Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Melbourne

Find the right Tenant attorney in Melbourne, FL

Tenant Law in Florida

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

Landlords and tenants have to navigate a web of legal rights and commitments. It's essential that the parties to a landlord/tenant relationship know what obligations they have to one another.

Landlord's Rights in Melbourne, FL

The most important and most discernible right that a landlord has is the right to timely payment of rent from the tenant. This, of course, means that the tenant has a duty to pay rent.

Furthermore, landlords can bill the tenant for any damage they cause to the unit, whether it was intentional or negligent. The costs of repairs for such damage can be deducted from a tenant's security deposit, but it should be noted that tenants aren't liable for ordinary wear and tear, over which they have little control.

Tenant's Rights in Melbourne, FL

Most essentially, tenants have a right to get what they're paying for: a dwelling fit for human habitation. To this end, landlords have to confirm that the units they rent meet Melbourne, Florida's minimum standards for habitability. These requirements are usuallyy not difficult to meet. They include basic amenities such as running water, electricity, a working phone line, heating, and protection from the elements.

Furthermore, tenants have rights to common areas that are free of physical obstructions, as well as serious health and safety hazards. Common areas are the places in apartment buildings and other residential complexes which every tenant can access, and include hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes. In Melbourne, Florida, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

In the United States, and most likely under the laws of Florida, it is unlawful for renters or sellers of real estate to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, or religion. Doing so can subject a landlord to harsh civil penalties. Also, they cannot discriminate based on physical disabilities, either. Tenants with physical disabilities, who are otherwise qualified to rent an apartment (they are able to pay, have good credit, etc.) are entitled to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible to them, and the landlord generally can't bar a tenant from doing this, as long as the modifications are not too extensive, and are reversible. The landlord can, however, require the tenant to remove the modifications, at the tenant's expense, when they move out.

And lastly, most state laws prevent landlords from arbitrarily evicting tenants. If the lease agreement is for a set period of time, the landlord generally can't evict the tenant until the lease expires, without a good reason. Valid causes for eviction include unpaid rent, illegal activities on the property, damage to the building caused by the tenant, and excessive noise.

Can a Melbourne, Florida Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants generally want to avoid conflict with one another. Nonetheless, conflicts are sometimes unavoidable. If you end up in a major dispute with a landlord or a tenant, a reputable Melbourne, Florida landlord/tenant attorney can help.

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Life in Melbourne

When people think of Melbourne, they think Australia. However, the state of Florida also has a city named Melbourne. Melbourne was named in honor of its first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector. Hector had spent a majority of his life in Melbourne, Australia. Hence, the name Melbourne arose!

Popular employers in the city include DRS Technologies, General Electric, Harris Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins and Embraer. Many of these companies are in the defense field. Therefore, much of Melbourne's workforce labors towards providing our country with top-notch defense.

Some popular attractions in Melbourne include the Foosaner Art Museum, the Historic Rossetter House Museum, Brevard Zoo, Wickham Park, and the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum.

Melbourne is filled with many small law offices, where attorneys work hard to provide excellent legal services and personalized attention!

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