Is it safe to rent a home in Florida when the landlord you know has the keys to you house? (North Port: housing)

[JunoAqua]

I was planning on renting a home in Northport/SArasota area for the first year until we get settled however , how can you trust a landlord you are renting from, or check their background? What if my wife and I are at work and I know the landlord has keys to the house we are renting from him, and how would other peopel feel about this knowing the possibiltiy of the landlord in the house you are renting from him while yor at work. Anyone have any suggestions or experience problems renting a HOME in FLorida with their landlord.

[Arrgh]

I have several rentals in North Port and can tell you that the issue fo the landlord having a key should be the least of your concerns. The landlord has a key for emergency access only and has to give a 48 hr notice to you before entering the house. It is the landlords' house but your home.

The main concern of a landlord is getting the rent on time and not having to worry about the place being trashed, listening to neighbors complain, junk on the property or police action with the tenant. I had to evict one tenant, greaat references etc etc. She was in a house that was completely remoldeled. I needed a 30 yard dumpster to haul out all the crap and spent 2 weeks repairing walls repait and so on

[FedUpInFtMyers]

This is a common dilemma for anyone who is renting. As a renter, you are a tenant renting from the owner (who also has the key). This is quite commonplace. If you don't trust the prospective landlord, do not rent from him.

[Prichard]

The Landlord owns the house, thus he his entitled to a set of keys. Also, read your lease - it most likely provides that the landlord can have access under certain conditions. If you don't like this then you can do one of two things:

1) negotiate into the lease that you may change the locks when you take possession and not give the landlord the keys; or

2) don't rent.

The truth is that #1 and #2 are exactly the same, since #1 will never happen.

[Angelrocks]

I have no idea. However, I wouldn't want to rent from anybody!

That's why I like owning my own home. Most every single time I rented, it meant trouble. I am sure that's not the norm for most, but the second time I rented, the lady that lived in the house, stole my cat and dropped him off at a shelter.

I left there immediately after she confessed to stealing my cat, only to find another weirdo as my neighbor. This guy told me that if he saw my latest cat he would kill it. I broke the lease and left two months later. After that, I lived in an apartment complex where they accused my husband of domestic violence. I thought this was ironic, since my husband has never once hit me.

But, the neighbors upstairs had some real "issues." I finally had to explain to the landlord that is was the couple above us that was arguing. I couldn't wait till the day I left that last apartment. I felt as if they were just looking for something, yet we didn't do anything wrong. That's when I moved into my home.

It's hard for me to recognize an apartment as a home. But a house...now that's a home!

[JimKing]

Take the price for your monthly rent and multiply by $1250. If you can buy a house for that, then fine. But in most of Florida you can not come close, which makes renting a great deal.

Honestly, you can make a list of 20 concerns in life and a landlord is down at the bottom. And since there are so many desperate sellers putting their homes up for rent in Florida, even more when they realize the spring sales season stunk, you are in the drivers seat. No landlord is going to bother anyone who pays the rent on time.

Buying and not renting in Florida right now is dumb, unless you get a steal on a house. Don't fall for the emotional stuff about buying a house....it is nonsense. Your home is your family, pets, and personal property.

A house or apartment just holds them. It is financially stupid to fall for that emotion stuff concerning Florida housing right now.

[tallrick]

1250 is too high a number. That would make any Florida shack worth millions!

[MananaLand]

Take the price for your monthly rent and multiply by $1250. If you can buy a house for that, then fine.

Where did you come up with that formula? Those number don't work out right.

[Ladywithafan]

I work in property management for a condo assoc. on beach...we have keys to EVERY unit...we are only authorized to let certain people in...under the authority of the owners....as well as ourselves....I rent in an apt. complex...they have a key to every unit are required to notify you prior to entry.......now...in real life....


Most landlords can't be bothered to be in your place, they have a life too...but, I recently looked at a historical apt. in a building on the national historical register...adorable...but not in best locale...and my girlfriend warned me that the landlord liked to come in & putz around...well...

they've lost the key 3x where I live, so I really don't worry about them coming in anymore...

You can always change the locks, then if the LL says, I couldn't get in & he didn't have a good excuse...hmmmm?

But...where in the world would you rent that the landlord wouldn't hold a key?

[sunrico90]

This is what the state make reference:

• “Landlord” means the owner or lessor of a
dwelling unit.
• “Tenant” means any person entitled to
occupy a dwelling unit under a rental agreement.
• “Rental agreement” means any written
agreement, or oral agreement if for less
duration than one year, providing for use and
occupancy of premises.
• “Dwelling Unit” means a structure or part of
a structure that is rented for use as a home,
residence or sleeping place.

LANDLORD’S ACCESS TO
DWELLING UNIT (§ 83.53 FS)
• The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold
consent to the landlord to enter the dwelling
unit from time to time.
• The landlord may enter the dwelling unit at
any time for the protection or preservation of
the premises. The landlord may enter the
dwelling unit upon reasonable notice to the
tenant and at a reasonable time for the purpose
of repair of the premise

Normally this is not an issue...

• No landlord of any dwelling unit shall
prevent the tenant from gaining reasonable
access to the dwelling unit by changing the
locks.
• No landlord of any dwelling unit shall
remove the outside doors, locks, roof, walls, or
windows of the unit except for purposes of
maintenance, nor shall the landlord remove
the tenant’s personal property from the
dwelling unit unless it is a lawful eviction.
• A landlord who violates the provisions of this
section shall be liable to the tenant for
damages or three months rent, whichever is
greater, and costs, including attorney’s fees.