Owning a piece of real estate is one of life’s greatest achievements for most people. If you are a landlord, you ideally hope for a tenant who will pay their rent on time, avoid trouble with neighbors and respect the terms of the lease agreement. But the world is far from ideal.
At some point, you might find yourself grappling with the daunting task of kicking out a tenant before the expiry of the tenancy contract. And as you can imagine, this can be a legal tightrope to walk. So, when can you legally evict a tenant from your property?
Here are two instances when you can legally evict a tenant in Florida.
When they fail to pay rent
As a landlord, you have a duty to make the rental unit habitable per Florida laws. The tenant, on the other hand, has a duty to adhere to the terms of the lease contract – and this includes paying rent on time, each time. Of course, it is not uncommon for a tenant to delay rent payment by a day or two. However, if a tenant habitually falls behind in rent payments, you might want to have a serious talk with them regarding the matter. For a start, you may want to send them a “late notice” to remind them about their obligation. If they fail to act upon receiving this notice, you may need to begin the eviction process.
When they damage the property
Any occupied property is bound to go through normal wear and tear. However, if a tenant deliberately causes substantial damage to property, like knocking out walls or making unauthorized adjustments to the property, you need to act.
Of course, accidents happen and a one-off incident can be overlooked, especially when the tenant is willing to pay for the damage. However, tenant actions that are likely to devalue your property may justify an eviction.
Protecting your interests
Learning more about Florida real estate laws can help you protect your rights and interests when evicting a tenant in the Sunshine State.
