Florida landlords have a right to evict tenants for certain legally justified reasons. For example, if the tenant doesn't to make their rent payment, stays after their lease agreement expires, or fails to uphold the terms of the lease or rental agreement.
However, it’s unlawful to attempt to evict your tenant for retaliatory or discriminatory reasons. Also, all forms of ‘self-help’ eviction tactics are illegal in the state of Florida. Examples include:
- Locking out the tenant
- Shutting down previously available amenities
- Removing the tenant’s belongings from the premises
In Florida, for a tenant eviction to be successful, a landlord must adhere to the Florida eviction laws. The following is an overview of the entire eviction process in Florida.
Notice of Lease Termination with Legal Cause
As already mentioned, a Florida landlord can evict a tenant for various reasons. Legal causes for tenant evictions include:
- Failure to make their rent payment
- Failure to move out after their lease term ends
- Failure to uphold the terms of the lease agreement. For example, illegal subletting or illegal rental property alterations.
- Failing to uphold their responsibilities under the state’s landlord-tenant law. For instance, failing to keep their rental unit in a certain standard of cleanliness.
Once there is a legal cause, the next step is to serve the tenant with the appropriate eviction notices under the Florida law.
Serving a Tenant with an Eviction Notice in Florida
Nonpayment of Rent
If your tenant fails to pay their rental dues and you want to evict them, you must serve them a 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. This will give your tenant three days to either pay all the due rent or move out. If the tenant doesn’t take either option, you can go ahead and file an eviction complaint or lawsuit on the fourth day.
Please note that the three days aren’t inclusive of weekends and holidays.
Violation of the Lease Agreement
If a tenant violates the rental agreement, it falls into two categories: curable violations and incurable violations.
Curable violations are minor offenses that you can allow your tenant to remedy first by sending out a notice. Examples include parking in an unauthorized area or having unauthorized pets or guests. For such violations, a landlord must serve the tenant with a seven day notice to Cure before proceeding to court.
Incurable violations are more serious offenses. A landlord doesn’t have to give their tenant notice to remedy them before asking them to vacate the property. Examples include excessive property damage or illegal activity at the rental unit. For such violations, a landlord must serve the tenant with a 7-Day Unconditional Quit Notice.
Holdover Tenants
These are tenants who refuse to vacate after their lease has expired. The amount of proper notice to serve them depends on how often they pay rent. For example, for tenants that pay rent weekly, a landlord must serve them a seven day notice to Quit before continuing with the eviction action.
Foreclosure of Rental Property
In this case, a landlord should serve the tenant with a 30-Day Notice to Quit. After the 30 days are over, the landlord can move to court and start filing for the tenant to vacate.
Tenant Eviction Defenses in Florida
Your tenant may have a legal defense in court to delay or dismiss the eviction. The following are common reasons a tenant contests an eviction lawsuit in Florida:
- Tenant proves you discriminated against them - Florida landlords have a responsibility of treating their tenants with respect and fairness regardless of their race, color, sex, familial status, nationality, or any other protected characteristic.
- You used self-help eviction methods - For example, by changing the locks on doors, removing their belongings, or shutting down essential services such as water and electricity. These methods are not only illegal but may also make you liable for paying the tenant for damages worth up to 3 months’ rent.
- You retaliated against the tenant - Some tenant rights include complaining to relevant government agencies for habitability issues and joining or forming a tenants’ union to advocate for their rights. You cannot retaliate against them if they exercise these rights.
- The landlord didn’t follow the proper Florida eviction process - While this might not stop an eviction, it may mean giving the Florida tenant more time to live in the property.
- There was no violation committed - When evicting a tenant for nonpayment of rent, your tenant may, for instance, show evidence that they paid rent on time. With out evidence of a lease violation the eviction cannot succeed.
- The landlord failed to maintain the rental adequately - As a landlord, you have a responsibility of ensuring your rental premises are up to code in regards to health and safety.
Removal of the Tenant
A landlord must never try to self-evict their tenant from the rental premises. It’s only the court who can give that permission. And even then, it’s only a person authorized by the court that can remove the tenant. Typically, this is the sheriff or constable.
If the tenant vacates and leaves their personal belongings and possession behind during the removal, there is a court procedure you must follow. Firstly, a landlord is required to notify the tenant of the abandoned property in writing using a notice. If the landlord delivers the written notice, they must give them at least 10 days to claim the property. However, if you mailed the written notice to the tenant’s last known address, then you must give them at least 15 days.
If the tenant doesn’t claim the belongings and possession within the stipulated time of the notice, landlords can then dispose of or sell them.
Bottom Line
As a landlord, it’s important to follow the proper eviction process in Florida. You must also adhere to other rental regulations such as state security deposit laws, lease termination regulations, and notice period rules.
Do you need help keeping track of your legal responsibilities? If you do, contact Sun-Pro Realty and Management. We are a team of reliable property managers in Daytona Beach and the surrounding areas.
Disclaimer: This blog isn’t a substitute for professional legal advice from a licensed attorney. Laws change frequently, and this post may not be updated at the time you read it. Get in touch with us if you have a question regarding this content or any other aspect of property management.
