LEGAL TO PROHIBIT SMOKING ON PREMISES?

Florida 2 Responses »
Aug 082011

Smoking Prohibitions and the Law

A lease may forbid smoking in rental units or in some or all common areas. Make sure to use a professionally created lease that is up to date with respect to Florida landlord tenant and federal law.

  • Smoking is not a protected activity in either federal law or Florida statute. However, an asthmatic tenant who claims to be adversely affected by second-hand smoke can sue the landlord claiming the landlord failed to accommodate the tenant under the Fair Housing Act.
  • Prohibiting smoking or restricting smoking to certain common areas may reduce the potential of facing lawsuits related Fair Housing Act or Americans with Disability Act – ADA.
  • If the lease does not prohibit smoking, the landlord may not forbid smoking. Lease renewals can prohibit smoking.

See Miami Evictions to find attorneys and services and to learn answers to frequently asked questions 

RSVP to learn more about Landlord Tenant issues at PM-EXPO in October. PM-EXPO South Florida takes place at Miami Beach Convention Center on October 18 and PM-EXPO Jacksonville is October 21 at University of North Florida. PM-EXPO is free. Topics include what to do about tenants who claim to need pets because of disability and other fair housing issues, Bud bug control, tenant retention, upcoming changes to ADA requirements, etc. 

PM-EXPO is for all types of property managers, community associations and landlords. Learn and network with quality vendors. The theme is “Excite Your Taste Buds.” Enjoy fantastic foods from many restaurants and caterers – free!

Posted by shirsch at 5:25 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

Eviction Writs Served Faster?

Florida No Responses »
Apr 172011

Florida Apartment Association (FAA) has been trying to pass a Bill through the Florida House and Senate that would allow landlords and property managers to hire certified process servers to “serve” Writ of Possession in eviction actions.

  • The bad news is that due to opposition from the Florida Sheriff’s Association, it doesn’t look like the SB 426 and HB 291 will pass.
  • The good news is that FAA’s promotion of the bill seems to have increased awareness at various Sheriff departments throughout Florida counties – Miami-Dade in particular. Florida eviction lawyers and landlords are reporting faster service of Writs of Possession by Florida sheriff departments in some counties.

We would like to acknowledge thanks to FAA and its legislative team – thank you, Chip Tatum, Ron Book and Kelly Mallette. If you are a Florida eviction lawyer, landlord or property manager, please let us know if you have been experiencing faster service of Writs when you do evictions. To clarify, we are referring to the service of the Writ, not the execution of the Writ. In other words, the service of 24-hour notice that the Sheriff will force evacuation from premises.

Learn more about what can be done to continue improvement of the Florida eviction process.

Posted by shirsch at 4:29 am Tagged with: , , , ,

MOTIVATING ON-TIME RENT GETS EASIER

National No Responses »
Mar 082011

Experia, one of the big three credit reporting agencies, is now including rent payment data in credit reports. As Experian now owns RentBureau’s multi-family division, landlords and property managers can now help good tenants by reporting prompt payments.

According to Brannan Johnson, VP and Managing Director of Experian RentBureau, over one third of “consumers in the highest risk VantageScore® score band will improve to at least the next score band with the addition of positive rental data from RentBureau. According to Multi-Family Housing Council, about 96 million people, or about one third of the US population, live in rentals.

It sounds like a lot of people could benefit from this. RentBureau currently collects rental data representative of 8 million tenants. Millions of tenants can help their credit. Property Managers and landlords are equipped with a new tool to reward prompt rent payments.

The upside is clear. Is there a downside?

Posted by shirsch at 2:26 pm Tagged with: , , ,
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