[floridasandy]

florida has ridiculous landlord laws which favor the tenant unreasonably. i just had a tenant deface the property, write graffiti on the walls, stain the new carpeting, drain the pool, steal the water conditioner, and steal all of the appliances. the state tells me that i can do nothing about this except pay 300 to start the eviction process even though he was only a month to month tenant after his lease expired!
they will not consider this a criminal matter and will not intervene to help the property owner. if you are thinking about buying a rental property be sure you know what you are getting yourself into, not to mention that you will be paying higher insurance than in almost any other state.
unless the laws are changed this is a bad state to have rental property, especially with the quality of renters deteriorating.

[verobeach]

This sounds like Massachusetts! After owning several rental properties in Massachusetts, I agree whole heartedly with floridasandy. The price of homes in Florida has fallen so low that everyone can now buy a home. Only the worse of the worse are in the rental market.

[tallrick]

Makes you wonder why those investors are buying up so many foreclosed properties and renting them. I hope the renters are so bad that they cost them a fortune. Who cares if landlords suffer, I tried that game and gave up years ago. Let home prices fall so everyone can buy and eliminate renting altogether.

[MovedfromFL]

I think a lot of these new landlords will try to skirt the rules. They will put their tenants stuff out on the curb, change the locks, and hope no one knows enough to fight them.

I wonder if it's easy to get away with this sort of landlord behavior?

I would never want to be a landlord after seeing what tenants did to my parent's rental house in FL. (and that was WITH a property management company!)

Home prices are not low enough to justify purchase for a rental in decent areas.

Also, never have carpet in a rental home. Require a credit check up front. Security deposit. Verify prior rental history.Verify employment. The list goes on and on...

[psouth]

Originally Posted by verobeach

This sounds like Massachusetts! After owning several rental properties in Massachusetts, I agree whole heartedly with floridasandy. The price of homes in Florida has fallen so low that everyone can now buy a home. Only the worse of the worse are in the rental market.

Everyone in Florida can afford a home now? I have never heard such a ridiculous statement. Prices have not fallen that much in relation to the anemic salaries in the state. If everyone could afford homes now then they should have easily been able to afford them years ago before the housing bubble since salaries are the same. But that is not the case. The problem seems to be the other way around. People are losing their homes and can barely afford to live at all much less buy homes. Entire blocks and streets are now for sale and in foreclosure. It would not be like this if "Everyone" could afford a home in Florida. I know people who have $100K to put down and great credit and the banks won't give them a mortgage. It is a real problem. Credit is tight. This is why so many people are now renting. Between losing their houses, unemployment, and the credit crunch. Florida attracts the worst of the worst so that has always been a real issue down here any way. Most of these people should not have bought homes to begin with. Some knew what they were doing and some were duped by cons and criminals in the biz.

Most state laws are skewed toward renters any way. Besides I would never want the headache of being a landlord in Florida either today or any time in the past. The population is just too risky and always has been. Now with all the illegals third worlders it has gotten even worse. We never thought it could get any worse but welcome to Florida.

[KerryB]

Originally Posted by floridasandy

florida has ridiculous landlord laws which favor the tenant unreasonably. i just had a tenant deface the property, write graffiti on the walls, stain the new carpeting, drain the pool, steal the water conditioner, and steal all of the appliances. the state tells me that i can do nothing about this except pay 300 to start the eviction process even though he was only a month to month tenant after his lease expired!
they will not consider this a criminal matter and will not intervene to help the property owner. if you are thinking about buying a rental property be sure you know what you are getting yourself into, not to mention that you will be paying higher insurance than in almost any other state.
unless the laws are changed this is a bad state to have rental property, especially with the quality of renters deteriorating.

Or, dont just rent your place to anyone. Applications, credits checks, deposits & references are your friend. I doubt anyone who passed all those things would be spraying graffiti on your walls.

[Ollie1946]

seems it cuts both ways to some degree. i have seen landlords who refuse to repair stuff or respond reasonably to a broken A/C unit, water heater etc. slum lords are in abundance as well.

it isn't worth it to me to ever hassle with rental properties again nor to be a renter. done both. both stink!

[floridasandy]

Originally Posted by KerryB

Or, dont just rent your place to anyone. Applications, credits checks, deposits & references are your friend. I doubt anyone who passed all those things would be spraying graffiti on your walls.

you are absolutely mistaken and you obviously don't have any idea how much damage a bad renter can cause, especially if they steal everything as well as vandalize. pool damage can run into lots of dollars, as well as actual property damage. i have had rentals in florida previously and never had a bad tenant. i am just warning people that times are a-changing!

[TriMT7]

Always remember that when you prevail against a tenant, you also become entitled to your attorney's and filing fees.

[MovedfromFL]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Always remember that when you prevail against a tenant, you also become entitled to your attorney's and filing fees.

Good luck getting blood out of a turnip.