Florida 2022 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1587 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 1587 2022
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7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to residential tenancies; creating s. 2
16	16	83.455, F.S.; providing requirements for rental 3
17	17	agreements; requiring landlords to provide certain 4
18	18	information with rental agreements; amending s. 83.46, 5
19	19	F.S.; requiring a landlord to provide written no tice 6
20	20	of a rent increase to a tenant by a specified time; 7
21	21	requiring such notice to include an option for 8
22	22	mediation under certain circumstances; amending s. 9
23	23	83.47, F.S.; providing that certain provisions in a 10
24	24	rental agreement are void and unenforceable; amen ding 11
25	25	s. 83.48, F.S.; providing that a tenant has a cause of 12
26	26	action for actual and punitive damages; providing that 13
27	27	certain persons can bring a cause of action on behalf 14
28	28	of a tenant; amending s. 83.49, F.S.; deleting the 15
29	29	option for a landlord to deposit cer tain money into a 16
30	30	non-interest-bearing account; revising written notice 17
31	31	requirements to tenants; providing for damages if a 18
32	32	landlord fails to meet certain requirements; amending 19
33	33	s. 83.51, F.S.; requiring a landlord to inspect a 20
34	34	dwelling unit at a specified time to ensure compliance 21
35	35	with applicable codes; amending s. 83.54, F.S.; 22
36	36	requiring certain records be removed from a tenant's 23
37	37	credit report under certain circumstances; amending s. 24
38	38	83.56, F.S.; revising and providing grounds for 25
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40	40	HB 1587 2022
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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49	49
50	50
51	51	termination of a rental a greement; adjusting the 26
52	52	number of days a tenant has to vacate the premises 27
53	53	after a certain notice is delivered; providing that a 28
54	54	landlord may terminate a rental agreement if the 29
55	55	tenant fails to pay rent for a specified number of 30
56	56	days; amending s. 83.60, F. S.; deleting a requirement 31
57	57	that certain money be paid into the registry of the 32
58	58	court; amending s. 83.67, F.S.; prohibiting a landlord 33
59	59	from engaging in certain conduct; providing 34
60	60	definitions; conforming a cross -reference to changes 35
61	61	made by the act; creating s. 83.675, F.S.; providing 36
62	62	definitions; requiring a landlord to give tenants a 37
63	63	specified amount of time to purchase a dwelling unit 38
64	64	or premises under certain circumstances; providing 39
65	65	requirements for an offer of sale; authorizing a 40
66	66	tenant to challenge an offer of sale; creating s. 41
67	67	83.676, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting a 42
68	68	landlord from evicting a tenant or terminating a 43
69	69	rental agreement because the tenant or the tenant's 44
70	70	minor child is a victim of actual or threatened 45
71	71	domestic violence, dating vio lence, sexual violence, 46
72	72	or stalking; specifying that a rental agreement may 47
73	73	not contain certain provisions; authorizing a victim 48
74	74	of such actual or threatened violence or stalking to 49
75	75	terminate a rental agreement under certain 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1587 2022
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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86	86
87	87
88	88	circumstances; requiring certai n documentation and 51
89	89	written notice to landlord; providing for liability 52
90	90	for rent for both the tenant and the perpetrator, if 53
91	91	applicable; specifying that a tenant does not forfeit 54
92	92	certain money paid to the landlord for terminating the 55
93	93	rental agreement under certain circumstances; 56
94	94	requiring a landlord to change the locks of the 57
95	95	dwelling unit within a specified period under certain 58
96	96	circumstances; authorizing the tenant to change the 59
97	97	locks of the dwelling unit under certain 60
98	98	circumstances; prohibiting certain ac tions by a 61
99	99	landlord under certain circumstances; amending s. 62
100	100	83.681, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by 63
101	101	the act; creating s. 83.684, F.S.; tolling specified 64
102	102	time periods for certain evictions; requiring a court 65
103	103	to stay certain eviction proceedi ngs; providing a 66
104	104	definition; prohibiting a landlord from evicting a 67
105	105	tenant or removing personal property under certain 68
106	106	circumstances; providing an effective date. 69
107	107	70
108	108	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 71
109	109	72
110	110	Section 1. Section 83.455 , Florida Statutes, is created to 73
111	111	read: 74
112	112	83.455 Rental agreements. — 75
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125	125	(1) Within 3 days after entering into, extending, or 76
126	126	renewing a rental agreement, a tenant must be provided a copy of 77
127	127	the rental agreement. The rental agreement must be written in 78
128	128	plain language and, at the tenant's request, translated into the 79
129	129	preferred language of the tenant. 80
130	130	(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all rental 81
131	131	agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 82
132	132	1, 2022, must include the following pr ovisions: 83
133	133	(a) Before a private sale or transfer of title of the 84
134	134	dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 85
135	135	located, a landlord must provide the tenant with the right of 86
136	136	first refusal to purchase the dwelling unit or premises as 87
137	137	provided under s. 83.675. 88
138	138	(b) If a landlord chooses not to extend or renew a rental 89
139	139	agreement, he or she must provide the tenant a written 90
140	140	explanation for such decision. 91
141	141	(c) If a tenant has occupied the dwelling unit or premises 92
142	142	for longer than 6 months, the la ndlord may not terminate the 93
143	143	rental agreement without just cause. 94
144	144	(d) A state of emergency declared by the President of the 95
145	145	United States, the Governor, or a local authority tolls any 96
146	146	statutory time periods relating to the eviction of a residential 97
147	147	tenant under part II of chapter 83, who lives within the 98
148	148	geographic boundaries of the state of emergency, during the 99
149	149	emergency declaration period. For purposes of this paragraph, 100
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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160	160
161	161
162	162	the term "emergency declaration period" includes the period of 101
163	163	time stated in the declaration of the state of emergency, and 102
164	164	any extensions thereof, and up to 15 days after the expiration 103
165	165	of such period of time. 104
166	166	(e) During a state of emergency declared by the President 105
167	167	of the United States, the Governor, or a local authority, a 106
168	168	tenant may install wind resistance improvements under s. 163.08, 107
169	169	to the dwelling unit. 108
170	170	Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 83.46, 109
171	171	Florida Statutes, to read: 110
172	172	83.46 Rent; duration of tenancies. — 111
173	173	(4) A landlord must provide to a tenant a written n otice, 112
174	174	by certified mail or hand delivery, of a planned rent increase 113
175	175	at least 30 days before the rental agreement renewal period. If 114
176	176	the rent increase is more than 5 percent, the landlord must 115
177	177	provide notice, by certified mail or hand delivery, at least 3 116
178	178	months before the rental agreement renewal period. If the rent 117
179	179	increase is more than 5 percent, the notice must also contain a 118
180	180	statement that the tenant may elect to participate in nonbinding 119
181	181	mediation by providing written notice to the landlord, by 120
182	182	certified mail or hand delivery, within 14 days after receipt of 121
183	183	the notice of the rent increase. For a tenancy without a 122
184	184	specific duration, the landlord must provide written notice, by 123
185	185	certified mail or hand delivery, of a planned rent increase 124
186	186	within the timeframes provided in s. 83.57. 125
187	187
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199	199	Section 3. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (1) of 126
