Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent - Landlord Forum thread

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Judy (FL) on December 28, 2011 @11:38

You cannot legally withhold rent for the type of repairs you want done. You can only withhold rent for things such as non-working water, no heat in winter, etc. Things that make your place uninhabitable means that you can no longer live there and you have to stay somewhere else until the repairs on done. Uninhabitable does not mean that you don't like the conditions that you are living in, but can easily still live there such as your case. If bugs are let in when windows and doors are open because of a rip int the screen, then keep the door and windows shut! Honestly if you aren't happy with where you are, then move! There is no reason that you can't stop the toliet from running and it is ridiculous to claim you can't do this because you are a single women that works a lot.

If you were to try to withhold rent, I would very quickly evict you, ruin your credit, make it hard for you to find a new place to rent, and make you pay for the cost of eviction.

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Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Sara (Fl) on December 28, 2011 @13:40	[ Reply ]

Florida law prohibits the landlord from trying to evict when tenant notifies landlord of maintenance problems. The penalty awarded the tenant is three months rent, court cost and attorney fees. If you are a landlord who thinks otherwise, you might want to learn your State Laws as to being a landlord.

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Anonymous on December 28, 2011 @13:55	[ Reply ]

The tenant can withhold rent, that's what Florida Law provides the tenant to do when Landlords fail to maintain their property. The things the tenant require to be repaired are violations of State Building and Housing Codes which the landlord must follow by law. You should learn your landlord tenant state laws before you give bad advice. Laws where enacted to force landlords like you into compliance.

Re: Maintenance/Withholding Rent by Carla (Flordia) on December 28, 2011 @21:57	[ Reply ]

"If you were to try to withhold rent, I would very quickly evict you, ruin your credit, make it hard for you to find a new place to rent, and make you pay for the cost of eviction."The truth is, the judge would rule in favor of the tenant because you violated Florida Law. You would wind up paying the tenants lawyer, court cost and damages. Everyone in court will know how bad a landlord you are. Lawyers will spread the word about you, Code Enforcement will get wind and come out to find violations at your rental. Your neighbors will hear about you also! Soon you will not have a tenant because everyone knows or tells not to rent from you!