fbpx
Realtors Register for a Free Virtual Masterclass

When Can Tenants Withhold Rent?

Find out what justifies rent withholding in Florida if your rental unit has serious defects.

Florida tenants are legally entitled to rental property that meets basic structural, health, and safety standards and is in good repair. If a landlord fails to take care of important maintenance, such as a leaky roof or a broken heater, you have several important legal rights, including the right to withhold rent until repairs are made.

What Justifies Tenants Paying Less Rent in Florida

Before you can withhold rent, make sure that the circumstances justify you paying less rent and that you comply with state legal requirements on things like notice you must provide your landlord. Check Florida state law (see resources below) on the following:

  • the type of repair and habitability problems that qualify for rent withholding
  • the type of notice you must give the landlord and the amount of time the landlord has to fix the problem before you can withhold rent
  • the limit on how much rent you may withhold and how often you can use a particular remedy
  • any other conditions that apply before you can withhold rent, such as a requirement that you pay rent into an escrow account.

Florida Guide to Tenant Rights

For an overview of Florida landlord-tenant law, including your rights to habitability, see the Florida Bar and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services resources on consumer protection.

Florida State and Local Law on Rent Withholding

For state law on rent withholding, see Fla. Stat. Ann. § 83.60.

See the Laws and Legal Research section of Nolo for advice on finding and reading statutes and court decisions.

Also, check your local housing ordinances for any city or county rules that cover tenant rights when it comes to repairs. Contact your local building or housing authority. To find yours, call your mayor or city manager’s office or check your city or county website.

Do you have a tenant who’s not paying rent, or a landlord who’s not fixing the property? Call/text  561-838-9595 or email info@jamesnbrownpa.com and find out your rights.

 

Source: NOLO.com

Share:

More Posts

Sitzer Burnett vs NAR, The Case That Changed Nothing, Will Change Everything!

Welcome back to another edition of the Real Estate Weekend Digest, where we wrap up the week on all things trending in real estate.

This week, we’re doing something a little different. Our attorney, Jim Brown, will provide a summary and share his opinion on the most impactful lawsuit in real estate history. This edition is a bit longer than our previous digests. However, please bear with us because you’re going to discover information that you won’t find anywhere else. Jim is particularly passionate about this topic.

Read More »

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.