Tenant Abandonment in FL

[mlittle76]

We have a rental house in FL and the tenant terminated the lease prior to the end of the lease term (1 year lease term). We asked the tenant to sign a mutual termination agreement, but she refused. Thus, we have posted a letter on the premise's door stating the tenant owes us full rent plus late charges.

Now, we do not know our next step. We believe the house to be abandoned. However, upon looking at FL statute 83.59 Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine, we cannot determine if we can take possession of the premises due to it being abandoned for 15 days or if we have to go to court to get a judgement before we can take possession of the premises.

Any thoughts?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Banned_Princess]

If I were you, I would go in and look. take pictures and dont forget the timestamp, and the posted notice that you were going to do that.

You have to sue them anyway. no better time then now.

 

[mlittle76]

Will do. However, do you think we need to get a court order to retake possesion or can we retake it by ourselves and begin prepping the house to relet it?

 

[Banned_Princess]

Will do. However, do you think we need to get a court order to retake possesion or can we retake it by ourselves and begin prepping the house to relet it?

If you find it is truely abandoned, and you can demonstrate it however you do... then you can take it back. remove their belongings (if any) safely and securly, and demonstrate you tried to find them to return it so as to cover your behind.