Does Renters Insurance Cover Personal Injury and Liability?

Edward Reyes, Esq / March 17, 2025

Renters insurance is a crucial financial tool for those who rent their homes. It provides a safety net for personal property and offers essential liability coverage. Understanding how renters insurance works can help you make informed decisions about your coverage needs and protect you against unforeseen incidents. Understanding Renters Insurance What is Renters Insurance? Renters insurance is a type of insurance that offers protection for your personal belongings and provides liability coverage. This insurance is designed for tenants, protecting personal property against theft, fire, or even water damage. Additionally, renters insurance policies may cover personal liability, which protects you if someone is injured in your rented space. Why You Need Renters Insurance Having renters insurance is essential for safeguarding your personal property. Many renters underestimate the value of their belongings, which can be significant in the event of a loss. Moreover, liability coverage is vital as it can protect you against lawsuits resulting from accidents, ensuring that you are financially secure should you need to file a claim for legal fees or damages. How Much Renters Insurance Do You Need? Determining how much renters insurance you need involves assessing the total value of your personal property and considering your liability exposure. Standard renters insurance typically comes in various coverage amounts, allowing you to choose a policy that suits your financial situation. It’s essential to evaluate your belongings and lifestyle to ensure you have adequate protection in place. Coverage Details of Renters Insurance What Does Renters Insurance Cover? Renters insurance covers various aspects, including protection for personal property, liability coverage, and additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. Most renter’s policies will cover damage from fire, theft, and unavoidable water damage. However, it’s crucial to understand what renters insurance may not cover, such as flood insurance or specific natural disasters. Renters’ Insurance Cover Personal Injury One of the key aspects of renters insurance is its ability to cover personal injury claims. If someone gets injured in your rental property, your renter’s insurance may cover their medical costs and legal fees if a lawsuit arises. This personal liability coverage protects your financial interests and ensures you are not held responsible for unforeseen accidents. Liability Coverage Explained Liability coverage in renters insurance protects you against financial loss due to bodily injury or property damage claims. If someone sues you, this coverage can help pay for legal fees and settlements. Understanding how liability insurance works is crucial, as it can save you from substantial financial burdens in an accident or injury on your property. Personal Liability Coverage in Renters Insurance What is Personal Liability Coverage? Personal liability coverage is a vital component of renters insurance that protects you from financial loss if someone is injured on your rented property or if you accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property. This coverage ensures that you are not left with overwhelming legal fees and costs associated with a lawsuit. In essence, personal liability insurance for renters can cover medical expenses for injuries sustained on your premises. It may also include the costs of defending against claims associated with property damage. Understanding this aspect of liability coverage is crucial to ensuring adequate protection. How Personal Liability Insurance for Renters Works Personal liability insurance for renters works by providing financial support in case of a claim against you for bodily injury or property damage. If an incident occurs, such as a guest slipping and falling in your home, the liability coverage may cover the associated medical costs and any legal fees incurred if a lawsuit is filed. This protection can significantly alleviate the financial burden on renters and is an essential feature of standard renters insurance policies. It’s important to recognize that liability coverage may vary based on the insurance company and your specific policy. Limits of Liability Coverage Liability coverage limits are critical to understand when selecting renters insurance. Each renter’s policy may cover a specific amount for liability claims, which can impact how much financial protection you have. You could be responsible for the remaining costs if a lawsuit exceeds your coverage limits. Therefore, assessing your potential liability exposure and choosing appropriate coverage limits is essential. Insurance companies typically offer options for higher coverage limits, and consider this to ensure that you are adequately protected against unforeseen incidents. What Renters Insurance Does Not Cover Standard Exclusions in Renters Insurance While renters insurance offers substantial protection, it is essential to be aware of standard exclusions. Renters insurance does not cover certain risks, such as damage from floods, earthquakes, or intentional acts. High-value items like jewelry and fine art may not be fully covered unless additional riders are added. Understanding these exclusions is crucial for renters to ensure adequate coverage for their personal belongings and avoid unexpected losses. Renters Insurance Not Covering Personal Injury Although renters insurance provides personal liability coverage, there are scenarios where it may not cover personal injury claims. For instance, injuries that occur due to the injured party’s negligence or intentional harm may not be covered. This limitation emphasizes the importance of knowing the nuances of liability insurance exclusions in your policy. Being informed about what renters insurance does not cover regarding personal injury can help you take proactive measures to safeguard against potential risks. Understanding Liability Insurance Exclusions Understanding liability insurance exclusions is crucial for making informed decisions about your renter’s insurance. These exclusions can vary significantly between different renters insurance policies and insurance companies. Standard exclusions include professional liability, damage caused by pets, or incidents resulting from illegal activities. Familiarizing yourself with these exclusions enables you to assess whether you need additional coverage, such as an umbrella policy, to fill potential gaps in your renter’s insurance coverage. This proactive approach ensures that you are fully prepared for any unforeseen liabilities. Filing a Renters Insurance Claim Steps to File a Renters Insurance Claim Filing a renters insurance claim is a straightforward process that begins with documenting the damage or loss. Collect all relevant information, such as photos of the incident, police

