Storage unit issue with condo president

[andromeda25]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

Hello Everyone! I have an issue with my condo, recently the board President approached me about my storage unit in the building, She wants my storage unit to build a paddle board storage area instead. In Exchange she is offering me a smaller unit. I do not want a smaller unit. aside from that she has been Harassing me with phone calls everyday at least twice a day. Finally she left a message that frankly worries me because it sounded as a thread to me. What can I do in this instance?

 

[justalayman]

Are you an owner? Is the storage unit deeded, rented, ???

Is the specific unit or the size of the unit listed in any contract?


Have you told her to quit calling you twice a day?

what did she say that you perceived as a threat?

 

[andromeda25]

Thank you so much for responding. I am an owner in the condominium and I have rented the storage unit for at least 10 years. Unfortunately the size is not listed in any contract, the way it works in my building is first come, first served as there is far less storage units than apartments in the building, therefor you need to be on a wait list to acquire one if you are a new owner.
I felt threatened because Last night she left me a message saying that if I did not answer her by 9.m. she will assume that I do not want to agree to her offer and she will take it from there,I assume she means she will deprive me from the storage unit.They've already done so to another owner. they went in his storage unit and split it in half without notice.
I would like to add to this that I have sensitive personal information in my storage such as documents with employees information and that represents a huge problem to me if they decide to take action without announcing it.

 

[Zigner]

If you feel the storage is not secure, then I would suggest that you remove any sensitive information from it.

 

[justalayman]

Unless you have a contract/lease that would commit you to the that specific storage unit and that specific storage unit to you for some defined period of time, you have no right to demand the continued use of the storage unit any longer than the owner allows. The use of the unit can be terminated as either your contract states or at the end of any given rental period. If it is monthly, then they can simply refuse to renew the monthly contract.

Her communication is not a threat, or at least a threat that is illegal.

The only possibility I can see that would allow you to refuse to vacate the space would be something within your condo rules. That is something you would have to research as they are specific to each association.

 

[LdiJ]

Unless you have a contract/lease that would commit you to the that specific storage unit and that specific storage unit to you for some defined period of time, you have no right to demand the continued use of the storage unit any longer than the owner allows. The use of the unit can be terminated as either your contract states or at the end of any given rental period. If it is monthly, then they can simply refuse to renew the monthly contract.

Her communication is not a threat, or at least a threat that is illegal.

The only possibility I can see that would allow you to refuse to vacate the space would be something within your condo rules. That is something you would have to research as they are specific to each association.

My thought process is that if the OP could not refuse to relinquish the storage space (for at least some period of time) that the management would have simply taken it already. That management would simply have notified the OP that the unit was no longer available and that the OP had to remove his/her belongings by a specific date.

 

[justalayman]

if the OP has paid for the current month, quarter, year, or whatever, there would be a contract lasting that length of time. COA pres couldn't simply toss OP's property out without breaching the contract./ I wonder if pres isn't simply trying to bully OP into relinquishing the unit earlier than pres can actually take possession. If pres gave a non-renewal notice, it would tip their hand.

 

[LdiJ]

if the OP has paid for the current month, quarter, year, or whatever, there would be a contract lasting that length of time. COA pres couldn't simply toss OP's property out without breaching the contract./ I wonder if pres isn't simply trying to bully OP into relinquishing the unit earlier than pres can actually take possession. If pres gave a non-renewal notice, it would tip their hand.

There is another potential issue as well. Does the homeowner's association even have the right to the rentals of the storage units? While condo associations have fairly broad powers, if the association doesn't actually own the storage units and therefore is not entitled to the rents (if there are even rents) then its even more bullying.