiums are almost the exact same age as the “Surfside” Florida condominiums.

This is not to say that The Ocean Club Condominiums has not been doing regular structural inspections. It’s a highly respected property for more than 4 decades.

The point is, all condominiums nationwide will have to become regular practitioners of doing structural inspections.

No one will be willing to put their name on a federal document and reveal that no structural engineer has ever inspected their property.

This may become a bit onerous and expensive, however, this process should already have been occurring with great regularity everywhere.

And, in some cases, it has been taking place. In other cases, this new federal requirement will inspire the others to get on top of this right without delay.