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Injured in Your Own Home in Florida? You May Still Have a Claim

Edward Reyes, Esq / December 18, 2020

You were just at home, the one place you’re supposed to be safe. Then a fall or a hidden hazard changed your day, and now you’re hurt and wondering whether anything can even be done. Here’s the part most people don’t realize: being injured in your own home does not automatically mean no one else is responsible. TL;DR — QUICK SUMMARY You can still have a personal injury claim even if you were hurt inside your own home. It depends on who caused the hazard. Common at-fault parties include a landlord who ignored a known problem, the maker of a defective product, or a contractor whose bad work left a danger behind. Under Florida’s comparative fault law, being partly at fault reduces your recovery, and being more than 50% at fault can bar it entirely (Fla. Stat. § 768.81). Most injury claims must be filed within two years under Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), and defective-product cases carry their own deadlines. The Reyes Firm reviews how you were hurt for free and works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless the firm recovers for you. The Reyes Firm Hurt in Your Own Home in Tampa? Find out if someone else is responsible for your injury. Had a bad day? Contact Us Now 2 Years Deadline to file most injury claims Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a) 51% Fault bar to recovery Fla. Stat. § 768.81 12 Years Product liability repose limit Fla. Stat. § 95.031(2)(b) $0 Upfront cost on contingency Pay nothing unless you recover Can you really have a claim if you were injured in your own home? Yes, you can, and this surprises a lot of people. The fact that an injury happened inside your own house doesn’t end the question of who’s responsible. It starts it. The real issue is what caused the injury and whether someone else’s negligence played a role. If it did, you may have a valid claim even though you were standing on your own property. Every case turns on its facts. Did you simply lose your footing, or was there a dangerous condition someone else should have fixed? Did a product fail? Did a contractor leave a hazard behind? Those answers decide whether a third party shares the blame. The point is that “it happened at home” is not a reason to assume you’re out of luck, it’s a reason to have a lawyer look at how it happened. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Under Florida Statute § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Evidence of a home hazard, like a defective part or an unrepaired condition, can disappear fast. Don’t wait to call a lawyer. Who else can be liable when you’re hurt at home in Florida? More parties than you’d think. When a dangerous condition you didn’t create causes your injury, the person or company responsible for that condition may be on the hook. The most common at-fault parties in home injury cases include: A landlord. If you rent and your landlord failed to fix a known hazard or maintain the property, that failure can make them liable for your injuries. A product manufacturer or seller. If a defective appliance, tool, ladder, or other product malfunctioned and hurt you, the maker, distributor, or retailer may be responsible under Florida product liability law. A contractor or repair company. If someone did work in your home and left behind a danger, like an exposed nail, a faulty install, or unfinished repairs, their negligence can support a claim. A service provider. Delivery workers, utility crews, cleaners, or others who create a hazard in your home can be liable for injuries that result. A serious fall or a malfunctioning product can cause real harm, from broken bones to spinal cord and brain injuries. When that harm traces back to someone else’s negligence, the law gives you a path to hold them accountable. Watch: What happens if you’re injured in your own home? This short video breaks down when an injury at home can still lead to a valid claim and who might be responsible. Still not sure whether your situation qualifies? The Reyes Firm offers a free case review to walk through exactly how you were hurt. What if you rent and your landlord ignored a hazard? If you were injured in a rental because your landlord failed to address a known danger, you may have a strong claim. Landlords in Florida have a duty to keep their properties reasonably safe and to handle repairs they’re responsible for. When a landlord knows about a problem, a broken stair, a faulty railing, a leak that creates a slipping hazard, and does nothing, that inaction can be negligence. This is exactly the situation the law is built for. If you reported an issue, the timeline of your complaints and the landlord’s response, or lack of one, becomes powerful evidence. Save your messages, repair requests, and any photos. They help prove the landlord knew and failed to act. 💡 Did You Know? Your own homeowner’s or renter’s insurance liability coverage is generally designed to protect you if a guest is hurt on your property, not to pay you for injuries you suffer from your own actions. When a third party like a landlord, manufacturer, or contractor is at fault, compensation usually comes from their insurance, which is why identifying the responsible party early matters so much. What if a defective product or a contractor’s bad work caused it? Defective products and negligent repairs are two of the most common reasons people get seriously hurt at home. If a product was unreasonably dangerous because of a design flaw, a manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn, you may be able to pursue the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, even though the injury happened in your living room. These cases can involve their own filing deadlines and a separate statute of repose under Fla. Stat. § 95.031, so prompt legal review is important.

