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With increasing frequency, I am receiving calls from people who want to remove someone from possession of a residence owned by the caller. Invariably, the caller insists that the possessor should be evicted, but upon closer inspection, the claim really isn’t an eviction action. In this post, I will explore the three similar, but distinct, actions available for possession of real property in Florida.

Eviction

Probably the most familiar claim for possession is one for eviction. In its most basic form, an action for eviction results when the occupant of the property has failed to pay rent to the property owner. Florida Statutes Chapter 83 governs actions for eviction. An action for eviction requires a landlord-tenant relationship. That relationship is typically established by showing that the property owner and occupant have signed a lease agreement for the property. Even in the absence of a written lease, a landlord-tenant relationship can be established by showing that the tenant made periodic rent payments (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.) for the privilege of occupancy. Keep in mind that rent need not be money, but in certain circumstances may be goods or services. If there is no landlord-tenant relationship, then there cannot be an eviction. An eviction action proceeds under an expedited (summary) procedure, so a plaintiff usually can obtain a judgment of possession within 60 days.

Ejectment

Continue Reading What Options Do Owners Have to Take Possession of Real Property in Florida?

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As the laws change, we strive to share how they will affect our clients and readers of this blog. Thus, we are pleased to share the following guest post by Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trust and Estate Planning Attorney Eric Gurgold.

On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States, in Obergefell v. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health, in a five to four opinion ruled to allow same sex marriages in every state. The Court held that the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize the marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state. The Court said the 14th Amendment concepts of due process and equal protection require states to treat same sex couples the same as opposite sex couples with regard to the fundamental right of marriage. The ruling does not apply to civil unions or other arrangements where the couple is not lawfully married.

Effect on Homestead Provisions

Continue Reading Impact of the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Same Sex Marriages on Homestead and Property Rights

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In an April 9, 2015 post, Scott Beatty gave some great tips to owners on how to avoid paying twice for labor, services, or materials provided on a contraction job. This post looks at another facet of the same issue and provides tips to lienors on how best to preserve and enforce their lien rights on a construction job.

Although Florida’s construction lien law is dense, nuanced, and rife with pitfalls, adherence to the following steps will cover your necessary bases in the vast majority of situations where you are working on private/non-government owned property:

Before You Begin Work

Continue Reading Checklist to Preserve and Enforce Your Lien Rights

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The Second District Court of Appeal, which covers fourteen counties in West Central Florida and Southwest Florida from Pasco County in the north to Collier County in the south, issued a decision in June 2015 that significantly expands the rights of real property owners in Southwest Florida. In the case entitled FINR II, Inc. v. Hardee County, the appellate court ruled that

the Bert [J.] Harris [, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection] Act provides a cause of action to owners of real property that has been inordinately burdened and diminished in value due to governmental action directly taken against an adjacent property.” (Emphasis added.)

Facts of the Case

Continue Reading Recent Court Decision Expands Rights of Property Owners in Southwest Florida

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In April of last year, David Fowler shared a post about a seller’s obligation in a residential sale to disclose facts or conditions about the property that have a substantial impact on its value or desirability, and that are not easily observable to a buyer. As the post outlined, most of the disclosures are property specific, like the presence of mold or wood destroying organisms, or whether essential components of the home, such as the roof, plumbing or HVAC, are in disrepair. Sellers typically inform buyers of these conditions in a disclosure form usually provided by the seller’s real estate agent. There are, however, other disclosures required by Florida law that are equally as important to a buyer in making an informed decision whether to purchase a home.

Here are some of those disclosures that parties involved in the sale of a residential home should also be aware of:

Homeowners Association and Condominium Association

Continue Reading Important Reminders Regarding Disclosures

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I know what you’re thinking. No sensible person would ever pay twice for a construction project. But the following scenario is, unfortunately, an all-too common reality for many property owners:

One day, you’re enjoying the view from the bay windows of your recently completed home addition (or newly constructed home). A small taste of buyer’s remorse begins to fill your mouth, but with a sip of coffee, you quickly cast it aside, knowing that the minor fortune you just paid to your contractor is well worth it. A knock on the door brings your mind back to the present. As you glide across the shiny new hardwood floor and open the door, you are met with a sharply dressed man who, after confirming your identity, hands you a stack of papers and leaves. The words on the papers are filled with legal mumbo-jumbo, but you understand enough to know that a masonry company is suing you for payment, and threatening to foreclose its claim of lien if you do not pay. Certain that this must be a mistake, you call your contractor. Your heart sinks when you hear the dreaded message: “The number you have reached is no longer in service….”

