All Forum Posts by: Elizabeth Semple

Thank you so much, Greg M.

Dear Florida/Palm Beach County members--your advice sought!

Husband and I have signed a short-term lease to allow some folks to live in our PBG condo for three months. These tenants have been approved by our HOA and I have accepted their security deposit. The lease is to begin mid-January (three months from now) and run into April.

But now, for health reasons, we have changed our minds.  We don't want to rent this place out to anyone.  We want  to stay in our condo over the winter.

So, yes, I just found out the hard way it's a lot easier to rent out a "rental property" than it is to rent out one's home.

My question to you experts is, can the tenants sue us or otherwise punish us for changing our minds?

I was going to write a nice letter to them about our decision and to include the return of their deposit money with a few hundred dollars added. 

Can they legally retaliate?

Many thanks,

Amateur Hour

Bryan, thank you.  I know I am a real worry-wart about this.  I am an ex-smoker so I know that people who smoke cannot smell smoke. What if the person doing the inspecting is a smoker him/herself?  Just spent four months of my life and a lot of money restoring the place....my fault because I wasn't paying enough attention...so now I am hyper-alert...and probably worrying too much, but the past four months I do not care to repeat.

Thank you, Andrew.  

Hello, Forum.  The property management company with whom I have not yet signed has just told me I may not accompany them when they inspect.  Apparently they have had problems with owners confronting tenants.  My fear: that someone smokes cigarettes in the house, that inspector might also smoke so cannot smell it, and my place is ruined.    I asked my prospective PM if I could accompany him on mid-term inspection and he said, "No."  Is this normal? I certainly could promise to not say anything to the tenant if I see something.  Thank you for input.