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Lesión en el Hombro

Edward Reyes, Esq / May 4, 2019

Lesión en el Hombro Las lesiones del hombro pueden ser muy leves o cambiar la vida. No importa cuán pequeño o grande sea el resultado al tenerme como su abogado, lo ayudaré a responsabilizar a los responsables de sus lesiones o las de su ser querido. ¿Cuáles son las causas comunes de lesión en el hombro? Resbalones y caídas Accidentes de peatones. Accidentes de construcción Accidentes de bicicleta ¿Cuáles son las lesiones comunes de hombro? Hay muchos tipos de lesiones en el hombro. Después de un accidente son las lesiones más comunes: Levantamiento de cabeza repetido Golpe en el hombro Dislocación de hombro. Tendinitis Brusitis ¿Cuáles son los posibles tratamientos que podría necesitar? Con cada lesión hay un tiempo de recuperación. Estas son las posibles tipos de tratamiento: Medicamentos Terapia Inyecciones Cirugía ¿Qué daños puedo recuperar? Si la negligencia de otra persona le causó una lesión, puede reclamar daños compensatorios contra la parte responsable. Los daños compensatorios incluyen daños económicos y no económicos. La reclamación por daños económicos puede incluir gastos médicos, salarios perdidos, pérdida de ingresos futuros, modificaciones en el hogar y necesidades no médicas. Los daños no económicos incluyen dolor y sufrimiento, pérdida de consorcio, daño a la reputación, angustia emocional y pérdida de compañía. También puede ser capaz de recuperar daños punitivos. Los daños punitivos pueden ser recuperables si la parte responsable actuó por malicia o fraude. Estos pueden incluir que la parte responsable esté bajo la influencia mientras conduce, huye de la policía y / o conducción imprudente. ¿Cómo calculas mis daños? Aunque no puedo garantizar un cierto resultado, pero al tenerme como su abogado, le garantizaré el mejor resultado posible. Observaré estos factores para obtener el monto total de la compensación que se le debe: La cantidad gastada para su tratamiento pasado y futuro. El monto de sus ingresos que se perderá mientras se recupera Cuánto afectará tu lesión a tu futuro El efecto que tu lesión tendrá en tus relaciones con los demás. Coste de cualquier atención domiciliaria que vaya a necesitar ¿Cómo demostrarás mis daños? Puede pensar que esos documentos o fotografías pueden no fortalecer su caso, pero en realidad lo hacen aún más sólido. Puede ser obvio que la parte responsable causó su lesión cerebral, pero va a necesitar esas fotografías y documentos para fortalecer aún más su caso. Algunos ejemplos que fortalecerán su caso son: Documentos medicos Cualquier imagen médica. Fotografías de la escena del accidente y sus heridas Reporte policial Prueba de beneficios de perdida Cualquier recibo que muestre los gastos relacionados con su lesión ¿Debo solicitar la compensación del trabajador? Compensación de los trabajadores es el seguro de la empresa que da beneficios a los empleados que se lesionan en el trabajo. Estos beneficios incluyen facturas médicas, compensación de salarios perdidos y ayuda con la discapacidad. Como cualquier otro seguro que también quieren evitar el pago de un enorme costo y usted paga lo que gana. Al tenerme como su abogado, lo ayudaré a maximizar la cantidad de beneficios que necesita y merece. No voy a parar hasta que lo consigue. ¡Déjame ayudarte a obtener toda la compensación que mereces porque no mereces nada menos! Contacte a la Firma Reyes al 813-421-3411 Estamos aquí para usted 24/7 y tenemos la experiencia para proteger sus intereses y lograr la recuperación que merece. Llámanos hoy y, sobre todo, quédate seguro en las carreteras.

