Sunset Harbour South Condo — Local services in Miami Beach

We owned a condo in SHS from 2021 to 2024.

SHS is in a great neighborhood and is generally well managed. However, the rules (strictly enforced by some staff members) are a bit ridiculous. The building staff is trained to follow a black-and-white rulebook even when situations are nuanced.

For example, you’re not allowed to paint a wall in your own home on a weekend. The staff sent home a a painter we hired on a Sunday, putting the painter in the same category as a construction worker that would cause noise/disruption. As parents who both work full time, it’s very inconvenient to schedule all tasks for weekdays.

You’re also not allowed to throw away large objects in the building even though it’s not clear what’s considered ‘large.’ We see large objects in the garage all the time, and yet we got yelled at when we threw out an even smaller object.

We also have a nanny who comes in every day, pays for valet every day, and she’s not allowed to use the empty gym for 15 minutes. If liability is a concern, they could simply have her sign a waiver.

Putting aside the nature of these rules, most of these rules have been a surprise — they were not clearly presented to us upon moving in. So basically, we’re just always getting yelled at/told ‘no’ like children.

Separately, communication lacks around basic building updates. The pool’s been closed for a year now, and no one knows when it’s coming back. We understand that the legal situation prevented all info from being released, but we feel the communication has overall been handled poorly.

Lastly, the fire alarms have gone off in error fairly regularly. As a mom with a baby, who also works from home, this is intolerable. (The frequency of false alarms seems to have gotten better in recent months — hopefully the improvements are permanent).

Considering the building’s egregious HOA fees, we feel that owners deserve a better experience. I implore the SHS management team to: Rethink its policies and become more customer centric. Rules can have some wiggle room based on logic and common sense. Improve communication around the timelines for building updates, like the pool and fire alarm. Once rules are evolved, communicate to everyone what they are (perhaps via a shared Google Doc link that’s easy to access), especially new owners/renters. Ensure that all staff members follow them, not just some.

Leaving this review as 4 stars, because we have overall been happy in the building and have felt safe, which is of course most important. I know the right changes are imminent as long as owners continue...

Had an Amazing learning experience today, everyone contributed with useful information that will come in handy in a near future. Thank you Sunset Harbour...

Beautiful place, I'm so glad my friend lives here. The view is spectacular. Really a perfect place to live in...