Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Florida

I am a new landlord. I have been renting out my former home for about a year, and I am using a property manager. Everything is going well with the tenants. The problem is a former neighbor. Apparently, this individual has decided that it is time for me to paint the house. He has made comments to the tenants about it and has attempted to contact me. The house is not in a deed restricted community, so there are no HOA issues. My question is twofold: 1)Am I correct in the assumption that this individual has absolutley no legal grounds to even suggest I do improvements to my own property, and can therefore can (and will) continue to be ignored by me; 2) If he harrases my tenants over this issue, do I have legal grounds to take action against him on their behalf?


Asked on 2/10/11, 8:21 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard Kaplan

It isn't necessarily a legal question. Your neighbor has a 1st amendment right to express that they would like your house painted. There is a possibility that the city you live in may agree, and it is a code violation. Then you would have to paint it. Absent that, there is little you are required to do.

The problem is that if the neighbor goes so far as to create a tortious interference with an economic benefit, you may have the right of taking legal action against them. This is not easy to do, but is an option.

Read more
Answered on 2/10/11, 10:46 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Real Estate and Real Property questions and answers in Florida