Landlord Protection In Florida: Fill & Download for Free

First, you need to figure out if the person is a tenant. This is very fact specific and varies by state.Second, you need to find out if there is there any eviction protection in place where you are right now as far as COVID. Check the state law. Federal law is not allowing evictions for properties with federal mortgages. If there is no eviction protection, you can provide the appropriate written notice to quit or cure, and then if they fail, go through the next steps to evict them.I see that the moratorium ended today in Florida. I don’t know if a new one will go in place. However, you may still be able to evict if you can show the person is not impacted by COVID. You will need to check the specifics of the order. Fla. Eviction Moratorium Only Protects COVID-Impacted RentersYou might want to check in with a landlord/tenant attorney. Messing up an eviction can be very expensive for the landlord.Florida Termination for Nonpayment of Rent and Other Rent Rules

Overview of Landlord-Tenant Laws in FloridaQuote from above link: “…restrictions on landlord’s right to access rental property (Florida landlords must provide 12 hours’ notice of entry)…”That’s the law, regardless of what the landlord or lease might say.I know how long leases can be, and even as a landlord my eyes would glaze over trying to read some of the clauses in a boiler-plate lease, but your best protection is to read the lease completely and understand what you’re getting yourself into.Not all landlords are money-grasping sleazebags. The ones who are, though, can be really bad. (my personal opinion of “those kind” is their dishonesty is usually because it’s the only way they can make any money due to their incompetence.)A tenant’s best protection is to arm his/herself with the knowledge of what is legal, and what the lease documents says.

I had a tenant and his wife living in my home in Florida for approximately 2 years. He was a sole proprietor of a handyman/home improvement business. It was just after 9/11 and he had fallen from a ladder at work and broken both his legs. As a result he had no income for the next 6 weeks minimum.In the interest of being kind and working with a good tenant, I allowed him to apply his security deposit to the 2 months rent and as the lease was up in January, I drafted a new lease and added $200 more per month to the rent for the following year so that he could replace his security deposit. I thought this was good way to allow him to convalesce and keep a roof over his head and I would still be protected in the event of damages, etc.He accused me of “increasing his rent” unfairly and assured me that he’d pay back at the security deposit when he had extra money but wasn’t willing pay it back in regular installments. He certainly wasn't willing pay it back as part of his monthly rent! I refused to enter into such an open ended agreement and told him that he’d have to sign this lease or find somewhere else to live. Apparently, he had no trouble coming up with first and last and security deposit for a new place and finding the money to move! I guess it was easier to save up for a new place when he could just stiff me out of another month’s rent and just disappear!I couldn't have reduced his rent as it just covered the monthly mortgage payment and no more. Technically, I did reduce his rent in not charging him for November and December and allowing him to convalesce from his injuries. I regretted it.