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The Fort Lauderdale law firm of Marc Brown, P.A. provides legal advice, services, and representation to landlords in south Florida. If you are a south Florida landlord with questions or concerns about the law, or if you need to initiate a legal action against a tenant, attorney Marc Brown can explain your rights, recommend the best course of action, and work aggressively on your behalf.
What does the law require of landlords in Florida? Landlords have a number of legal responsibilities, but they are not required by Florida law – or federal law – to rent to anyone or everyone. Potential tenants may be rejected on the basis of bad references from previous landlords, a bad credit history, or other factors that can make a potential tenant a bad risk. However, landlords must understand and adhere to the fair housing laws.
A failure to comply with fair housing laws could generate a costly discrimination lawsuit. When renting residential properties, landlords cannot discriminate against applicants based on their religion, gender, race, marital or parental status, national origin, or physical or mental disability – “categories” that are legally protected by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Florida law addresses a number of landlord-tenant-related issues. For example, tenants in this state have three days to pay rent beyond the due date before a landlord can file for eviction. Unless the lease or rental contract states otherwise, a landlord must provide fifteen days of notice before raising the rent amount.
Disputes between landlords and tenants regarding security deposits are common. Landlords must understand the laws governing security deposits, when a deposit must be returned, and when a landlord can hold all or part of a security deposit. Using an itemized checklist when a tenant moves in or moves out can help you avoid security deposit disputes.
When tenants behave recklessly and cause damage to the property they rent, the landlord has the right to legal assistance to resolve the matter. Fort Lauderdale landlord-tenant dispute attorney Marc Brown will work on your behalf. If private, out-of-court negotiations do not produce the remedy you need, attorney Marc Brown can help you take a tenant to court, and he will advocate before a judge on your behalf.
If you need to evict a tenant, the law firm of Marc Brown, P.A. can guide you through the process, ensure that you’re acting in compliance with the law, and defend you against any allegations or counter-claims made by your tenant.
Landlord-tenant law is exceedingly complicated in Florida, and tenants have extensive legal rights in this state. Only a lawyer who understands the complexities of landlord-tenant law can fight confidently and effectively on your behalf. Fort Lauderdale landlord-tenant dispute lawyer Marc Brown has more than a decade of experience successfully representing the rights and interests of landlords in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
To learn more, to initiate a legal action, or to defend yourself against a tenant’s legal action, contact the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Marc Brown, P.A. at 954-566-5678. Your first legal consultation with attorney Marc Brown is provided at no cost and without any obligation.