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Martial Assets. Who owns what…

Edward Reyes, Esq / October 15, 2018

Divorces can be very emotional. Especially when their are kids and property. In this video we will discuss who owns what and why. Subscribe below and stay informed. Our firm has handled numerous accident cases. We have the staff to devote to investigating your accident; we can help you obtain medical treatment for your injuries and obtain the settlement that you are entitled to. Contact The Reyes Firm at 813-421-3411 We are here for you 24/7 and have the experience to protect your interests and get you the recovery you deserve. Call us today – and above all be safe on the roads!

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Extending the date on a real estate contract does not extend other important dates

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 15, 2018

Some homes close fast, some homes take a little longer. Many real estate agents extend on the closing dates on real estate contracts. That is good for the closing date, but not for all the other important dates in a real estate contract. Contact The Reyes Firm at 813-421-3411 We are here for you 24/7 and have the experience to protect your interests and get you the outcome you deserve. Call us today.

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How to Use Your IRA to Invest in Real Estate

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 5, 2018

Saving regularly to your IRA will let you retire safely, but if you are wiser and invest the money in real estate, you could retire richer than planned. Investing your IRA funds into real estate is a smart way to turn your money into tax-deferred or tax-free assets. When you talk to your real estate lawyer on the subject, he or she will advise on the following few things: When you invest your IRA funds, all the taxable income is deferred until withdrawal. When it comes to Roth IRA, all the investment gains accumulate and can be withdrawn free of tax. Your IRA has to be self-directed. It has to be independent of any brokerage that could make decisions on your behalf. You IRA owns the property, not you. All the income goes to the IRA funds, and all the cost associated with the property have to be paid by the IRA funds. You can buy only business property with your IRA. The property can’t be used for residency by you or members of your family. It can be used only for business purposes. You can not mortgage the property. How to Invest Your IRA in Real Estate? You need to open a custodial account and transfer your IRA money there. Then you can buy a property under the IRA account name. The whole paperwork and process will go through a custodian, to keep you from violating the strict rules of this procedure. The custodian, however, is hired just to handle the transaction properly. He won’t advise you about the investment itself, and this is where we can help. You can call for help at 813-421-3411.