200	200	section 83.47, Florida Statutes, to read: 127
201	201	83.47 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements. — 128
202	202	(1) A provision in a rental agreement is void and 129
203	203	unenforceable to the extent that it: 130
204	204	(c) Purports that early termination of a rental agreement 131
205	205	because of an incident involving actual or threatened domestic 132
206	206	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking, in 133
207	207	which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is a victim and not 134
208	208	the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental agreement. 135
209	209	Section 4. Section 83.48, Florida Statutes, is amended to 136
210	210	read: 137
211	211	83.48 Cause of action; attorney fees.— 138
212	212	(1) A tenant specified in this chapter has a cause of 139
213	213	action in any court of compet ent jurisdiction to recover actual 140
214	214	and punitive damages for any violation of this part and for any 141
215	215	depravation or infringement of the rights of the tenant. A 142
216	216	tenant's guardian or the personal representative of a tenant's 143
217	217	estate may bring a cause of action under this part. 144
218	218	(2) In any civil action brought to enforce the provisions 145
219	219	of the rental agreement or this part, the party in whose favor a 146
220	220	judgment or decree has been rendered may recover reasonable 147
221	221	attorney fees and court costs from the nonprevailing p arty. The 148
222	222	right to attorney fees in this section may not be waived in a 149
223	223	lease agreement. However, attorney fees may not be awarded under 150
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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235	235
236	236	this section in a claim for personal injury damages based on a 151
237	237	breach of duty under s. 83.51. 152
238	238	Section 5. Subsection s (1) through (3) and (5) through (9) 153
239	239	of section 83.49, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 154
240	240	83.49 Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and 155
241	241	tenant.— 156
242	242	(1) Whenever money is deposited or advanced by a tenant on 157
243	243	a rental agreement as security for performance of the rental 158
244	244	agreement or as advance rent for other than the next immediate 159
245	245	rental period, the landlord or the landlord's agent shall 160
246	246	either: 161
247	247	(a) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate non -162
248	248	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 163
249	249	the benefit of the tenant or tenants. The landlord shall not 164
250	250	commingle such moneys with any other funds of the landlord or 165
251	251	hypothecate, pledge, or in any other way make use of such moneys 166
252	252	until such moneys are actually due the land lord; 167
253	253	(a)(b) Hold the total amount of such money in a separate 168
254	254	interest-bearing account in a Florida banking institution for 169
255	255	the benefit of the tenant or tenants, in which case the tenant 170
256	256	shall receive and collect interest in an amount of at least 75 171
257	257	percent of the annualized average interest rate payable on such 172
258	258	account or interest at the rate of 5 percent at the end of the 173
259	259	calendar per year, simple interest, whichever the landlord 174
260	260	elects. The landlord may shall not commingle such moneys with 175
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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271	271
272	272
273	273	any other funds of the landlord or hypothecate, pledge, or in 176
274	274	any other way make use of such moneys until such moneys are 177
275	275	actually due the landlord; or 178
276	276	(b)(c) Post a surety bond, executed by the landlord as 179
277	277	principal and a surety company authorized and licensed to do 180
278	278	business in the state as surety, with the clerk of the circuit 181
279	279	court in the county in which the dwelling unit is located in the 182
280	280	total amount of the security deposits and advance rent he or she 183
281	281	holds on behalf of the tenant tenants or $50,000, whichever is 184
282	282	less. The bond is shall be conditioned upon the faithful 185
283	283	compliance of the landlord with the provisions of this section 186
284	284	and runs shall run to the Governor for the benefit of any tenant 187
285	285	injured by the landlord's violation of the provisions of this 188
286	286	section. In addition to posting the surety bond, the landlord 189
287	287	shall pay to the tenant interest at the rate of 5 percent per 190
288	288	year, simple interest. A landlord, or the landlord's agent, 191
289	289	engaged in the renting of dwelling units in five or more 192
290	290	counties, who holds d eposit moneys or advance rent and who is 193
291	291	otherwise subject to the provisions of this section, may, in 194
292	292	lieu of posting a surety bond in each county, elect to post a 195
293	293	surety bond in the form and manner provided in this paragraph 196
294	294	with the office of the Secreta ry of State. The bond shall be in 197
295	295	the total amount of the security deposit or advance rent held on 198
296	296	behalf of the tenant tenants or in the amount of $250,000, 199
297	297	whichever is less. The bond is shall be conditioned upon the 200
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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310	310	faithful compliance of the landlord w ith the provisions of this 201
311	311	section and runs shall run to the Governor for the benefit of 202
312	312	any tenant injured by the landlord's violation of this section. 203
313	313	In addition to posting a surety bond, the landlord shall pay to 204
314	314	the tenant interest on the security dep osit or advance rent held 205
315	315	on behalf of that tenant at the rate of 5 percent per year , 206
316	316	simple interest. 207
317	317	(2) The landlord shall, in the rental lease agreement or 208
318	318	within 30 days after receipt of advance rent or a security 209
319	319	deposit, give written notice to the tenant which includes 210
320	320	disclosure of the advance rent or security deposit. Subsequent 211
321	321	to providing such written notice, if the landlord changes the 212
322	322	manner or location in which he or she is holding the advance 213
323	323	rent or security deposit, he or she must notify the tenant 214
324	324	within 30 days after the change as provided in paragraphs (a) -215
325	325	(d). The landlord is not required to give new or additional 216
326	326	notice solely because the depository has merged with another 217
327	327	financial institution, changed its name, or transferred 218
328	328	ownership to a different financial institution. This subsection 219
329	329	does not apply to any landlord who rents fewer than five 220
330	330	individual dwelling units. Failure to give this notice is not a 221
331	331	defense to the payment of rent when due. The written notice 222
332	332	must: 223
333	333	(a) Be given in person or by mail to the tenant. 224
334	334	(b) State the name and address of the depository where the 225
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347	347	advance rent or security deposit is being held or state that the 226
348	348	landlord has posted a surety bond as provided by law. 227
349	349	(c) State that whether the tenant is entitled to interest 228
350	350	on the advance rent or security deposit and the amount of the 229
351	351	interest. 230
352	352	(d) Contain the following disclosure: 231
353	353	YOUR LEASE REQUIRES PAYMENT OF CERTAIN DEPOSITS. THE LANDLORD 232
354	354	MAY TRANSFER ADVANCE RENTS TO THE LANDLORD'S A CCOUNT AS THEY ARE 233
355	355	DUE AND WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN YOU MOVE OUT, YOU MUST GIVE THE 234
356	356	LANDLORD YOUR NEW ADDRESS SO THAT THE LANDLORD CAN SEND YOU 235
357	357	NOTICES REGARDING YOUR DEPOSIT. THE LANDLORD MUST MAIL YOU 236
358	358	NOTICE, WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU MOVE OUT, OF THE LANDLOR D'S 237
359	359	INTENT TO IMPOSE A CLAIM AGAINST THE DEPOSIT. IF YOU DO NOT 238
360	360	REPLY TO THE LANDLORD STATING YOUR OBJECTION TO THE CLAIM WITHIN 239
361	361	15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE LANDLORD'S NOTICE, THE LANDLORD 240
362	362	WILL COLLECT THE CLAIM AND MUST MAIL YOU THE REMAINING DEPOSIT 241
363	363	AND INTEREST, IF ANY. 242
364	364	IF THE LANDLORD FAILS TO TIMELY MAIL YOU NOTICE, THE LANDLORD 243
365	365	MUST RETURN THE DEPOSIT BUT MAY LATER FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU 244
