Homeowners and condominium associations are filing more property liens across the country, with Florida leading the nation in 2025, according to an analysis by real estate technology company Benutech Inc. The state accounted for nearly one in six HOA-related liens filed nationally last year, amid a large and growing condo market.
Key takeaways
- Florida recorded the highest number of liens filed by homeowners and condominium associations in 2025.
- Nearly one in six such liens filed nationwide last year was recorded in Florida.
- Benutech’s data tracks lien activity in Florida, Texas and California from 2015 through 2025.
- Florida’s concentration of high-rise condominiums may help explain its leading position.
The figures point to a broader national increase in property-related enforcement by community associations. Liens are typically used to secure unpaid assessments or other charges allowed under governing documents and state law, giving an association a legal claim against a property.
Why Florida stands out
Florida’s extensive condominium infrastructure is a major factor in the state’s totals. The state has large numbers of high-rise and coastal condominium communities, where associations collect assessments for maintenance, insurance, repairs and shared services. Those financial obligations can create more opportunities for disputes or delinquent accounts to become lien filings.
The analysis includes both traditional homeowners associations and condominium owner associations. As a result, the totals reflect enforcement activity across suburban communities as well as large, multifamily developments.
A decade of tracked activity
Benutech’s comparison charts examine lien filings in Florida, Texas and California over the 11-year period from 2015 through 2025. The data provides a longer view of how association enforcement has changed, rather than focusing only on a single year.
The company also identified the 15 Florida counties with the most lien filings in 2024 and 2025. The county-level comparison illustrates that the state’s activity is not limited to one local housing market, although the supplied report does not detail the individual county rankings.
What a lien can mean for owners
A lien can complicate a homeowner’s ability to sell or refinance a property and may add legal and administrative costs to an unpaid balance. The filing itself does not necessarily mean a property has been foreclosed on, but it signals that an association is seeking to protect its claim against the home.
Rules governing notices, payment disputes, collections and potential foreclosure vary by state and by the type of community. Owners facing a lien generally need to review the association’s documentation and applicable law promptly, particularly when the amount owed or the filing’s accuracy is disputed.
Broader implications for community associations
The rise in filings highlights the financial pressures facing both residents and the associations responsible for maintaining shared property. For associations, liens can be an important collection tool. For owners, the trend underscores the consequences that may follow unpaid assessments and the importance of understanding community payment obligations before they escalate.
- HOA liens are on the rise and Florida is leading the pack, Daytona Beach News-Journal.
- HOA liens are on the rise and Florida is leading the pack, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- HOA liens are on the rise and Florida is leading the pack, The Florida Times-Union.