Your Rights as a Tenant in Florida

Millions of people rent housing in Florida, and state law provides many protections for these tenants. The following are some important rights that tenants have in the Sunshine State.

Fair Housing

Landlords are prohibited from discriminating against applicants or tenants on the basis of:

• Race
• Sex
• Color
• National origin
• Family/marital status
• Religion
• Disability

You should never be denied housing based on the above factors, and landlords should not treat certain tenants unfairly or differently.

Habitable Housing

Tenants should expect their rented housing unit to be safe and habitable. Landlords should make necessary repairs in a timely manner, or tenants have the right to pay for the repairs and take the costs off their rent, or even withhold rent until repairs are completed.

No Self-Eviction

Landlords have the right to evict tenants who fail to pay rent or otherwise breach a lease agreement. However, landlords must go through the courts to obtain an eviction order first. Tenants are protected from “self-help evictions,” which include changing the locks, shutting off water or utilities, removing a door, and more.

Privacy Rights

Even though the landlord owns the property, they cannot enter your unit whenever they want. Landlords must provide notice of at least 12 hours before they enter the property for repairs or other reasons.

Security Deposits

Florida law dictates when a security deposit must be returned after the tenancy ends – 15 to 60 days, depending on the situation. Tenants can dispute when a landlord claims they needed to deduct security deposit funds for repairs.

Contact a Real Estate Lawyer in Seminole for Help Today

If you believe that your rights as a tenant were violated, a Seminole real estate attorney at the Law Office of Julia J. McKee, Esq. can help. Call 727.266.5783 or contact us online to discuss your rights and options as a tenant or landlord today.