Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Florida

I was renting a room in a friend's home and had been behind on rent. She gave me a notice through text that I had until the 30th of September to leave but that the sooner the better. I vacated the premises and returned my key at which point the homeowner told me that she was keeping my clothing and other property until she received full payment. There was no written agreement up to this point and I offered to sign an agreement for a reasonable payment plan and have it notarized at which point she refused. I need the clothing to work at my jobs to make the money required to pay her back in the first place and want to know if she has any legal right to withhold my things or whether I can call the police.


Asked on 9/07/16, 3:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Barry Stein De Cardenas, Freixas, Stein & Zachary

She likely does not have a right to hold your clothes other than with the argument that you abandoned them. I am curious why you gave her the key back when you still had stuff in the room? There are issues which you will need to deal with in order to enforce any rights you have to the clothes etc. You don't have the money to pay so you don't have the money to legally enforce your rights to the clothes etc. The police will not intervene in a civil matter.

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Answered on 9/07/16, 3:58 pm


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