[nic529]

Hi,

We have an issue. We are supposed to start renting a new house effective April 1, 2017. The people who are in there now are having a house built and their closing was pushed back to April 21, 2017 and they are refusing to leave. Even though we have a lease the property manager keeps suggesting we find temporary housing and even went as far as to tell us he has a snowbird couple that is willing to help us out for 30 days.

We find this outrageous. We have a signed lease and they are going to tell us 5 days before we move that we they aren't going to leave and that we need to find a solution? We can't stay where we are - there are new tenants moving in on April 1 here as well. Why should we have to move twice - this isn't our problem. If they had given us more notice then we may have been able to work something out with the current property manager but it's just too late now. Shouldn't the property manager at the new place be forcing the current tenants out - shouldn't they be the ones to find temporary housing? I should add that they were breaking the lease anyway and the property manager was fine with it because he found us to take over.

Anyone have any advice on tenant laws in Florida?

[WorldKlas]

I don't know Florida tenant laws; usually your state attorney general's office has that information. However, it seems your choice is to not go thru with the lease or agree to temp housing. And, if you agree to temp housing (which should be in a furnished place with linens, dishes, Airbnb style) it seems the new landlord who can't honor your move in date should pay for storage and the second move from the storage of your household to the new place.

[cfbs2691]

OP I feel for you - welcome to the wild west of Florida.
Seeing how your future landlord's behaving at this point.. can you find a different place to move altogether?

[MyITGuy]

Unfortunately the landlord just cant force them out and the eviction process would take as long, if not longer.

I would suggest looking for temporary housing, but only if the landlord will ensure payment/reimbursement for the added cost of moving/storage and be sure to get this in writing.

If this can't be provided, then I'd suggest finding a new home quickly.

[Restrain]

Unlike other states, Florida requires a judicial action to force a tenant to leave. Yes, you have a lease, but the landlord is caught between a rock and a hard spot. I would take the realtor up on the short-term solution.

[KPB]

You can evict yourself being the homeowner at the county courthouse for just a processing fee or hire a company that handles evictions but they charge about $300. per adult to evict and they still get 30 days to be out.

[LifeIsGood01]

Originally Posted by nic529

Hi,

We have an issue. We are supposed to start renting a new house effective April 1, 2017. The people who are in there now are having a house built and their closing was pushed back to April 21, 2017 and they are refusing to leave. Even though we have a lease the property manager keeps suggesting we find temporary housing and even went as far as to tell us he has a snowbird couple that is willing to help us out for 30 days.

We find this outrageous. We have a signed lease and they are going to tell us 5 days before we move that we they aren't going to leave and that we need to find a solution? We can't stay where we are - there are new tenants moving in on April 1 here as well. Why should we have to move twice - this isn't our problem. If they had given us more notice then we may have been able to work something out with the current property manager but it's just too late now. Shouldn't the property manager at the new place be forcing the current tenants out - shouldn't they be the ones to find temporary housing? I should add that they were breaking the lease anyway and the property manager was fine with it because he found us to take over.

Anyone have any advice on tenant laws in Florida?

You are stuck and can't do much, you can have the property manager threaten to put an eviction on their record, but they don't care they are building a home. It's bad karma for them. If it was me I would move and take the temporary home, some people like the current renters have no morals or sense of decency.

[snowtired14]

If it were me, tear up the worthless lease and find another property manager and another place to live. What happens when they want another 30 days or another 30? I know it sucks to be this close to your closing date, but I guess sh*t can happen.