Times are changing worldwide due to inflation, which means that many landlords will begin increasing the rent they charge tenants. When it comes to rent increase laws in Florida, it's crucial to understand the ins and outs of the law.
This is because the more you know, the better you'll be able to communicate with your tenants. We've created a brief guide on Florida landlord-tenant laws and how to handle an increase in rental prices.
Read on below.
Are There Stipulations That Make Rent Increases Illegal?
Before you begin increasing your tenants' rent and consider handing out eviction notices, you need to understand stipulations that could make the increase illegal. First, if you're raising the rent because you want to get certain people out of your building, this is an example of discrimination.
It's against the law to discriminate against anyone based on gender, ethnicity, or other defining demographics. Another reason increasing rent would be illegal is if you're doing so to get back at a tenant.
For example, if the tenant has been less than a model tenant, you can't raise the rent to teach them a lesson. You can decide you don't want to offer them a lease renewal, but you can't target them by raising their rent.
You have to follow the law in the Federal Fair Housing Act; otherwise, you put yourself in the position of facing a lawsuit.
You Must Give Advanced Notice
As a landlord, you cannot increase your property's rent before the lease ends. However, you still need to provide advance notice that the rent will change once the tenant is up for renewal.
By doing this, you're giving the tenant time to determine if they want to continue living on your property or find someplace else to live. It is also helpful to provide evidence or information. This will support the reasoning behind the rent increase to ensure tenants are informed.
There are currently no concrete laws stating how much notice you should give. However, a good rule of thumb is to provide the same amount of notice you'd give when notifying tenants of renewal.
This way, you maintain a good relationship with your tenants. Which could increase their chances of them continuing to rent from you.
Is There a Rent Increase Limit?
When it comes to rent increases in Florida as a landlord, there is no cap on what you can increase it to. However, as a landlord, you should be careful when increasing rent and be able to justify your reasons for doing so.
Also, remember that just because you increase the rent, it doesn't mean the tenant has to continue renting from you. They have the option to leave, which would leave you scrambling to find someone else to live in their vacant property.
Rent should be based on the cost of living in the area to ensure tenants can continue living comfortably with their families.
Rent Increase Laws in Florida: Knowing More to Do More for Tenants
When it comes to rent increase laws in Florida, there are several things you should know as a landlord. There is no cap on the increase, and you shouldn't increase rent to be discriminatory.
It's crucial to continue learning and adding to your landlord's toolkit, but to do this; you need help. Contact Allegiant Management Group for more resources.
This is to ensure you provide your tenants with the best service possible.
