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Hallandale Landlord-Tenant Attorney

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Hallandale Landlord-Tenant Attorney

Dealing with landlords is often one of the most stressful relationships someone can have. After all, a landlord can control where you live and they can make it either a pleasant experience or a miserable one. As a tenant’s rights lawyer, Larry Tolchinsky has for over 30+ years helped Florida residential tenants deal with abusive landlords.

NOTE: WE ARE NOT TAKING ANY EVICTION CASES.

Larry believes it is unfair for a landlord to use his or her power to take advantage of someone who simply needs a place to live. Larry’s goal is to level the playing field.

The good news is, in many landlord-tenant disputes, Larry is able to represent his client without the client paying an attorney fee unless Larry is successful in winning their case. Those cases generally include repair issues, security deposit claims and mold infestation.

Landlord’s Duty to Make Repairs

According to Florida Statute 83.51, a landlord has an obligation and responsibility to maintain the premises it rents to tenants.  The landlord’s obligations for maintaining a home depends on the type of rental unit.

For instance, for a single-family home or duplex, a landlord must follow the requirements of State, County, City and all other building, housing and health codes.  When there are no codes, then a landlord must maintain certain parts of the home in good working condition, including the plumbing, roof, windows, screens, floors, steps, and “all other structural components in good repair and capable of resisting normal forces and loads.”

If the home being rented is an apartment, at all times during the relationship between the landlord and tenant, the landlord must also comply with the applicable housing codes and:

  • Exterminate for rats, mice, ants, wood-destroying organisms and bed bugs
  • Provide the tenant with locks and keys
  • Keep the common areas clean and safe
  • Provide garbage disposal facilities and outside receptacles, and
  • Have running water, hot water and heat during the winter.

However, these statutory requirements do not mean that a landlord is required to pay for utilities, water, or garbage removal.

A good idea if you are having a problem with your landlord because he or she won’t make any repairs or adhere to the requirements above is to have a housing code inspection. A city or county inspector will inspect your home and will write a report stating any violations that may exist. This report can be helpful especially if you have to go to court to compel your landlord to improve your living conditions.

Larry will take the time to explain your rights under the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act which applies to the rental of a dwelling unit or any other structure that is rented for use as a home or place where someone sleeps (See Florida Statute 83.40-83.683)

NOTE: WE ARE NOT HANDLING EVICTION MATTERS. WE ARE ONLY HANDLING A LIMITED TYPE OF LANDLORD-TENANT CASES – SEE BELOW. 

For all matters that we are not handling at this time, we recommend that you contact your local County Bar Association or the Florida Bar to find a lawyer through their lawyer referral program.

Security Deposit Disputes

In Larry’s experience, the most common landlord-tenant disputes are where a landlord makes a claim against a tenant’s security deposit for unjustified reasons, including excessive wear and tear claims, broken appliances, carpet cleaning, and the like.

Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides some guidance on the definition of normal wear and tear which includes cracked paint, rusty shower rod, loose grouting and bathroom tiles, and slightly torn or faded wallpaper (among others).

If you are facing a landlord who won’t return your security deposit, is failing to make repairs for conditions caused by mold, is attempting to illegally or wrongfully evict you, or has been negligent, then call Larry Tolchinsky to help you and protect your rights as a tenant in Florida.

Read Our Blog: How to Get a Refund of Your Security Deposit from the Landlord (No Attorney Fee Unless The Tenant Wins)

Larry represents clients in Landlord-Tenant Disputes related to:

**Note: These links will take you to our Florida Real Estate Law Blog and our Personal Injury Blog**’

For all matters that we are not handling at this time, we recommend that you contact your local County Bar Association or the Florida Bar to find a lawyer through their lawyer referral program.

If you require the help of an experienced Broward County landlord-tenant lawyer, contact Larry Tolchinsky today for a free consultation.

Larry handles landlord-tenant matters for clients located in Hallandale, Hollywood, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Davie, North Miami Beach, Dania Beach and all other cities in Miami-Dade and Broward County and throughout Florida.

 

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Call (954) 458-8655

 

Contact an Experienced Landlord-Tenant & Tenant Rights Attorney

Contact Larry Tolchinsky to find out how he can help you. You can contact him by phone at 954-458-8655 or by e-mail through this website to schedule an appointment and learn more about Florida Landlord-Tenant Law. He offers a free initial consultation.

 

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