When it comes to real estate in Florida, a large portion of available housing consists of rental properties. Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, you likely want to know what your rights are in case of a bad situation.
The state protects Landlord and tenant rights by law, so it is wise to understand them should you ever need to evict a problem tenant or get a landlord to help you with a repair.
Tenant rights
If you are a tenant, you have the right to a safe, habitable dwelling. This means that whether you rent an apartment, house, trailer or condo, it should have running water, structural stability, working door and window locks, and no infestations of pests. A tenant may not face discrimination based on race, sex or religion. In addition, a landlord must provide a tenant with advanced written notice to terminate a tenancy.
Landlord rights
As a landlord, you have the right to obtain rental payments regularly and on time. In exchange for allowing a tenant to live in your property, you also have the right to have that property protected from damage. In addition, landlords have the right to evict tenants based on breaking the law, failing to pay rent or violating a lease agreement.
There are times when issues arise between tenants and landlords. Knowing your rights may prevent some of these problems or may help solve them since state and federal laws are in place to protect the interests of both parties.