Rental Laws + Evictions

I have recently read most of the laws. I have a unique situation....However, I will just keep it short...I have been renting 1 year, now on a month to month. I live in Florida and in a DEED restricted neighborhood. The LL owns a mowing distributing company and a mowing company owes him money. So he is making them cut my law. However, they haven't been by in a MONTH! So I asked the LL, Hey if you get me a mower I can do it? Also many neighborhood kids have said they would cut it for $20. In the lease it states that the LL is responsible for law care...Well it looks bad on me b/c i like to keep a clean house, plus people in the neighborhood knows the owner and wonders why the law always looks so bad. I've had the committee complain to me and neighbors...so I keep asking...Then to top that off i had a massive ant problem, again, LL responsibility. Inside and out. I have also asked about this issue. The LL dropped off one gal. of pest control 2 months after I moved in. Hmmm...Not my responsibly (he left it in my garage) So I welcomed myself to it, and it was gone like 2 months later...I've asked for more, and asked that he hired a pest control co. Or take care of it since is store front has all of the supplies... I have a 2 year daughter...so now i am getting concerned. I don't have the extra $ to take care of these problems...So after reviewing the Rental Laws of Fl. I decided to send him a certified letter with a signed conformation of these issues and let him & his wife know that I am withholding rental payment until these issues are address. Now I have a feeling I am getting evicted.

What should I do. I am looking to get out of here anyway b/c the LL is a psycho lady anyway and very controlling. I think she thinks I am involved with her husband. But whatever. I just want out. She actually sent this exact text message to me:

Mon, Sept 28, 4:01 pm
just to let you know. My ex husband shot a man. His attorney and a friend of mine made it not exist. This is true.

[sandyclaus]

Originally Posted by Single Mother I have recently read most of the laws. I have a unique situation....However, I will just keep it short...I have been renting 1 year, now on a month to month. I live in Florida and in a DEED restricted neighborhood. The LL owns a mowing distributing company and a mowing company owes him money. So he is making them cut my law. However, they haven't been by in a MONTH! So I asked the LL, Hey if you get me a mower I can do it? Also many neighborhood kids have said they would cut it for $20. In the lease it states that the LL is responsible for law care...Well it looks bad on me b/c i like to keep a clean house, plus people in the neighborhood knows the owner and wonders why the law always looks so bad. I've had the committee complain to me and neighbors...so I keep asking...Then to top that off i had a massive ant problem, again, LL responsibility. Inside and out. I have also asked about this issue. The LL dropped off one gal. of pest control 2 months after I moved in. Hmmm...Not my responsibly (he left it in my garage) So I welcomed myself to it, and it was gone like 2 months later...I've asked for more, and asked that he hired a pest control co. Or take care of it since is store front has all of the supplies... I have a 2 year daughter...so now i am getting concerned. I don't have the extra $ to take care of these problems...So after reviewing the Rental Laws of Fl. I decided to send him a certified letter with a signed conformation of these issues and let him & his wife know that I am withholding rental payment until these issues are address. Now I have a feeling I am getting evicted. What should I do. I am looking to get out of here anyway b/c the LL is a psycho lady anyway and very controlling. I think she thinks I am involved with her husband. But whatever. I just want out. She actually sent this exact text message to me: Mon, Sept 28, 4:01 pm just to let you know. My ex husband shot a man. His attorney and a friend of mine made it not exist. This is true.

You have a couple of issues here.

Regarding rent withholding, you need to read over your state's laws once again. Just because there are problems your LL won't take care of, you cannot just straight out refuse to pay rent. You MUST give them reasonable notice before withholding rent to make the necessary repairs. In most case, simple things like not mowing the lawn don't qualify as being significant enough to justify rent withholding. This action is usually reserved for major items, such as those that affect habitability, health, or safety. If you do not follow the proper procedure, then the LL is well within her rights to evict you for nonpayment of rent.

As for breaking your rental agreement, are you on a term lease or under a month-to-month tenancy? If under a lease, you'd be held liable for the balance of the lease if you don't have a good enough reason to break it. If M2M, then just give your LL notice that you want to leave and go.

And last, but certainly not least, about that TXT message - that sounds like a threat to me. Call the police and file a report.