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4 reasons why you need a real estate lawyer

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 5, 2018

FОUR RЕАЅОNЅ IT’Ѕ CHЕАРЕR TO HIRЕ A RЕАL ESTATE ATTORNEY IN FLОRIDА Pеорlе who аrе еmbаrking down the complicated rоаd оf рrореrtу trаnѕасtiоnѕ оftеn ԛuеѕtiоn whеthеr they will nееd a rеаl еѕtаtе аttоrnеу tо get them tо сlоѕing. Individuаlѕ оn thе buуеr side tурiсаllу wоndеr whеthеr thеу can simply rеlу оn thеir rеаltоr аnd аvоid thе аdditiоnаl соѕt оf a lеgаl expert. Although еvеrу state has different rеԛuirеmеntѕ, hеrе аrе fоur univеrѕаl rеаѕоnѕ whу having a lаwуеr to guidе you tо the еnd of уоur rеаltу dеаl mау ultimately bе mоrе соѕt еffесtivе. Yоu Are аn Out of Town Buуеr Buying a house whеn уоu’rе from оut оf town аnd unfаmiliаr with thе rеgulаtiоnѕ аnd lосаl customs in уоur new сitу can be оvеrwhеlming. Onсе уоu find уоur drеаm home, a real еѕtаtе аttоrnеу саn bе еѕѕеntiаl in nеgоtiаting аnd еxесuting thе соntrасt, assisting уоu in finding thе bеѕt mоrtgаgе, аnd аlѕо helping you tо сlоѕе thе mortgage. Errоrѕ thаt оссur during thе buуing рrосеѕѕ always hаvе thе роtеntiаl tо rеѕult in thе loss of уоur deposit аnd could еvеn саuѕе you to incur substantial lеgаl fees if litigation were tо result. Yоu Arе in a Hurriсаnе, Flood, оr Tоrnаdо Zone If уоu’rе located in a hurricane, flооd, оr tornado zоnе, you may nееd a lаwуеr tо walk you thrоugh thе terms оf any rеԛuirеd ѕuррlеmеntаrу hоmеоwnеrѕ insurance. Thе аmоunt оf forms thаt nееd tо be signed whеn you’re рurсhаѕing a hоuѕе саn bе daunting, аnd if you’re not саrеful, you mау оvеrlооk ѕоmеthing imроrtаnt. For еxаmрlе, in some саѕеѕ уоu соuld be rеԛuirеd tо buу supplemental hоmеоwnеrѕ insurance, ѕuсh аѕ flood inѕurаnсе. Hiring ѕоmеоnе with legal еxреrtiѕе саn hеlр уоu avoid соnfuѕiоn thаt could potentially dеrаil уоur аbilitу tо qualify for a mоrtgаgе. Thе Land Is Ownеd bу the Bаnk If уоu’rе trуing tо buу ѕоmеthing thаt iѕ bаnk-оwnеd, you may bе еxсitеd bу thе рrоѕресt of gеtting a great dеаl, but соntrасt negotiations саn be lеngthу аnd соmрlеx. A lawyer can bе еѕѕеntiаl during these negotiations аnd in making ѕurе thе home уоu’rе lооking at iѕ рriсеd competitively. In аdditiоn, bаnk-оwnеd hоuѕеѕ аrе gеnеrаllу ѕоld “аѕ iѕ” and can hаvе defects thаt wоuld be еxреnѕivе to rераir. Wоrking with a lеgаl аdviѕоr can hеlр you investigate the bаnk’ѕ рriсе аѕ wеll аѕ thе роtеntiаl costs involved with repairs. Thе Property Hаѕ Extеriоr Improvements If thе hоuѕе you’re pursuing has hаd any improvements to the lоt, ѕuсh аѕ a pool, fеnсе, gаrаgе, оr аn оutdооr ѕhеd, it may bе necessary tо hаvе a real estate аttоrnеу review thе deed аnd conduct a ѕurvеу оf thе lot. A survey саn make sure that аll imрrоvеmеntѕ were built properly аnd ассоrding tо соdе аѕ wеll as еnѕurе that nоthing is еnсrоасhing onto уоur nеighbоr’ѕ property. Without a ѕurvеу, уоu mау incur еxреnѕеѕ аftеr you mоvе in аnd rеаlizе уоu are infringing оn уоur nеighbоr, or уоu may nееd tо rebuild ѕоmеthing thаt iѕ nоt up tо соdе. Cоnѕidеring all оf thе соmрlеxitiеѕ invоlvеd with becoming a hоmеbuуеr, оnсе you hаvе bеgun the process, you will likеlу bе rеliеvеd to hаvе a real estate аttоrnеу on уоur ѕidе. Our firm has handled numerous accident cases. We have the staff to devote to investigating your accident; we can help you obtain medical treatment for your injuries and obtain the settlement that you are entitled to. Contact The Reyes Firm at 813-421-3411 We are here for you 24/7 and have the experience to protect your interests and get you the recovery you deserve. Call us today – and above all be safe on the roads!

