Florida’s Landlord Tenant Laws – Concepts and Vocabulary.

One of the most effective ways to gain greater insight and understanding of Florida’s eviction laws is to learn the legal vocabulary associated with this particular field of law. What follows is a brief (but by no means exhaustive) list of vocabulary words commonly employed by eviction lawyers practicing under Florida law. Understanding the interplay between the various words and their associated legal concepts can lead to a greater understanding of Florida’s landlord/tenant laws.

Lease: A real property contract by which a rightful possessor of real property conveys the right to use and occupy the property in exchange for some good or service (also known as consideration). The Tenant’s “consideration” is usually rent money while the Landlord’s “consideration” is the rental property itself. Under Florida law, a lease term can be for a fixed period of time, for life, or for a period terminable at will by the property owner. The term lease can also refer to a written instrument which memorializes a conveyance of real property and its covenants. In sum, a lease is a contract by which a rightful possession of personal property conveys the right to use that property for some agreed upon period of time in exchange for some form of consideration. To have a valid Lease, the parties need not memorialize the instrument in writing. Read more