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Are you a property owner or operator of multifamily housing in Florida? Protect your investment and your tenants by implementing the specific crime prevention measures outlined in House Bill 837. Invictus Security can conduct a comprehensive Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment to help you meet the requirements of the law and minimize your liability in connection with criminal acts committed by third parties on your premises.
Our CPTED assessment will identify vulnerabilities in your property’s physical design and offer practical solutions to improve safety and deter criminal activity. By installing a security camera system at points of entry and exit, providing adequate lighting in parking lots, walkways, and common areas, and ensuring all doors and windows have locking devices, you can substantially reduce crime risk and protect your tenants.
Invictus Security’s team of trained professionals can perform a CPTED assessment that meets the requirements of the law and provides valuable insight into ways to improve your property’s safety and security.
Don’t wait until it’s too late; contact us today to schedule your assessment and take the first step in protecting your investment and your tenants.
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Property managers and condominium association board members, in the wake of the new Florida legislation, it’s essential now more than ever to guarantee the safety and security of your property. Not only is it a moral obligation to protect residents, guests, and owners, but it’s also now a legal one.
Florida has long held condominiums responsible for ensuring their community’s safety against crime. Associations could be held liable if they were aware of prior incidents and did not take necessary precautions to prevent them. Now, with the new law 768.0706 effective from March 24, 2023, there’s a blueprint for how to protect both your residents and your association from negligence claims.
This legislation specifically addresses security measures that, when substantially implemented, offer a presumption against liability for crimes committed on the premises by third parties. These measures range from security camera systems and lighting standards to specific locks, training, and more.
One crucial aspect of this legislation is the requirement for a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment by January 1, 2025. This assessment should be conducted by either a law enforcement agency or a certified Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner.
We’re proud to announce that we’re not only certified by the state of Florida as CPTED Practitioners but also backed by our extensive experience in the security consulting sector. We provide comprehensive evaluations and ensure that your property is in line with the latest safety and security standards.
Imagine the peace of mind you’ll offer your community by partnering with experts who are well-versed in the latest state requirements. More than that, think of the potential financial implications. By implementing these measures, you could avoid multi-million dollar lawsuits should an unfortunate incident occur on your property.
Schedule a free evaluation with Invictus Security Consulting today. Let us help you navigate the nuances of the new Florida law, ensuring that your condominium is not only compliant but also a beacon of safety and security in the community.
Remember, it’s not just about avoiding liability; it’s about creating a safe, secure environment for everyone. Let’s achieve that together.
Effective March 24, 2023, under statute 768.0706, Florida has redefined and set clear security standards for multifamily residential properties. These properties are described as residential structures or a combination of them, including apartments, townhouses, or condominiums, housing a minimum of five units within a specific parcel.
Here’s a concise breakdown of these standards:
Imagine the peace of mind you’ll offer your community by partnering with experts who are well-versed in the latest state requirements. More than that, think of the potential financial implications. By implementing these measures, you could avoid multi-million dollar lawsuits should an unfortunate incident occur on your property.
Property managers and association board members, it’s not just about adhering to these standards. It’s about setting a benchmark for safety, ensuring peace of mind for your residents, and mitigating potential liabilities. Partner with experts, like Invictus Security Consulting, who are certified and equipped to help navigate and implement these standards seamlessly.
To meet the requirements of House Bill 837, physical property measures for multifamily residential properties must include:
If you’re the owner or manager of an apartment building or multi-residential property, you need to get a safety check done every three years. This check is called a “crime prevention through environmental design assessment,” and it looks at how safe and secure your building is for crime prevention. The assessment must be conducted by a certified Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner to qualify under the law. You require a detailed report showing that you meet the state’s crime prevention requirements. This is important because it helps protect you from liability for any crimes that could occur in your building.
All employees working in apartment buildings must be trained in safety and crime prevention by January 1, 2025. If they are hired after that date, they must be trained within 60 days of starting work. Invictus Security can help you make sure your employees get the right training to keep your apartment building safe and secure. Don’t worry about meeting these requirements alone – we’re here to help!
As a multifamily property owner in Florida, complying with House Bill 837 (HB 837) is crucial to protecting your investment and minimizing your liability in connection with criminal acts committed on your premises. Invictus Security recommends a two-step approach to ensure you benefit from HB 837 while avoiding inadvertent liability.
The first step is to check if your apartment building meets all the requirements in Section 768.0706(2)(a) before asking for a formal safety assessment. Invictus Security suggests doing a preliminary property assessment to make sure you follow the law, which includes checking if you have peepholes and 1-inch deadbolt locks. Our CPTED practitioners can also help you check the environment and lighting requirements.
If the preliminary assessment shows any problems, our consultants can help you decide if it’s worth spending money to fix them. They’ll do a cost-benefit analysis to figure out if the benefits of following the law and getting liability protection under HB 837 are worth the investment.
The second step is to get a documented assessment of your apartment building to comply with HB 837. This assessment needs to be done by a Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner and it must be documented.
If the preliminary assessment shows that everything is okay or if you’ve fixed any security risks, then you can move on to the next step.
Invictus Security can help you get a documented assessment by a Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner. They’ll do a thorough inspection of your apartment building, looking for general safety issues and specific things required by Section 768.0706(2).
Once the assessment is complete, we’ll give you a detailed report of what we found. This report will include a checklist to show that your apartment building meets all the requirements listed in Section 768.0706(2). We can also give you advice on how to keep following the rules to stay compliant with Section 768.0706(2)(b).
By following these steps, you can comply with HB 837 and protect your multifamily property investment. Contact Invictus Security today to schedule your preliminary property assessment and take the first step towards minimizing your liability.
