Tenant Issue/question in FL

[Manny Lamarre]

Greetings - I would love to hear feedback about this nightmare tenant. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. 

A Florida tenant has refused to pay rent since Nov. 2019. Said the reason was she's a foster mom and hasn't received payment from the govt. After 5 months of no rent she finally moves out (abruptly) in March and transfers the electricity to a new apt she moved to. She still has stuff in the apt., kept the key, left it trashed, and even has an old vehicle in front of it; and now the apt. does not have electricity and needs to be cleaned to be rented. 

Can the homeowner use the spare key to go inside the home to throw her things away to try to get the apt. rented? Or is there a waiting period before that can happen so the tenant don't claim she needs to be paid for her things that are thrown out? (I would think the transfer of electricity should count as her moving out) and the 5 month non payment is enough enter the home (since it's not occupied) to throw her things out. Also, is it worth trying to sue for those past five month rents or cut losses short? 

Thanks in advance for any insights.