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How to Serve the Three-Days Eviction Notice in Florida

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 5, 2018

You rented your Tampa Bay property in good faith — and now your tenant hasn’t paid, and every day of delay is money out of your pocket. Florida law gives you a path to reclaim your property, but it starts with a properly served three-day eviction notice — and one procedural mistake means starting over from scratch. TL;DR — QUICK SUMMARY Florida law requires landlords to serve a written three-day notice before filing for eviction, and the notice must strictly comply with Florida Statute § 83.56. There are three legally accepted methods to serve the notice: personal delivery, mailing by certified or registered mail, or posting at a conspicuous location on the premises. Weekends and court holidays do not count toward the three-day period — only business days are included in the calculation. A defective notice forces you to restart the entire eviction process, adding weeks of delay and lost rent to your situation. If the tenant does not pay or vacate within three days, you may proceed to file a complaint for eviction with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. The Reyes Firm Tampa Landlord? Tenant Won’t Pay or Leave? Get clear next steps on Florida’s three-day notice process. Had a bad day? We’ll handle the rest. Contact Us Now 3 Days Minimum notice period before filing for eviction Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3) Business Days Weekends & holidays excluded from countdown Florida courts interpretation 3 Methods Legally valid ways to serve the notice Fla. Stat. § 83.56 Restart Penalty for a defective notice — the whole process begins again Florida eviction law What Is a Three-Day Eviction Notice in Florida? A three-day eviction notice — formally called a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate — is the legally required first step in Florida’s residential eviction process. Under Florida Statute § 83.56(3), a landlord cannot file a complaint for eviction in court until this notice has been properly served and the three-day period has expired without the tenant paying the overdue rent or voluntarily vacating the premises. The notice must be in writing and must include: The exact amount of rent owed A clear demand that the tenant pay the full amount or surrender possession of the property The landlord’s name and address (or the agent’s name and address) where payment is to be delivered If any of these elements are missing or incorrect, a Florida court may dismiss your eviction case — requiring you to restart the entire process from the beginning. ⚠️ Important: Do not accept partial rent payments after serving the three-day notice. Accepting any payment — even a small amount — can legally waive the notice and require you to start over under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(5). Who Can Serve a Three-Day Notice in Florida? Either the landlord or an authorized agent of the landlord can serve the three-day notice. You do not need a process server or a sheriff’s deputy for this step — the law allows for personal service by the property owner or their representative. However, once you proceed to court and need to serve the formal eviction summons, the rules become more stringent. The Three Legally Accepted Ways to Serve the Notice Florida law provides exactly three valid methods for serving a three-day eviction notice. Using any other method may invalidate the notice entirely. Method 1: Personal Delivery to the Tenant The most straightforward method is handing the written notice directly to the tenant in person. This is the most reliable approach because there is no ambiguity about whether the tenant received it. Keep a record of the date, time, and location of delivery. Method 2: Mailing by Certified or Registered Mail You may send the notice by regular mail, registered mail, or certified mail. Using certified mail with a return receipt requested is strongly recommended — the receipt creates a paper record of both delivery and the date the tenant received the notice. This documentation can be critical if the eviction is contested in court. Keep in mind that when you mail the notice, Florida courts will add five days to the required notice period to account for mailing time. Method 3: Posting at the Premises If the tenant is not home, you may leave a copy of the notice posted at a conspicuous place at the rental unit — typically the front door. The notice must be in a clearly visible location so the tenant cannot reasonably claim they missed it. Some landlords choose to both post and mail the notice simultaneously to create a stronger record. ✅ Best Practice: Regardless of the method you choose, document everything. Take a photo of a posted notice with a timestamp. Keep your certified mail receipt. Write down the date and time of personal service. This documentation protects you if the tenant later claims they never received the notice. How to Count the Three Days Correctly Miscounting the three-day period is one of the most common mistakes landlords make — and it can get your eviction case dismissed. Florida courts do not count weekends or legal court holidays as part of the three-day period. Only business days count. Here is how the count works in practice: Day 0: The day you serve the notice (this day does not count) Days 1–3: The next three consecutive business days Day 4 (or later): If the tenant has not paid or vacated, you may file for eviction with the court For example, if you serve the notice on a Thursday, Day 1 is Friday, Day 2 is Monday (skipping the weekend), and Day 3 is Tuesday. You may file your eviction complaint on Wednesday at the earliest. ⚠️ Deadline Warning: Filing your eviction complaint before the three-day period has fully expired is grounds for immediate dismissal. Always verify the correct expiration date — accounting for weekends and holidays — before going to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. What Happens After the Three-Day Notice Period Expires? Once the three business days have passed and