366	366	FOR DAMAGES. IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY OBJECT TO A CLAIM, THE 245
367	367	LANDLORD MAY COLLECT FROM THE DEPOSIT, BUT YOU MAY L ATER FILE A 246
368	368	LAWSUIT CLAIMING A REFUND. 247
369	369	YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO INFORMALLY RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BEFORE 248
370	370	FILING A LAWSUIT. GENERALLY, THE PARTY IN WHOSE FAVOR A JUDGMENT 249
371	371	IS RENDERED WILL BE AWARDED COSTS AND ATTORNEY FEES PAYABLE BY 250
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384	384	THE LOSING PARTY. 251
385	385	THIS DISCLOSURE IS BASIC. PLEASE REFER TO PART II OF CHAPTER 83, 252
386	386	FLORIDA STATUTES, TO DETERMINE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND 253
387	387	OBLIGATIONS. 254
388	388	(3) The landlord or the landlord's agent may disburse 255
389	389	advance rents from the deposit account to the landlord's benefit 256
390	390	when the advance rental period commences and without notice to 257
391	391	the tenant. For all other deposits: 258
392	392	(a) Upon the vacating of the premises for termination of 259
393	393	the rental agreement lease, if the landlord does not intend to 260
394	394	impose a claim on the security deposit, the landlord shall have 261
395	395	15 days to return the security deposit together with interest 262
396	396	within 15 days after the tenant vacates the premises. if 263
397	397	otherwise required, or The landlord has shall have 30 days after 264
398	398	the tenant vacates the premises to give the tenant written 265
399	399	notice by certified mail to the tenant's last known mailing 266
400	400	address of his or her intention to impose a claim on the deposit 267
401	401	and the reason for imposing the claim. The notice shall contain 268
402	402	a statement in substantially the following form: 269
403	403	This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for 270
404	404	damages in the amount of .... upon your security deposit, due to 271
405	405	..... It is sent to you as required by s. 83.49(3), Florida 272
406	406	Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object in 273
407	407	writing to this deduction from you r security deposit within 15 274
408	408	days from the time you receive this notice or I will be 275
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421	421	authorized to deduct my claim from your security deposit. Your 276
422	422	objection must be sent to ...(landlord's address).... 277
423	423	If the landlord fails to give the required notice with in the 30-278
424	424	day period, he or she forfeits the right to impose a claim upon 279
425	425	the security deposit and may not seek a setoff against the 280
426	426	deposit but may file an action for damages after return of the 281
427	427	deposit. 282
428	428	(b) Unless the tenant objects to the imposition o f the 283
429	429	landlord's claim or the amount thereof within 15 days after 284
430	430	receipt of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim, 285
431	431	the landlord may then deduct the amount of his or her claim and 286
432	432	shall remit the balance of the deposit and any interest to the 287
433	433	tenant within 30 days after the date of the notice of intention 288
434	434	to impose a claim for damages. The failure of the tenant to make 289
435	435	a timely objection does not waive any rights of the tenant to 290
436	436	seek damages in a separate action. 291
437	437	(c) If either party instit utes an action in a court of 292
438	438	competent jurisdiction to adjudicate the party's right to the 293
439	439	security deposit, the prevailing party is entitled to receive 294
440	440	his or her court costs plus a reasonable fee for his or her 295
441	441	attorney. If a court finds that the landlor d failed to meet the 296
442	442	requirements of this section, the court shall award the tenant 297
443	443	damages equal to three times the amount of the tenant's security 298
444	444	deposit. The court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 299
445	445	(d) Compliance with this section by an individual or 300
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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458	458	business entity authorized to conduct business in this state, 301
459	459	including Florida-licensed real estate brokers and sales 302
460	460	associates, constitutes compliance with all other relevant 303
461	461	Florida Statutes pertain ing to security deposits held pursuant 304
462	462	to a rental agreement or other landlord -tenant relationship. 305
463	463	Enforcement personnel shall look solely to this section to 306
464	464	determine compliance. This section prevails over any conflicting 307
465	465	provisions in chapter 475 and in other sections of the Florida 308
466	466	Statutes, and shall operate to permit licensed real estate 309
467	467	brokers to disburse security deposits and deposit money without 310
468	468	having to comply with the notice and settlement procedures 311
469	469	contained in s. 475.25(1)(d). 312
470	470	(5) Except when otherwise provided by the terms of a 313
471	471	written rental agreement lease, any tenant who vacates or 314
472	472	abandons the premises before prior to the expiration of the term 315
473	473	specified in the written rental agreement lease, or any tenant 316
474	474	who vacates or abandons prem ises which are the subject of a 317
475	475	tenancy from week to week, month to month, quarter to quarter, 318
476	476	or year to year, shall give at least 7 days' written notice , 319
477	477	which notice shall include the address at which the tenant may 320
478	478	be reached, by certified mail or pers onal delivery to the 321
479	479	landlord before prior to vacating or abandoning the premises 322
480	480	which notice shall include the address where the tenant may be 323
481	481	reached. Failure to give such notice relieves shall relieve the 324
482	482	landlord of the notice requirement of paragraph (3)(a) but does 325
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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493	493
494	494
495	495	shall not waive any right the tenant may have to the security 326
496	496	deposit or interest or any part of it. 327
497	497	(6) For the purposes of this part, a renewal of an 328
498	498	existing rental agreement is shall be considered a new rental 329
499	499	agreement, and any secu rity deposit carried forward is shall be 330
500	500	considered a new security deposit. 331
501	501	(7) Upon the sale or transfer of title of the rental 332
502	502	property from one owner to another, or upon a change in the 333
503	503	designated rental agent, any and all security deposits or 334
504	504	advance rents being held for the benefit of the tenants shall be 335
505	505	transferred to the new owner or agent, together with any earned 336
506	506	interest and with an accurate accounting showing the amounts to 337
507	507	be credited to each tenant account. Upon the transfer of such 338
508	508	funds and records to the new owner or agent, and upon 339
509	509	transmittal of a written receipt therefor, the transferor is 340
510	510	free from the obligation imposed in subsection (1) to hold such 341
511	511	moneys on behalf of the tenant. There is a rebuttable 342
512	512	presumption that any new owner or agent received the security 343
513	513	deposit or advance rent from the previous owner or agent; 344
514	514	however, this presumption is limited to 1 month's rent. This 345
515	515	subsection does not excuse the landlord or agent for a violation 346
516	516	of other provisions of this section while in possession of such 347
517	517	deposits. 348
518	518	(8) Any person licensed under the provisions of s. 349
519	519	509.241, unless excluded by the provisions of this part, who 350
520	520
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523	523
524	524
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528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	fails to comply with the provisions of this part is shall be 351
533	533	subject to a fine or to the suspension or revoca tion of his or 352
534	534	her license by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the 353
535	535	Department of Business and Professional Regulation in the manner 354
536	536	provided in s. 509.261. 355
537	537	(9) In those cases in which interest is required to be 356
538	538	paid to the tenant, The landlord shall pay directly to the 357
539	539	tenant, or credit against the current month's rent, the interest 358
