Landlord and Tenant
Clearwater Landlord and Tenant Attorneys
Florida law governing the relationship between landlords and tenants endeavors to place both the landlord and the tenant on equal footing. Sometimes landlords overstep by failing to maintain the rented premises or by improperly asserting their rights through self help such as changing locks or shutting off utilities. On the other side, tenants stop paying rent, violate lease agreements, and may need to be evicted. A consultation with an experienced attorney can make sure that both the landlord and tenant are acting in compliance with Florida law. Violating Florida law may result in significant liability for a landlord, and tenants can forfeit important rights if they are not diligent in complying with the applicable statutes. Failure to comply with the requirements of Florida law will delay either party from obtaining the desired results. Call us today for your free 30 minute consultation to determine what rights you may have, and what your next steps should be.
What are my rights as a tenant in Florida?
If a landlord is not acting in compliance with the lease or the Florida Statutes, a tenant may be able to withhold rent or terminate the lease. The proper steps must be taken in order for a tenant to take action and be protected in the event of an action by the landlord against the tenant. Correct notice to a landlord of a violation is required, and there are specific time periods that allow a landlord to fix any issues. The conditions allowing a tenant to give this notice, the form of the notice, and the method notice is delivered to the landlord all have an important effect on your rights as a tenant.
Florida Statutes prohibit landlords from changing locks, interrupting utility services, and other forms of self help without a court order. If your landlord has committed these acts in your situation, you may be entitled to damages against your landlord. A consultation with one of our attorneys will allow for you to find out if you have any claims against your landlord.
If you think your landlord has either violated your lease or the Florida Statutes, please schedule a free 30-minute consultation with our attorneys. We can help ensure your landlord is not taking advantage of you and we will make sure that you are able to assert any available rights against the landlord. This may include requiring the landlord to make certain repairs to the property or terminating the lease, if the situation allows for it.
If you’ve been served a 3 day notice to vacate or pay rent you must act immediately to preserve your rights!
Call us today for your free 30 minute consultation to determine what rights you may have, and what your next steps should be.
What are my rights in Florida as a landlord?
If you own property that you would like to lease, we can draft a lease for you that will meet your specific needs. A form lease doesn’t work for every situation. We have seen one page leases that worked fine, and 30 page leases that failed to meet the statutory minimum or have failed to grant the landlord certain rights allowed under Florida law. A lease that is properly drafted by an attorney can help make sure your relationship with your tenants will go smoothly from move-in to move-out.
Even the best lease can’t ensure that a bad tenant won’t move in at some point. A well drafted lease combined with the proper steps taken once the tenant breaches the lease, can quickly remedy the situation. Proper eviction procedure is critical and only an experienced attorney can make sure that you are taking the necessary steps to complete the eviction lawfully and efficiently.
If you already have a tenant who is violating the lease, who is not paying rent, or if you would like to discuss any other issues with your rental property, please contact us for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how our attorneys can assist you.
Contact us today to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.
If you think that you have been wronged as a tenant or if you are in a dispute with your landlord, our attorneys may be able to help. If you are a landlord, and you need assistance with a lease or with a dispute with a tenant, our attorneys may also be able to assist you. Contact us today to schedule a free 30 minute consultation. During the consultation, one of our attorneys will review the issue with you and may be able to provide a course of action to protect your rights under Florida law.