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Fivе Wауѕ to Get a Landlord to Make Rераirѕ

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 5, 2018

Wе’vе аll hеаrd thе ѕtоriеѕ: cockroaches, mоld, рlumbing рrоblеmѕ аnd thе lаndlоrd whо wоn’t fix thеm. Whilе most lаndlоrdѕ аrе wеll-intеntiоnеd аnd wаnt to dо right bу thеir tenants, thеrе аrе оссаѕiоnѕ when рrоblеmѕ gо unattended. Whеn уоu dо еnсоuntеr a рrоblеm, thе first step iѕ сhесking tо see if it’ѕ covered bу уоur lеаѕе аgrееmеnt, ѕtаtе lаndlоrd-tеnаnt lаwѕ оr lосаl building соdеѕ. Landlords аrе required bу lаw to kеер thе building ѕtruсturаllу safe and ѕоund. They’re also rеԛuirеd tо maintain еlесtriсаl, hеаting and рlumbing ѕуѕtеmѕ, supply соld and hоt water and kеер реѕt infestations аt bay. Kеер in mind, hоwеvеr, thаt if аnу оf thе rераirѕ аrе required because оf уоur асtiоnѕ, уоu mау bе rеѕроnѕiblе fоr paying for thеm. Once you’ve established that your landlord iѕ rеѕроnѕiblе fоr repairs, hеrе аrе fivе wауѕ to gеt him tо make thоѕе rераirѕ. Fоllоwing thеm in оrdеr will givе you a bеttеr ѕhоt аt mаintаining good relations while аddrеѕѕing thе issue. Firѕt, rеԛuеѕt the rераir in writing. Thаt fоrmаlizеѕ уоur rеԛuеѕt, rеduсing the possibility the lаndlоrd will ignоrе it whilе also starting a paper trail in саѕе it’ѕ needed lаtеr. If уоu bеliеvе there are iѕѕuеѕ аffесting уоur health and ѕаfеtу bе sure tо notify your landlord in уоur letter. If your lаndlоrd responds in writing, kеер a copy for уоur filеѕ. If your lаndlоrd rеѕроndѕ vеrbаllу, send a fоllоw-uр lеttеr rеѕtаting whаt thе lаndlоrd рrоmiѕеd – аnd kеер a сору оf thаt, tоо. Sесоnd, invоlvе other tеnаntѕ. If the lаndlоrd iѕ unrеѕроnѕivе to уоu, chances аrе ѕhе is unrеѕроnѕivе tо оthеrѕ, tоо. Tаlk with оthеr tеnаntѕ tо ѕее if thеу are hаving similar iѕѕuеѕ. If the problem is something that is building- оr property-wide, it’ѕ definitely appropriate tо talk tо оthеrѕ. Aѕk them tо jоin you in politely but firmly rеԛuеѕting rераirѕ. Third, саll уоur muniсiраl building and inspections оffiсе. If уоu (аnd other tenants) have rеԛuеѕtеd repairs in writing аnd the landlord has not rеѕроndеd, request a building inѕресtiоn. Thаt саn bе a vеrу еffесtivе wау tо mоtivаtе thе landlord to address needed rераirѕ. It аlѕо hеlрѕ dосumеnt the problem in саѕе you nееd to move tо thе fоurth means tо getting rераirѕ. Fourth, call thе Florida Dераrtmеnt оf Agriсulturе, Trаdе and Consumer Prоtесtiоn tо mаkе a соmрlаint if thе landlord dоеѕ nоt fоllоw through with rераirѕ. The