540	540	due to the tenant at least once annually. However, no interest 359
541	541	may not be paid to shall be due a tenant who wrongfully 360
542	542	terminates his or her tenancy before prior to the end of the 361
543	543	rental term. 362
544	544	Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 363
545	545	83.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 364
546	546	83.51 Landlord's obligation to maintain premises. — 365
547	547	(1) The landlord at all times during the tenancy shall: 366
548	548	(a) Comply with the requirements of applicable building, 367
549	549	housing, and health codes . The landlord, at commencement of the 368
550	550	tenancy, must inspect the dwelling unit to ensure compliance 369
551	551	with all applicable codes ; or 370
552	552	371
553	553	The landlord is not required to maintain a mobile home or other 372
554	554	structure owned by the tenant. The landlord's obligations under 373
555	555	this subsection may be altered or modified in writing with 374
556	556	respect to a single-family home or duplex. 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1587 2022
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560	560
561	561
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565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	Section 7. Section 83.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to 376
570	570	read: 377
571	571	83.54 Enforcement of rights and duties; civil action; 378
572	572	criminal offenses.—Any right or duty declared in this part is 379
573	573	enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil 380
574	574	action under this section does not preclude prosecution for a 381
575	575	criminal offense related to the rental agreement or rented 382
576	576	dwelling unit or premises. In an action brought by a tenant for 383
577	577	wrongful termination of a rental agreement, if the court finds 384
578	578	in favor of the tenant, any eviction complaint filed by the 385
579	579	landlord shall be dismissed and the court shall direct the 386
580	580	landlord to assist the tenant in having any record of such 387
581	581	filing removed from the tenant's credit report lease or leased 388
582	582	property. 389
583	583	Section 8. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 83.56, 390
584	584	Florida Statutes, are amended to read : 391
585	585	83.56 Termination of rental agreement. — 392
586	586	(2)(a) A landlord must have good cause to terminate a 393
587	587	rental agreement. The following reasons constitute good cause 394
588	588	for termination of a rental agreement: 395
589	589	1. The destruction, damage, or misuse of the landlord 's or 396
590	590	other tenants' property by intentional act. 397
591	591	2. A tenant's disorderly conduct, as proscribed in s. 398
592	592	877.03, or continued unreasonable disturbance. 399
593	593	3. Failure of the tenant to comply with s. 83.52. 400
594	594
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597	597
598	598
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602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	4. A violation or breach of the landlord's reason able 401
607	607	rules and regulations, as provided and described to the tenant 402
608	608	before the execution of a rental agreement. 403
609	609	5. A violation or breach of covenants or agreements 404
610	610	contained in the rental agreement. 405
611	611	6. Use of the dwelling unit or premises for illegal 406
612	612	purposes or acts, including, but not limited to, the 407
613	613	manufacture, sale, or use of illegal drugs, theft of property, 408
614	614	or assault or threats on the landlord or his or her relatives, 409
615	615	as defined in s. 494.001, or employees. 410
616	616	7. The dwelling unit or premises are removed from the 411
617	617	rental market because the state, any political subdivision as 412
618	618	defined in s. 1.01(8), or other entity exercises its power of 413
619	619	eminent domain, the landlord seeks in good faith to permanently 414
620	620	remove the dwelling unit or premises from the rent al market, or 415
621	621	the landlord is converting the dwelling unit or premises from 416
622	622	the rental market to a condominium, cooperative, or fee simple 417
623	623	ownership. 418
624	624	8. The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession 419
625	625	of the dwelling unit or premises for his or he r own use and 420
626	626	occupancy as a principal residence, or for the use and occupancy 421
627	627	as a principal residence by a relative, as defined in s. 422
628	628	494.001, of the landlord. 423
629	629	(b) If any situation specified in subparagraphs (a)1. -6. 424
630	630	exists the tenant materially fails to comply with s. 83.52 or 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1587 2022
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634	634
635	635
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639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	material provisions of the rental agreement, other than a 426
644	644	failure to pay rent, or reasonable rules or regulations , the 427
645	645	landlord may: 428
646	646	1.(a) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 429
647	647	that the tenant should not be given a n opportunity to cure it or 430
648	648	if the violation noncompliance constitutes a subsequent or 431
649	649	continuing violation noncompliance within 12 months after of a 432
650	650	written warning by the landlord of a similar violation, deliver 433
651	651	a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 434
652	652	noncompliance and the landlord's intent to terminate the rental 435
653	653	agreement by reason thereof. Examples of noncompliance which are 436
654	654	of a nature that the tenant should not be given an opportunity 437
655	655	to cure include, but are not limited to, destructi on, damage, or 438
656	656	misuse of the landlord's or other tenants' property by 439
657	657	intentional act or a subsequent or continued unreasonable 440
658	658	disturbance. In such event, the landlord may terminate the 441
659	659	rental agreement, and the tenant has 14 shall have 7 days after 442
660	660	from the date that the notice is delivered to vacate the 443
661	661	premises. The notice shall be in substantially the following 444
662	662	form: 445
663	663	You are advised that your rental agreement lease is 446
664	664	terminated effective immediately. You shall have 14 7 days after 447
665	665	from the delivery of this letter to vacate the premises. This 448
666	666	action is taken because ...(cite the violation 449
667	667	noncompliance).... 450
668	668
669	669	HB 1587 2022
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671	671
672	672
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676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	2.(b) If the violation such noncompliance is of a nature 451
681	681	that the tenant should be given an opportunity to cure it, 452
682	682	deliver a written notice to the tenant specifying the violation 453
683	683	noncompliance, including a notice that, if the violation 454
684	684	noncompliance is not corrected within 14 7 days after from the 455
685	685	date that the written notice is delivered, the landlord shall 456
686	686	terminate the rental agreement by reason thereof. Examples of 457
687	687	such noncompliance include, but are not limited to, activities 458
688	688	in contravention of the lease or this part such as having or 459
689	689	permitting unauthorized pets, guests, or vehicles; parking in an 460
690	690	unauthorized manner or permitting such parking; or failing to 461
691	691	keep the premises clean and sanitary. If such violation 462
692	692	noncompliance recurs within 12 months after notice is given, an 463
693	693	eviction action may commence without delivering a subsequent 464
694	694	notice under subparagraph 1. pursuant to paragraph (a) or this 465
695	695	subparagraph paragraph. The notice shall be in substantially the 466
696	696	following form: 467
697	697	You are hereby notified that ...(cite the violation 468
698	698	noncompliance).... Demand is hereby made that you remedy the 469
699	699	violation noncompliance within 14 7 days after of receipt of 470
700	700	this notice or your rental agreement will be lease shall be 471
701	701	deemed terminated and you must shall vacate the premises upon 472
702	702	such termination. If this same conduct or conduct of a similar 473
703	703	nature is repeated within 12 months, your tenancy is subject to 474
704	704	termination without further warning and without your being given 475
