In my many years as a Florida Real Estate Attorney representing Landlords in both commercial and residential settings, I have learned some basic, but valuable information.  Below are some of my Florida Landlord Tips that I recommend all Florida Landlords should use.

#1 Don’t cut corners.  Just because you save a few bucks on the front end, chances are, you will pay more on the back end. This is general and applies across the board.

#2 Due Diligence.  If you’re a Florida Landlord, Property Manager, Owner, or Investor, know who your respective tenant(s) is.  What is their rental history? Do they have a criminal history? Have they been evicted before? What does their previous Landlord have to say about them as being a tenant and what’s their payment history like?

#3 Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC always recommends having a qualified real estate attorney do the Drafting of your Lease. This one is extremely important. Make sure that if you’re leasing the premises, you have a valid lease, and that you are ONLY leasing the premises. If you’re leasing with the option to own/buy, know that if things get ugly (tenant stops paying or other non-monetary issue), you cannot simply file an eviction.  Leases with options to buy have exclusive jurisdiction in Circuit Court as it involves title and boundaries to real property. Also, if the Lease is over a year in length, there are special requirements that need to be adhered to.

#4  Take pictures, get a list of your inventory, do a punch-list, and require that your tenants have renters insurance or have the tenant waive any rights they may have against the landlord in the event that there is property damage.

Are you a Florida Landlord? Do you need assistance drafting your Florida Lease?  Call Law Office of Ryan S. Shipp, PLLC @ 561.699.0399.  CLICK HERE for shipplawoffice.com. Let us be your Florida Landlord Lawyers. We are located in Lantana, Florida. We serve South Florida.