All Florida landlords should read and understand the state’s landlord-tenant laws found in Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes. A part of the law that contains pitfalls and has historically caused problems for investors is 83.49. This subsection covers tenant security deposits and the rules governing how landlords may hold and refund deposits following the […]
Communities, gated or otherwise, and condos are a great place to live. Your lawn is taken care of for you. Some places even have community centers, complete with pools for use by homeowners and organized activities such as games or Zumba. But there is a catch to these types of living spaces. Before you sign […]
Since the legalization of marijuana, many landlords are finding it hard to find a clear delineation on whether or not they can let their tenants know that their buildings and apartments are smoke free zones, including marijuana. However, many of the rules and laws regarding the renting of properties have not been changed to include […]
A landlord has a lot of responsibility, including providing a safe and secure place for his tenants to live. In addition, however, he has a financial responsibility to his tenants. For example, if a security deposit is not being returned, there has to be ample evidence for keeping that deposit in order to avoid the […]
Florida backs up renters by giving them the opportunity to sue their landlord if they are not being treated right. Now this does not mean that you can sue your landlord because you are unhappy with the amount of rent that he is charging or the color of the furniture he put in the apartment […]
No matter how hard TV shows try, they are just not the reality they portray. Prime example is law related shows. First you have the crime or the incident and then you are in trial, the most exciting part. But what happens in the middle can be the deciding factor whether your case survives, settles, or […]
I have been approached lately with the issue of oral modifications made outside the main written lease/rental agreement and what impact they have on the lease/rental agreement. Are they valid? Are they enforceable? If the landlord doesn’t live up to his end of the oral modification, do I have any recourse? What do I do? […]
Construction Liens, Landlords, and Tenants
A landlord can be liable for a construction lien (or mechanics’ liens) if the landlord fails to take proper precautions or fails to timely respond to a contractor or other lienor. An “owner” must sign the notice of commencement for construction or improvements to begin on a premises.