Department iѕ tasked with invеѕtigаting complaints regarding lаndlоrdѕ аnd tеnаntѕ аnd mау be able tо help rеѕоlvе thоѕе iѕѕuеѕ. Thеrе are also ѕtаtutоrу penalties thаt could аррlу аgаinѕt thе landlord. Fifth, file a lаwѕuit. Fоr repairs оf $10,000 оr less in Flоridа, you саn file a сlаim in small claims соurt. It’ѕ оftеn wiѕе to send thе lаndlоrd one finаl dеmаnd letter ѕtаting whаt you want аnd that уоu intend tо ѕuе if thе landlord doesn’t rеѕроnd. If the landlord still doesn’t address thе problem, it’ѕ time tо viѕit уоur county court сlеrk. A nаturаl rеѕроnѕе bу mаnу tеnаntѕ iѕ tо withhоld rent whеn рrоblеmѕ gо unaddressed. But thаt оftеn еnсоurаgеѕ landlords tо rеtаliаtе, opens уоurѕеlf up tо еviсtiоn аnd wеаkеnѕ your роѕitiоn ѕhоuld you pursue a lawsuit. If уоu do want tо withhold or аdjuѕt the rent – оr mоvе out of thе dwеlling whilе still under a lease аgrееmеnt – consult with аn attorney firѕt to make ѕurе уоu do ѕо lеgаllу.

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What Days Count in the Notice? You May Be Surprised

Edward Reyes, Esq / August 5, 2018

If the landlord’s count includes a Florida legal holiday, then the notice is improper giving the tenant a defense to the eviction lawsuit. What are the legal holidays for the State of Florida? They are listed in Florida Statute 683.01 and include the following: Sunday, the first day of each week. New Year’s Day, January 1. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., January 15. Birthday of Robert E. Lee, January 19. Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12. Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday, February 15. Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February. Good Friday. Pascua Florida Day, April 2. Confederate Memorial Day, April 26. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. Birthday of Jefferson Davis, June 3. Flag Day, June 14. Independence Day, July 4. Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Columbus Day and Farmers’ Day, the second Monday in October. Veterans’ Day, November 11. General Election Day. Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day, December 25. Shrove Tuesday, sometimes also known as “Mardi Gras,” in counties where carnival associations are organized for the purpose of celebrating the same. Whenever any legal holiday shall fall upon a Sunday, the Monday next following shall be deemed a public holiday for all and any of the purposes aforesaid.

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