Attention Florida Landlords! New Tenant Approval Law!

[Ayana Lugo]

According to an article that has been published in the Florida Realtor magazine, there is a Florida law that will become effective on July 1 that requires an owner or landlord to approve or deny a tenant application from any active service member. Failure to meet the 7 day deadline will result in an automatic approval for the applicant as a tenant. 

Section 83.683 of the Florida Statutes requires the landlord to inform the tenant within the 7 day timeframe whether they have been accepted or denied, and if the tenant has been denied, the basis for the denial must also be stated. The new law applies to condo associations, coop associations, and HOA's (which will be a real treat).

Please be aware if you are self-managing your properties as you could inadvertently violate this law. For more information, you should check the FL statutes and consult an attorney. 

Source: Florida Realtor | July 2016 edition