Protect your multifamily property investment and comply with HB 837 by scheduling a CPTED assessment with Invictus Security today. Our comprehensive assessment services can help you identify vulnerabilities in your property’s physical design and provide practical solutions to improve safety and deter criminal activity.
By installing security camera systems at entry and exit points, providing adequate lighting in parking lots, walkways, and common areas, and ensuring all doors and windows have locking devices, you can substantially reduce the risk of crime and protect your tenants. Invictus Security’s team of trained professionals can conduct a CPTED assessment that meets the requirements of the law and provides valuable insight into ways to improve your property’s safety and security.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to schedule your assessment and take the first step towards mitigating liability and risks as per HB 837.
The 2023 Florida Tort Reform Act, commonly called HB-837, represents a legislative effort to reshape the state’s tort laws. Its overarching objective is to tackle issues related to the excessive awards of damages in specific instances and the escalating insurance expenses. One of the prominent modifications involves a substantial reduction in the Statute of Limitations for negligence lawsuits in Florida, effectively halving the time for plaintiffs to initiate legal action.
Before the enactment of HB-837, negligent security cases, which pertain to injuries caused by third-party wrongdoers, focused primarily on the victim and the property owner. However, the reform has introduced the possibility of conducting a comparative negligence analysis. This implies that responsibility and liability can now be shifted from a negligent property owner to an intentional wrongdoer. Consequently, property owners face diminished liability, raising concerns that this alteration could deter them from implementing sufficient security measures.
To address lawsuit abuse, Florida’s recently approved tort reform legislation (HB 837/SB 236) significantly alters the state’s legal system, particularly in the context of negligent security cases involving owners and operators of “multifamily residential property.”
Under HB 837, there is a presumption against holding the owner or operator of a multifamily residential property liable if they have substantially implemented specific security measures on the property, provided that the individual responsible for the criminal act is not an employee or the owner/operator.
A multifamily residential property is defined as a residential structure or collection of residential buildings, such as apartments, townhouses, or condominiums, comprising a minimum of five dwelling units within a specific parcel.
To qualify for the presumption against negligent security liability, owners or operators of multifamily residential properties must adhere to the requirements outlined in the statute.
On March 24, 2023, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed House Bill 837, titled “Civil Remedies,” into law. This legislation introduces extensive tort reform that is set to revolutionize the landscape of civil litigation in Florida. These reforms are applicable to causes of action that arise after the effective date, which is March 24, 2023.
The primary goal of Florida’s House Bill 837, also known as HB 837, is to diminish the liability exposure of apartment and multifamily housing property proprietors who have put in place particular crime prevention measures rooted in the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and possess an officially documented CPTED assessment. To meet the provisions outlined in Florida House Bill 837 and mitigate potential security and liability risks related to criminal activity, it is essential to ensure that your properties satisfy the state’s compliance requirements under the law.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 837 to reduce frivolous lawsuits and predatory practices by trial attorneys in Florida. The bill makes several significant changes, including modifying the bad faith framework, eliminating one-way attorney’s fees and fee multipliers, and protecting Floridians from liability when plaintiffs are more at fault. It also expands immunity for property owners in cases involving injuries caused by criminals on their property, establishes consistent standards for calculating medical damages, and reduces the statute of limitations for general negligence cases from four years to two years. The Governor proposed this legislation in February before the 2023 Legislative Session.
Black farmers in Florida are poised to gain advantages from a medical cannabis bill recently approved during the final days of the state legislature’s 2023 session. HB 837 offers an opportunity for previously overlooked farmers in an initial application process for the Pigford Black Farmer License. The term “Pigford” is associated with a series of class-action lawsuits filed by Black farmers, asserting that they were unjustly denied loans and various benefits by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
HB 837 offers property owners liability protection if someone is injured on their premises. Property owners must meet specific requirements to qualify for this protection, including implementing physical property safety measures such as security cameras and well-lit areas, conducting crime prevention analyses, and providing employee crime prevention training. By January 1, 2025, they must also have a recent crime prevention assessment and ensure employees receive proper crime deterrence training within 60 days of hire. This law aims to educate property owners on how to protect themselves from liability in negligence claims related to injuries on their property.
The effective date for Florida’s statute 768.0706 is March 24, 2023.
Florida defines “multifamily residential property” as residential structures or a combination of them, including apartments, townhouses, or condominiums, housing a minimum of five units within a specific parcel.
Measures include effective security cameras at entry and exit points, adequately lit parking spaces and common areas, installation of a minimum 1-inch deadbolt on every door, lock mechanisms on windows and certain doors, locked gates for pool areas, and a peephole or viewer on dwelling unit doors.
Security camera footage should be stored for at least 30 days.
Parking spaces should be lit with an average intensity of 1.8 foot-candles per square foot at a height of 18 inches from dusk till dawn.
Each dwelling unit door should have a minimum 1-inch deadbolt and feature a peephole or viewer, especially if it lacks or isn’t adjacent to a window.
Multifamily residential properties must have a CPTED assessment by January 1, 2025.
The CPTED assessment should be carried out by either law enforcement or a designated Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner from the Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute.
The CPTED assessment ensures multifamily properties are evaluated for safety and security measures. Continuous compliance with its recommendations is vital to ensure optimal safety standards.
Continuous compliance with CPTED assessment’s recommendations is paramount to ensure that multifamily properties maintain the highest safety and security standards, mitigating potential liabilities.
Invictus, a Certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, was founded by former United States Reconnaissance Marines who have carried military precision, focus, and discipline into the private sector.
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