As one of the largest U.S. states, Florida boasts more than 20 million residents – many of whom reside in rental housing. As a property investor, owning rental real estate investments can prove to be quite lucrative. It could, however, also end up costing rental property owners – sometimes quite substantially – if the housing laws, both national and state, are not properly followed. One of these rules is Florida’s Landlord Tenant Law.
According to the Florida Bar Association, it is the duty of a landlord to “provide a home that is safe and meets housing code requirements, and to make reasonable repairs when necessary.” In addition, “it is unlawful to increase a tenant’s rent or decrease services to a tenant in a discriminatory manner, or threaten to bring an action for possession or other civil action primarily in retaliation against the tenant.”
It is important to note that these, as well as the other stipulations of the Florida Landlord Tenant Law will apply, regardless of whether or not the lease agreement between the landlord and the tenant(s) is in writing. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of what is and is not considered to be acting within the law.
For more information on the rights and duties of both landlords and tenants, click here for the Florida Bar Association’s info on Florida’s Landlord Tenant Law.
Knowing and following both state and national housing rules is essential to keeping your properties, and yourself, in line with these regulations. Yet, while learning and understanding these laws may take some time, you don’t need to take on all of the duties of actually managing and maintaining your rental units.
In fact, these are tasks that are oftentimes best left to an experienced property manager so that you can spend your time tending to other important needs. For more details on how you can benefit by hiring a property management team in Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida locale, contact us today.