705	705
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713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	an opportunity to cure the violation noncompliance. 476
718	718	(c) If any situation s pecified in subparagraphs (a)7. -9. 477
719	719	exists, the landlord may deliver a written notice to the tenant 478
720	720	of the landlord's intent to terminate the rental agreement. The 479
721	721	written notice must specify the reason for the termination. In 480
722	722	such event, the tenant has 14 days after the date that the 481
723	723	notice is delivered to vacate the premises. 482
724	724	(3) If the tenant fails to pay rent when due and the 483
725	725	default continues for 14 3 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and 484
726	726	legal holidays, after delivery of written demand by the landlor d 485
727	727	for payment of the rent or possession of the premises, the 486
728	728	landlord may terminate the rental agreement. Legal holidays for 487
729	729	the purpose of this section are shall be court-observed holidays 488
730	730	only. The 3-day notice shall contain a statement in 489
731	731	substantially the following form: 490
732	732	You are hereby notified that you are indebted to me in the 491
733	733	sum of .... dollars for the rent and use of the premises 492
734	734	...(address of leased premises, including county)..., Florida, 493
735	735	now occupied by you and that I demand payment of the ren t or 494
736	736	possession of the premises within 3 days (excluding Saturday, 495
737	737	Sunday, and legal holidays) after from the date of delivery of 496
738	738	this notice, to wit: on or before the .... day of ...., 497
739	739	...(year).... 498
740	740	...(landlord's name, address and phone number)... 499
741	741	500
742	742
743	743	HB 1587 2022
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745	745
746	746
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750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	(4) The delivery of the written notices required by 501
755	755	subsections (1), (2), and (3), and (6) shall be by mailing or 502
756	756	delivery of a true copy thereof or, if the tenant is absent from 503
757	757	the premises, by leaving a copy thereof at the dwelling unit 504
758	758	residence. The notice requirements of subsections (1), (2), and 505
759	759	(3), and (6) may not be waived in the rental agreement lease. 506
760	760	Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 83.60, Florida 507
761	761	Statutes, is amended to read: 508
762	762	83.60 Defenses to action for rent or possession; 509
763	763	procedure.— 510
764	764	(2) In an action by the landlord for possession of a 511
765	765	dwelling unit, if the tenant interposes any defense other than 512
766	766	payment, including, but not limited to, the defense of a 513
767	767	defective 3-day notice, the tenant shall pay into the registry 514
768	768	of the court the accrued rent as alleged in the complaint or as 515
769	769	determined by the court and the rent that accrues during the 516
770	770	pendency of the proceeding, when due. The clerk shall notify the 517
771	771	tenant of such requirement in the summons. Failure of the tenant 518
772	772	to pay the rent into the registry of the court or to file a 519
773	773	motion to determine the amount of rent to be paid into the 520
774	774	registry within 5 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal 521
775	775	holidays, after the date of service of process constitutes an 522
776	776	absolute waiver of the tenant' s defenses other than payment, and 523
777	777	the landlord is entitled to an immediate default judgment for 524
778	778	removal of the tenant with a writ of possession to issue without 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1587 2022
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783	783
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787	787	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	further notice or hearing thereon. If a motion to determine rent 526
792	792	is filed, documentation in su pport of the allegation that the 527
793	793	rent as alleged in the complaint is in error is required. Public 528
794	794	housing tenants or tenants receiving rent subsidies are required 529
795	795	to deposit only that portion of the full rent for which they are 530
796	796	responsible pursuant to the federal, state, or local program in 531
797	797	which they are participating. 532
798	798	Section 10. Section 83.67, Florida Statutes, is amended to 533
799	799	read: 534
800	800	83.67 Prohibited practices. — 535
801	801	(1) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 536
802	802	may shall not cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or 537
803	803	interruption of any utility service furnished to the tenant, 538
804	804	including, but not limited to, water, heat, light, electricity, 539
805	805	gas, elevator, garbage collection, or refrigeration, whether or 540
806	806	not the utility service is under the control of, or payment is 541
807	807	made by, the landlord. 542
808	808	(2) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 543
809	809	may shall not prevent the tenant from gaining reasonable access 544
810	810	to the dwelling unit by any means, including, but not limited 545
811	811	to, changing the locks or using any bootlock or similar device. 546
812	812	(3) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 547
813	813	may shall not discriminate against a servicemember in offering a 548
814	814	dwelling unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental 549
815	815	agreement. 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1587 2022
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819	819
820	820
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824	824	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	(4) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 551
829	829	may not discriminate against a person in offering a dwelling 552
830	830	unit for rent or in any of the terms of the rental agreement 553
831	831	based on the person's race; color; religion; sex; pregnancy; 554
832	832	national origin; age; phys ical, mental, or developmental 555
833	833	disability; HIV status; familial status; sexual orientation; 556
834	834	gender identity; source of income; or credit score. For purposes 557
835	835	of this subsection, the term: 558
836	836	(a) "Familial status" means the makeup of a person's 559
837	837	family, including whether there is a child under the age of 18 560
838	838	living with the person or whether the person is seeking custody 561
839	839	of a child under the age of 18. 562
840	840	(b) "Gender identity" means the identity, appearance, or 563
841	841	behavior of a person, regardless of whether such ide ntity, 564
842	842	appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally 565
843	843	associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at 566
844	844	birth. 567
845	845	(c) "Sexual orientation" means a person's heterosexuality, 568
846	846	homosexuality, or bisexuality. 569
847	847	(d) "Source of income" means the legal gain or recurrent 570
848	848	benefit, often measured in money or currency, paid to a person 571
849	849	or a representative of the person, including, but not limited 572
850	850	to, any form of federal, state, or local public, food, or 573
851	851	housing assistance or subsidy, including ass istance from the 574
852	852	from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under 7 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1587 2022
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856	856
857	857
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861	861	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	U.S.C. ss. 2011 et seq., and the Housing Choice Voucher Program 576
866	866	under 24 C.F.R. part 982. 577
867	867	(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 578
868	868	may not harass or intimidate a tenant for the purpose of 579
869	869	coercing the tenant into terminating the rental agreement or 580
870	870	accepting a rent increase. 581
871	871	(6) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this part 582
872	872	may not refuse to show the dwelling unit, either in person or 583
873	873	through photographs, to a prospective tenant until the 584
874	874	prospective tenant signs a rental agreement. 585
875	875	(7) Unless otherwise required by law, a landlord of any 586
876	876	dwelling unit governed by this part may not inquire into or 587
877	877	consider a prospective tenant's criminal history on a ren tal 588
