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Posts Tagged ‘Landlord Tenant Laws’

Tenants Insurance and Other Important Tips for Tenants

Monday, 21 November 2011 12:09 Written by SWFLRN 0 Comments
Tenants Insurance and Other Important Tips for Tenants

There are many things to consider when renting property, one of which is tenants insurance. Renters nowadays cannot be as complacent and blasé about renting as they used to be.  For example, tenants now take it upon themselves to research on the background of the landlord and agency. This information separates the real professionals from the less appealing who tend to cut corners and do “cowboy” deals totally disregarding your general safety specifically, during times of emergencies. Even when you view the property, ask questions about the landlord’s background and portfolio or if working with an agency, ask how long has the company been around and if they can show you any of their past client testimonials. The longer they have been operating the more they have acquired expertise in their field, which will show in the type of deal you will get.

Tenants Insurance and Other Important Tips for TenantsAt the onset, be sure that as a tenant you understand all the fees that you are required to pay. Never accept things blindly and then find yourself complaining in the end. It is important to know how much, why you are paying these charges, and get an explanation of the charges so you can research the validity of the charges if need be. If you have doubts, it is best to talk it out with the landlord, the agency or even seek advice from a legal advisor to help answer any questions you may still have.

Most real estate landlords require tenants insurance for the tenant’s belongings so they are not held liable if anything were to happen to their personal property. One of the advantages of getting this kind of insurance is to be able to practice accountability when it comes to your belongings in a rented property. Having this kind of insurance forces you to keep an inventory of all your things even in ordinary circumstances even if its primary purpose is for damage protection during emergencies. It is indeed better to be on the safe side when it comes to being a tenant thus this kind of precaution is necessary.

Aside from having insurance, make sure that the tenancy agreement for renting properties is in order and signed by both parties. This document is a very important piece of paper because it states the period of tenancy, the rights of both landlord and tenant to the property, the rundown of rental fees and charges and of course the tenants insurance and its coverage.

Lastly, when it comes to placing a security deposit which most landlord’s require, make sure you have a copy of the name and address as well as the telephone number of the bank in which your security deposit is being held. This security deposit is a hold that is kept by the landlord in case there are any damages to their property that need to be fixed that were caused by you, the tenant before you leave the residence. If there are no repairs or damages, the security deposit is yours and many times there will have been some interest accrued during the duration of the time that the security deposit sat in the bank, of which you are entitled to that money as well. Make sure you get a monthly statement from the bank sent to you, ideally, the landlord usually places the account in their name with your name as the secondary account holder and has the statements mailed directly to you. Some landlords handle this process differently, but the main thing to remember is that security deposit is not theirs to keep and if you were an upstanding tenant and do not owe any back rent there should be no reason why you don’t get that money back when your lease term is up and you are not renewing the lease.

Florida Tenants: Rights You Should Know Before Renting

Thursday, 27 October 2011 12:07 Written by SWFLRN 0 Comments
Florida Tenants: Rights You Should Know Before Renting

Florida Tenants: Rights You Should Know Before RentingMost renters know there are specific laws and guidelines regarding leases and the relationship with their landlord. The problem is most only bother to find out exactly what Florida tenants rights they have when they encounter a problem. Knowing your exact privileges and responsibilities, as well as those of your landlord, whether you are looking to rent an apartment, house or condominium,  before you  sign that lease is vital in ensuring that you avoid unnecessary trouble in the future. Using a knowledgeable, licensed real estate brokerage firm to help you with your search is always advised for they will have the most updated information on available rentals in the area you are searching in, but in case you want to try it out on your own first, we have complied a list of “to do’s” to aid you in your search.

Here are some guidelines you should heed when you’re out looking for a rental:

  • The best way to begin is to review Florida tenants rights by conducting an online search so you have a clear understanding of your obligations and rights. Check the local municipality website in the town you are interested in or visit http://www.hud.gov
  • When you’ve found an apartment that you like but would still want to look around for other possible choices, make sure that you’re careful with the deposit to reserve the property. Though you may get a verbal promise from the landlord that your deposit will be returned, get it in writing to protect yourself.
  • Be aware that Florida law doesn’t require the lease to be written out by the landlord. Even so, it’s best that you ask for a written document that contains all the terms of the lease, since if you only rely on verbal agreement, you’ll soon come to misunderstandings later when the details of the lease aren’t clearly stated.
  • The span of the rental payment defines the duration of the lease agreement if it’s not otherwise set in the written lease.
  • Once you get a copy of the written lease, make sure to understand every item in it, as it is a binding document that you will have to adhere to for its duration. If you are unsure of what something means, ask your landlord or consult an attorney.
  • Always do a thorough walkthrough in the property before you sign the lease. You need to spot all the problems, defects and other issues that the apartment has. While the landlord may promise you that repairs will be done once you rent the place, make sure that it is written down and included in the lease agreement.
  • During this walkthrough of the property, note down all the status of any damaged areas and fixtures and snap pictures if you can. You and the landlord should be both aware of your findings so you are shielded from damage disputes later.

There are many Florida tenants rights that you should be aware of to avoid difficulties with your landlord in the future. By being responsible enough to know these rights up front, you can ensure that you’re well-informed for any possible future disputes.