Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Fort Myers

Find the right Tenant attorney in Fort Myers, FL

Tenant Law in Florida

The relationship between a landlord and tenant in Fort Myers, Florida can occasionally be a touchy one. Landlords and tenants are not always clear on their respective rights and obligations.

There are various rights and responsibilities that landlords and tenants have. It's important that each party is aware of their rights, and the rights of the other party. By knowing and respecting these rights, the risk of conflict should be reduced dramatically.

Landlord's Rights in Fort Myers, FL

Landlords are, of course, entitled to collect rent from their tenants. If a tenant fails to pay the agreed-upon rent, the landlord is usually able to evict the tenant without too much trouble, though the process can sometimes get fairly complicated.

Landlords also have a right to be paid for damage to the building that a tenant causes, either intentionally or negligently. All damage caused by a tenant, besides reasonable wear and tear, can be billed, and the landlord can deduct from the tenant's security deposit to pay for repairs.

Tenant's Rights in Fort Myers, FL

The most basic right of a tenant is the right to a living space that's fit for human habitation. This is, after all, what they're paying the landlord to present. Landlords in Fort Myers, Florida are under a legal duty to make sure that their apartments are habitable. There are various factors that are considered in deciding if an unit is habitable or not, but, generally, an unit will not be deemed habitable if it lacks any of the following: running water, electricity, heat, and protection from the elements (such as proper insulation, and windows that close).

Tenants also have a right to ensure that the common areas of their apartment building are reasonably safe. Landlords are required to make sure that the common areas of their buildings meet Fort Myers, Florida's building codes, and that there are no conditions that create unnecessary safety hazards. They are obligated to make, at their own expense, the required repairs.

Tenants also have rights, under federal and Florida law, to not be victims of racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination in housing, whether they are renting or buying. Additionally, landlords are not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on physical disabilities. They must also allow physically-disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible. Nonetheless, the landlord can require tenants to remove those modifications and restore the property to its original condition once the tenant moves out.

Lastly, tenants are legally protected from arbitrary eviction. Landlords typically must have a very good reason to evict a tenant before the lease agreement reaches the end of its term (at this point, they are of course allowed to decline to renew the lease). Of course, if the tenant breaches the lease agreement (such as by failing to pay rent, damaging the property, or violating other reasonable rules the landlord has put in the lease), the landlord, like a party to any other contract, is free to terminate the agreement and evict the breaching tenant.

Can a Fort Myers, Florida Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, chances are that you want to prevent conflict. But if you do end up in a seemingly irresolvable conflict with the other party, a Fort Myers, Florida attorney can help you protect your rights.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Fort Myers

Fort Myers is one of the two cities that makes up the Cape Coral-Fort Myers Metropolitan Area in Florida. Fort Myers is home to about 618,754 people. It is known for being a "gateway" into Southwest Florida, an area comprised of the cities tourists mostly visit.

Some popular attractions in Fort Myers includes the Art of the Olympians, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Murphy-Burroughs House, Edison Mall, and the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. Fort Myers is also home to the training facility for the Red Sox!

Fort Myers is filled with many small law offices and firms specializing in all areas of law, and ready to serve the community. The legal force in Fort Myers is quiet capable of handling the legal needs of residents.

All in all, Fort Myers is a quaint city in Florida. It may not have the stretch of beaches that Florida is known for, but it definitely is a city with some small town charm!

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