878	878	application or rental agreement. A landlord may inquire into or 589
879	879	consider a prospective tenant's criminal history only after the 590
880	880	landlord otherwise determines that the prospective tenant 591
881	881	otherwise qualifies to rent a dwelling unit. 592
882	882	(8) If a landlord r equires a prospective tenant to 593
883	883	complete a rental application before residing in a dwelling 594
884	884	unit, the landlord may not charge a rental application fee that 595
885	885	exceeds $100 per applicant. For purposes of this subsection, 596
886	886	spouses or parents and dependent childr en are considered one 597
887	887	applicant. If, after a prospective tenant submits a rental 598
888	888	application and application fee, a dwelling unit is not 599
889	889	available, the landlord must refund the application fee to the 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1587 2022
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893	893
894	894
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898	898	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	prospective tenant. 601
903	903	(9)(4) A landlord may shall not prohibit a tenant from 602
904	904	displaying one portable, removable, cloth or plastic United 603
905	905	States flag, not larger than 4 and 1/2 feet by 6 feet, in a 604
906	906	respectful manner in or on the dwelling unit regardless of any 605
907	907	provision in the rental agreement dealing with flag s or 606
908	908	decorations. The United States flag shall be displayed in 607
909	909	accordance with s. 83.52(6). The landlord is not liable for 608
910	910	damages caused by a United States flag displayed by a tenant. 609
911	911	Any United States flag may not infringe upon the space rented by 610
912	912	any other tenant. 611
913	913	(10)(5) A landlord of any dwelling unit governed by this 612
914	914	part may shall not remove the outside doors, locks, roof, walls, 613
915	915	or windows of the unit except for purposes of maintenance, 614
916	916	repair, or replacement; and the landlord may shall not remove 615
917	917	the tenant's personal property from the dwelling unit unless 616
918	918	such action is taken after surrender, abandonment, recovery of 617
919	919	possession of the dwelling unit due to the death of the last 618
920	920	remaining tenant in accordance with s. 83.59(3)(d), or a lawful 619
921	921	eviction. If provided in the rental agreement or a written 620
922	922	agreement separate from the rental agreement, upon surrender or 621
923	923	abandonment by the tenant, the landlord is not required to 622
924	924	comply with s. 715.104 and is not liable or responsible for 623
925	925	storage or dispositi on of the tenant's personal property; if 624
926	926	provided in the rental agreement, there must be printed or 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1587 2022
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930	930
931	931
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935	935	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	clearly stamped on such rental agreement a legend in 626
940	940	substantially the following form: 627
941	941	BY SIGNING THIS RENTAL AGREEMENT, THE TENANT AGREES THAT UPON 628
942	942	SURRENDER, ABANDONMENT, OR RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF THE 629
943	943	DWELLING UNIT DUE TO THE DEATH OF THE LAST REMAINING TENANT, AS 630
944	944	PROVIDED BY CHAPTER 83, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE LANDLORD SHALL NOT 631
945	945	BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR STORAGE OR DISPOSITION OF THE 632
946	946	TENANT'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. 633
947	947	For the purposes of this section, abandonment shall be as set 634
948	948	forth in s. 83.59(3)(c). 635
949	949	(11)(6) A landlord who violates any provision of this 636
950	950	section is shall be liable to the tenant for actual and 637
951	951	consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, 638
952	952	and costs, including attorney's fees. Subsequent or repeated 639
953	953	violations that are not contemporaneous with the initial 640
954	954	violation are shall be subject to separate awards of damages. 641
955	955	(12)(7) A violation of this section constitutes 642
956	956	irreparable harm for the purposes of injunctive relief. 643
957	957	(13)(8) The remedies provided by this section are not 644
958	958	exclusive and do not preclude the tenant from pursuing any other 645
959	959	remedy at law or equity that the tenant may have. The remedies 646
960	960	provided by this section shall also apply to a servicemember or 647
961	961	person who is a prospective tenant who has been discriminated 648
962	962	against under subsections (3) and (4) subsection (3). 649
963	963	Section 11. Section 83.675, Florida Statutes, is created 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1587 2022
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967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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972	972	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	to read: 651
977	977	83.675 Tenant opportunity to purchase. — 652
978	978	(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 653
979	979	(a) "Bona fide offer of sale" means an offer for a price, 654
980	980	and, including other material terms, which are at least as 655
981	981	favorable as what would be accepted by a purchaser in an arm's 656
982	982	length third-party contract, which is comparable to that at 657
983	983	which a willing seller and a willing buyer would sell and 658
984	984	purchase the dwelling unit or premises, or which is the 659
985	985	appraised value. 660
986	986	(b) "Highest and best use" means the reasonable legal use 661
987	987	of a dwelling unit or the premises on which the dwelling unit is 662
988	988	located which is physically possible, appropriately supported, 663
989	989	and financially feasible and which results in the highest value 664
990	990	of the dwelling unit or premises. 665
991	991	(c) "Matter-of-right" means the appropriate land use, 666
992	992	development density, or building requirements of the dwelling 667
993	993	unit or premises under zoning regulations and law. 668
994	994	(2) At least 60 days before a landlord may sell a dwe lling 669
995	995	unit or the premises on which a dwelling unit is located or 670
996	996	issue a notice to vacate the dwelling unit or premises for 671
997	997	purposes of demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the 672
998	998	landlord must give the tenant an opportunity to purchase the 673
999	999	dwelling unit or the premises at a price and with material terms 674
1000	1000	that represent a bona fide offer of sale. 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1587 2022
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1009	1009	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	(3) A landlord shall provide the tenant a copy of the 676
1014	1014	offer of sale, in the preferred language of the tenant, by hand 677
1015	1015	delivery, e-mail, and certified mail. A landlord may not retain 678
1016	1016	a percentage of ownership in the dwelling unit or premises in 679
1017	1017	the offer of sale. 680
1018	1018	(4) The sales price contained in the offer of sale may not 681
1019	1019	be more than a price comparable to that at which a willing 682
1020	1020	seller and a willing buyer wo uld sell and purchase the dwelling 683
1021	1021	unit or premises or the appraised value of the dwelling unit or 684
1022	1022	premises. 685
1023	1023	(5) The appraisal value shall be based on rights a 686
1024	1024	landlord has as a matter -of-right as of the date of the offer of 687
1025	1025	sale, including any existing right a landlord may have to 688
1026	1026	convert the dwelling unit or premises to another use. The 689
1027	1027	appraisal value may take into consideration the highest and best 690
1028	1028	use of the dwelling unit or premises. 691
1029	1029	(6) A tenant may challenge an offer of sale as not being a 692
1030	1030	bona fide offer of sale and request a determination of the 693
1031	1031	appraised value by an independent licensed appraiser, as defined 694
1032	1032	in s. 475.611, at the expense of the tenant, by providing 695
1033	1033	written notice to the landlord and the Division of Consumer 696
1034	1034	Services within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 697
1035	1035	Services by hand delivery, electronic transmission, or certified 698
1036	1036	mail within 30 days after receipt of the offer of sale. 699
1037	1037	(7) The landlord has the burden of proof to establish that 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1587 2022
1040	1040
1041	1041
1042	1042
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1046	1046	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1047	1047
1048	1048
1049	1049
1050	1050	an offer of sale under this sectio n is a bona fide offer of 701
1051	1051	sale. 702
1052	1052	Section 12. Section 83.676, Florida Statutes, is created 703
1053	1053	to read: 704
1054	1054	83.676 Early termination of rental agreement by a victim 705
1055	1055	of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 706
1056	1056	stalking; lock changing. — 707
1057	1057	(1) As used in this section, the term: 708
1058	1058	(a) "Dating violence" has the same meaning as in s. 709
1059	1059	784.046(1)(d). 710
1060	1060	(b) "Domestic violence" has the same meaning as in s. 711
1061	1061	741.28. 712
1062	1062	(c) "Sexual violence" has the same meaning as in s. 713
1063	1063	784.046(1)(c). 714
1064	1064	(d) "Stalking" means the behavior described in s. 784.048. 715
1065	1065	(2) A landlord may not terminate a rental agreement or 716
1066	1066	evict a tenant for an incident involving actual or threatened 717
1067	1067	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking 718
1068	1068	if the tenant or the tenant's mino r child is the victim of such 719
1069	1069	actual or threatened violence or stalking. A rental agreement 720
1070	1070	may not include a provision deeming that early termination of a 721
1071	1071	rental agreement because of an incident involving actual or 722
1072	1072	threatened domestic violence, dating vio lence, sexual violence, 723
1073	1073	or stalking, in which the tenant or the tenant's minor child is 724
1074	1074	a victim and not the perpetrator, is a breach of the rental 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1587 2022
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1078	1078
1079	1079
1080	1080	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1083	1083	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	agreement. 726
1088	1088	(3)(a) If a tenant or a tenant's minor child is a victim 727
1089	1089	of actual or threatened domestic viole nce, dating violence, 728
1090	1090	sexual violence, or stalking during the term of a rental 729
1091	1091	agreement, the tenant may, without penalty, terminate the rental 730
1092	1092	agreement at any time by providing the landlord with written 731
1093	1093	notice of the tenant's intent to terminate the rent al agreement 732
1094	1094	and to vacate the premises because of such incident. The 733
1095	1095	termination of the rental agreement is effective immediately 734
1096	1096	upon delivery of the written notice and documentation specified 735
1097	1097	in paragraph (b), if applicable, to the landlord. 736
1098	1098	(b) Unless the landlord notifies the tenant that 737
1099	1099	documentation is not needed, a notice of termination from the 738
1100	1100	tenant required under paragraph (a) must be accompanied by 739
1101	1101	documentation verifying the tenant's or the tenant's minor 740
1102	1102	child's status as a victim of actual or threatened domestic 741
1103	1103	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking and may 742
1104	1104	include: 743
1105	1105	1. A copy of an injunction for protection against domestic 744
1106	1106	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking issued 745
1107	1107	to the tenant as victim or as the p arent of a minor victim; 746
1108	1108	2. A copy of an order of no contact or a criminal 747
1109	1109	conviction entered by a court in a criminal case in which the 748
1110	1110	defendant was charged with a crime relating to domestic 749
1111	1111	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking again st 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1587 2022
1114	1114
1115	1115
1116	1116
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1120	1120	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121	1121
1122	1122
1123	1123
1124	1124	the tenant or the tenant's minor child; 751
1125	1125	3. A written verification from a domestic violence center 752
1126	1126	certified under chapter 39 or a rape crisis center as defined in 753
1127	1127	s. 794.055 which states that the tenant or the tenant's minor 754
1128	1128	child is a victim of actua l or threatened domestic violence, 755
1129	1129	dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or 756
1130	1130	4. A copy of a law enforcement report documenting an 757
1131	1131	incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 758
1132	1132	violence, sexual violence, or stalking against the tenant or the 759
1133	1133	tenant's minor child. 760
1134	1134	(c) A notice of termination from the tenant required under 761
1135	1135	paragraph (a) must be provided by certified mail or hand 762
1136	1136	delivery to the landlord, a person authorized to receive notices 763
1137	1137	on behalf of the landlord under s. 83.50, a resident manager, or 764
1138	1138	the person or entity that collects the rent on behalf of the 765
1139	1139	landlord. 766
1140	1140	(d) If a rental agreement with a specific duration is 767
1141	1141	terminated by a tenant under this subsection less than 30 days 768
1142	1142	before the end of the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for 769
1143	1143	the rent for the remaining period of the rental agreement. If a 770
1144	1144	rental agreement with a specific duration is terminated by a 771
1145	1145	tenant under this subsection 30 or more days before the end of 772
1146	1146	the rental agreement, the tenant is liable for prorated rent for 773
1147	1147	a period of 30 days immediately after delivery of the notice of 774
1148	1148	termination. After compliance with this paragraph, the tenant is 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 1587 2022
1151	1151
1152	1152
1153	1153
1154	1154	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1157	1157	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158	1158
1159	1159
1160	1160
1161	1161	released from any further obligation to pay rent, concessions, 776
1162	1162	damages, fees, or penalties, and the landlord is not entitled to 777
1163	1163	the remedies provided in s. 83.595. 778
1164	1164	(e) If a rental agreement is terminated by a tenant under 779
1165	1165	this subsection, the landlord must comply with s. 83.49(3). A 780
1166	1166	tenant who terminates a rental agreement under this subsection 781
1167	1167	does not forfeit any deposit money or advance rent paid to the 782
1168	1168	landlord. 783
1169	1169	(f) This subsection does not affect a tenant's liability 784
1170	1170	for unpaid rent or other amounts owed to the landlord before the 785
1171	1171	termination of the rental agreement under this subsection. 786
1172	1172	(g) If the perpetrator of actual or threatened domestic 787
1173	1173	violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or stalking is also 788
1174	1174	a tenant under the same rental agreement as the tenant who is a 789
1175	1175	victim, or whose minor child is a victim, of such actual or 790
1176	1176	threatened violence or sta lking, neither the perpetrator's 791
1177	1177	liability for rent nor his or her other obligations under the 792
1178	1178	rental agreement are terminated under this subsection, and the 793
1179	1179	landlord is entitled to the rights and remedies provided by this 794
1180	1180	part against the perpetrator. 795
1181	1181	(4)(a) A tenant or a tenant's minor child who is a victim 796
1182	1182	of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, 797
1183	1183	sexual violence, or stalking and who wishes to remain in the 798
1184	1184	dwelling unit may make a written request to the landlord 799
1185	1185	accompanied by any on e of the documents listed in paragraph 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1587 2022
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
1191	1191	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1194	1194	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195	1195
1196	1196
1197	1197
1198	1198	(3)(b), and the landlord shall, within 24 hours after receipt of 801
1199	1199	the request, change the locks of the tenant's dwelling unit and 802
1200	1200	provide the tenant with a key to the new locks. 803
1201	1201	(b) If the landlord fails to change th e locks within 24 804
1202	1202	hours, the tenant may change the locks without the landlord's 805
1203	1203	permission, notwithstanding any contrary provision in the rental 806
1204	1204	agreement or other applicable rules or regulations imposed by 807
1205	1205	the landlord, if all of the following conditions have been met: 808
1206	1206	1. The locks are changed in like manner as if the landlord 809
1207	1207	had changed the locks, with locks of similar or better quality 810
1208	1208	than the original locks. 811
1209	1209	2. The landlord is notified within 24 hours after the 812
1210	1210	changing of the locks. 813
1211	1211	3. The landlord is provided a key to the new locks within 814
1212	1212	a reasonable time. 815
1213	1213	(c) If the locks are changed under this subsection, the 816
1214	1214	landlord is not liable to any person who does not have access to 817
1215	1215	the dwelling unit. 818
1216	1216	(5) A landlord may not refuse to enter into a rental 819
1217	1217	agreement for a dwelling unit, refuse to negotiate for the 820
1218	1218	rental of a dwelling unit, make a dwelling unit unavailable, or 821
1219	1219	retaliate in the rental of a dwelling unit because: 822
1220	1220	(a) The tenant, prospective tenant, or minor child of the 823
1221	1221	tenant or prospective tenant is a victim of actual or threatened 824
1222	1222	domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, or 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1587 2022
1225	1225
1226	1226
1227	1227
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1229	1229	hb1587-00
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1231	1231	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234
1235	1235	stalking; or 826
1236	1236	(b) The tenant or prospective tenant has previously 827
1237	1237	terminated a rental agreement because of an incident involving 828
1238	1238	actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 829
1239	1239	violence, or stalking in which the tenant, prospective tenant, 830
1240	1240	or minor child of the tenant or prospective tenant was a victim. 831
1241	1241	832
1242	1242	However, the landlord may refuse to enter into a rental 833
1243	1243	agreement, negotiate for t he rental of a dwelling unit, or make 834
1244	1244	a dwelling unit available if the tenant or prospective tenant 835
1245	1245	fails to comply with the landlord's request for documentation of 836
1246	1246	an incident of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating 837
1247	1247	violence, sexual violence, or stalking that occurred before 838
1248	1248	termination of a prior rental agreement. A landlord's request 839
1249	1249	for documentation is satisfied upon the tenant's or prospective 840
1250	1250	tenant's provision of any one of the documents listed in 841
1251	1251	paragraph (3)(b). 842
1252	1252	(6) All information pr ovided to a landlord under 843
1253	1253	subsections (3), (4), and (5), including the fact that a tenant, 844
1254	1254	prospective tenant, or a tenant's or prospective tenant's minor 845
1255	1255	child is a victim of actual or threatened domestic violence, 846
1256	1256	dating violence, sexual violence, or st alking, and including the 847
1257	1257	tenant's forwarding address, is confidential. The landlord may 848
1258	1258	not enter such information into any shared database or provide 849
1259	1259	the information to any other person or entity, except to the 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1587 2022
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1263	1263
1264	1264
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1268	1268	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269	1269
1270	1270
1271	1271
1272	1272	extent such disclosure is: 851
1273	1273	(a) Made to a person specified in paragraph (3)(c) solely 852
1274	1274	for a legitimate business purpose; 853
1275	1275	(b) Requested, or consented to, in writing by the tenant 854
1276	1276	or the tenant's legal guardian; 855
1277	1277	(c) Required for use in a judicial proceeding; or 856
1278	1278	(d) Otherwise required by law. 857
1279	1279	(7) A tenant or prospective tenant, on his or her own 858
1280	1280	behalf or on behalf of his or her minor child, may file a civil 859
1281	1281	action against a landlord for a violation of this section. A 860
1282	1282	landlord who violates subsection (5) or subsection (6) is 861
1283	1283	civilly liable to the victim for $1,000 for punitive damages, 862
1284	1284	actual and consequential damages, and court costs, including 863
1285	1285	reasonable attorney fees, unless the landlord can show that this 864
1286	1286	was the landlord's first violation and the violation was not 865
1287	1287	committed in bad faith. S ubsequent or repeated violations that 866
1288	1288	are not contemporaneous with the initial violation are subject 867
1289	1289	to separate awards of damages. 868
1290	1290	(8) The provisions of this section may not be waived or 869
1291	1291	modified by a rental agreement. 870
1292	1292	Section 13. Section 83.681, Fl orida Statutes, is amended 871
1293	1293	to read: 872
1294	1294	83.681 Orders to enjoin violations of this part. — 873
1295	1295	(1) A landlord who gives notice to a tenant of the 874
1296	1296	landlord's intent to terminate the tenant's lease under s. 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1587 2022
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
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1303	1303	hb1587-00
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1305	1305	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306	1306
1307	1307
1308	1308
1309	1309	83.56(2)(b) pursuant to s. 83.56(2)(a), due to the tenan t's 876
1310	1310	intentional destruction, damage, or misuse of the landlord's 877
1311	1311	property may petition the county or circuit court for an 878
1312	1312	injunction prohibiting the tenant from continuing to violate any 879
1313	1313	of the provisions of that part. 880
1314	1314	(2) The court shall grant the relief requested under 881
1315	1315	pursuant to subsection (1) in conformity with the principles 882
1316	1316	that govern the granting of injunctive relief from threatened 883
1317	1317	loss or damage in other civil cases. 884
1318	1318	(3) Evidence of a tenant's intentional violation of s. 885
1319	1319	83.56(1)(a)1.-6. resulting destruction, damage, or misuse of the 886
1320	1320	landlord's property in an amount greater than twice the value of 887
1321	1321	money deposited with the landlord under pursuant to s. 83.49 or 888
1322	1322	$300, whichever is greater, constitutes shall constitute 889
1323	1323	irreparable harm for the purposes of injunctive relief. 890
1324	1324	Section 14. Section 83.684, Florida Statutes, is created 891
1325	1325	to read: 892
1326	1326	83.684 Actions for rent or possession during a state of 893
1327	1327	emergency.— 894
1328	1328	(1) A declaration of a state of emergency declared by the 895
1329	1329	President of the United States, the Governor, or a local 896
1330	1330	authority tolls any statutory time periods relating to the 897
1331	1331	eviction of a residential tenant under this part during the 898
1332	1332	emergency declaration period. The court shall on its own motion 899
1333	1333	stay any eviction proceeding under this part during the 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1587 2022
1336	1336
1337	1337
1338	1338
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1342	1342	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343	1343
1344	1344
1345	1345
1346	1346	emergency declaration period. For purposes of this section, the 901
1347	1347	term "emergency declaration period" includes the period of time 902
1348	1348	stated in the declaration of the state of emergency, and any 903
1349	1349	extensions thereof, and up to 90 days after the expiration of 904
1350	1350	such period of time. 905
1351	1351	(2) A landlord may not bring an action for possession of a 906
1352	1352	dwelling unit under s. 83.59 or remove any personal property of 907
1353	1353	a tenant under s. 83.62 during an emergency declaration period 908
1354	1354	if all of the following conditions are met: 909
1355	1355	(a) The tenant lives within the geographic boundaries of 910
1356	1356	the state of emergency. 911
1357	1357	(b) The tenant or a member of the tenant's immediate 912
1358	1358	family is deceased, missing , or injured as a result of the 913
1359	1359	natural disaster for which the state of emergency was declared. 914
1360	1360	(c) The tenant's ability to pay rent is directly or 915
1361	1361	substantially affected by the natural disaster for which the 916
1362	1362	state of emergency was declared. 917
1363	1363	Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 918