Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida
Renewing lease
I have been in my apartment for 6 years with the same landlord,about 6 months ago my landlord sold the building,so I now have a new landlord. My lease is up in Oct, so I contacted the landlord to find out his plans, so I would know what I had to do. He is raising my rent almost triple what it is now and he wants me to give him a deposit now in good faith,if I am staying and sign the new lease now. He claims there are several people interested in my apt. so I must decide now and comply right away.
I want to know if he could make me give a deposit now and sign now? Do I have any rights here?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Renewing lease
Yes. The Landlord can ask you to sign a new lease for the new lease period. In other words, if your lease is ending on 1/1/06 and he needs to put a new tenant in it why can't he start looking to place a new tenant in the apartment? It is not as if he is raising the rent or your obligations under your existing lease. Thus, absent any contractual clause in your lease saying that he cannot do it (which I doubt) then your landlord can make whatever offers he wants to try to get the apartment leased for the new period starting when your lease ends. Good luck,
Randall Gilbert