In Florida, the same law that protects construction lienors (contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and laborers) also protects owners by putting limits on their liability to those very same lienors. Property owners can limit their exposure by ensuring that all payments made to the contractor are “proper payments.” By only making “proper” payments, an owner’s liability will not exceed the contract price (i.e., an owner won’t have to pay twice). To ensure that a payment is a “proper” payment, an owner should follow these general guidelines:

Before making any payment to the contractor, make sure to: Continue Reading How to Pay Twice for Your Construction Project

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Are you a landlord? It’s a good position to be in, whether you’re a commercial landlord or a residential one. You can build equity in real estate and generate cash flow. Who doesn’t like that?

As a landlord, you’ve probably learned a few lessons, and maybe you’ve even learned some of those lessons the hard way.  Let me know if you’re familiar with these:

Continue Reading Best Practices for Landlords

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On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 (the “Act”). The Act was created during the height of the foreclosure crisis as a temporary measure to protect tenants who entered into a lease without realizing a property was in foreclosure. The Act provided that lenders and third-party purchasers who took title to a property at a foreclosure sale must provide a tenant with a minimum of 90 days’ notice, prior to seeking a writ of possession and evicting the tenant.

Sunset Provision of the Act

The Act was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, but the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act extended the sunset provision to December 31, 2014. There was much speculation within the legal community regarding whether the Act would be extended again. On November 21, 2013, the Senate introduced Bill 1761, titled “Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2013,” which sought to indefinitely extend the protections afforded under the original Act, as well as provide tenants with a private right of action against lenders and third-party purchasers who failed to comply with the Act. However, Senate Bill 1761 never progressed forward, and the Act expired on December 31, 2014.

What Happens After the Sunset?

Continue Reading What to Expect Following the Sunset of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclose Act

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As discussed in a previous blog on this topic, impact fee rates in Lee County continue to be a focus for many in the community. At its February 3rd meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (“BOCC”) adopted the proposed rate schedule which included a reduction in road impact fees coupled with a significant increase in school impact fees. After significant input from the community and discussion among the BOCC, Commissioner Kiker moved to adopt an increase in impact fees to 45% of the original rates to take effect March 16, 2015 upon the sunset of the current 80% reduction. The BOCC is now positioned to take a final vote on impact fee rates at its meeting on March 3, 2015 before the current reduction ordinance sunsets on March 13th.

Here are 3 ways you can get involved in this unquestionably important vote:

  • Catch up on all of the happenings related to impact fees and review any related studies, documents, ordinances or even review meeting videos at the county’s website here
  • Call or write the County Commissioners to express your opinion; you can locate your Commissioner by visiting the county map here and view contact information
  • Plan to attend the March 3rd meeting in BOCC Chambers to provide public input

As the Lee County real estate market continues to find its way, the issue of impact fees is unlikely to leave the forefront of economic debate anytime soon.

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The homestead application filing deadline of March 1 is approaching quickly. Below is a snapshot of eligibility and documentation requirements for real property owned in Lee County, Florida.

What is the Homestead Exemption?

The homestead exemption is a constitutional benefit of up to a $50,000 exemption deducted from the assessed value of the property.

Who Is Eligible to File for an Exemption?

Individuals whose names appear on the deed, who reside on the property as of January 1, and who are bona fide Florida residents as of January 1 are eligible to file. To be eligible for the exemption this tax year, an owner must file an Application for Homestead and related documents with the County Property Appraiser no later than March 1, 2015. Only new applicants or those who had a change of residence are required to apply. For individuals who have previously filed for and been approved for the homestead exemption, notices of automatic renewals should be received from the Lee County Property Appraiser in January of each year.

Lee County’s Application Requirements

Continue Reading Homestead Deadline Approaching for Lee County Landowners