Under Florida law, tenants are protected by rights that cannot be ignored without serious legal consequences. Yet far too often, renters are unaware of the protections they're entitled to or where to turn when those rights are violated. One young mother knew this struggle all too well when she and her two children lived without hot water for four long months.
When her landlord denied her request to fix the issue, she was forced to bathe her kids at friends’ houses, and as a last resort heated up water in the microwave to make sure her kids were clean. Finally, enough was enough and she reached out to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for legal help. FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
When the landlord failed to make necessary repairs, our client legally withheld rent for two months resulting in the agitated landlord to threaten to “drag” our client out of the apartment if she didn’t leave. Because our client lived in Section 8 Public Housing, she notified the local housing authority of the issue. The housing at inspected the home and confirmed that the apartment did not have hot water, nor did the electrical outlets in the kitchen work.
To make matters worse, our client had to be hospitalized during the negotiation between her FRLS attorney and landlord. During the few days that she was in the hospital, the landlord switched the locks to the unit and threw some of our client’s belongings in the dumpster. Not only is this a violation of personal privacy, but against the law. Florida Statute 83.67 makes it illegal for a landlord to shut off your utilities, padlock your door, or change locks without tenant consent.
When a landlord unlawfully locks a tenant out, the tenant may be entitled to damages which could include the cost of the actual damages or up to three months’ rent depending on which cost is greater. This was brought to the landlord’s attention when they continued to threaten eviction if our client did not vacate immediately.
A FRLS attorney was able to come to an agreement with the landlord that allowed our client to keep her Section 8 housing voucher by paying the rent owed to the landlord with help from Hope Florida. Even in a volatile situation, our team was able to keep our client’s best interest in mind while avoiding further legal action like eviction or termination of her Section 8 housing voucher.
Read more about your rights as a Florida tenant:
If you need legal help in a landlord-tenant dispute, reach out to the FRLS team at 1-888-582-3410.
About Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice.