Tampa Landlord Lawyer
Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes, along with the terms of the lease itself, govern just about every aspect of the relationship between landlord and tenant, including the termination of tenancies, liens for unpaid rent, a tenant’s right to withhold rent for a landlord’s failure to maintain or repair, causes for removal of tenants, and more. Tampa landlord lawyer Alicia Seward and her team at Seward Law Office represent landlords and tenants in lease disputes, lease drafting and review, evictions and more. Call our office to discuss your legal needs regarding a residential or commercial lease and the landlord-tenant relationship.
Landlord Rights and Duties
Tenants typically are entitled to a number of rights or warranties associated with the property they rent. For instance, tenants enjoy exclusive possession and control over the premises, subject to limited rights of the landlord to enter the property with due notice. Tenants can also reasonably expect the lease to include an implied covenant of quiet enjoyment of the premises, without disturbance from others who claim a right to use the property, for instance. A warranty of fitness is also implied in the average lease. For the residential tenant, this means a warranty that the premises are habitable, while a commercial tenant might require an express warranty that the property is suitable for a particular business purpose.
Landlords, for their part, can expect tenants to pay the agreed-upon rent on time and in full. Tenants can also be expected to comply with laws and city ordinances and not conduct illegal activity on the premises. Further, tenant activity should not unduly interfere with other tenants’ use and enjoyment of other properties in the building. Landlords also have the right to enter the premises with at least 12 hours’ notice for reasonable purposes, such as to inspect or make repairs, spray for bugs, or perhaps show the property to prospective tenants near the end of the lease term.
How Seward Law Office Can Help With Tampa Landlord Matters
Whether you are a landlord or tenant, self-help remedies tend to only get you into trouble. Don’t lockout a tenant who isn’t paying rent or abate rent to a landlord who isn’t making repairs without first discussing the matter with an experienced real estate attorney; you could be jeopardizing your rights under the lease. Also, if served with an eviction notice or other legal papers, act quickly. Ignoring legal actions can put you at risk of having a default judgment entered against you.
Seward Law Office is here to help with the full range of landlord-tenant matters in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Call on our legal team for help with any of the following:
- Prepare or review lease agreements, negotiate provisions to customize a lease to meet your needs, such as rent and escalations, security deposit, lease term, renewal, allowable uses of the property, payment of utilities, zoning assurances, lease termination, indemnification, and more.
- Handle matters requiring litigation to resolve, such as evictions, suits for damages, injunctions, actions to recover or keep a security deposit, lockout/constructive eviction, failure to obtain or submit a certificate of insurance, nuisance or drug-related activity on the premises.
Call Seward Law Office for Practical Advice & Swift Resolution of Tampa Landlord Matters
Whether you are a residential or commercial landlord, Seward Law Office is prepared to meet your legal needs with hands-on, personal attention from a skilled and experienced Tampa real landlord/tenant lawyer. Call 813-252-6789 for immediate assistance.
