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    summernole's Avatar
    summernole Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 18, 2013, 09:01 AM
    Legal lease for Landlord to share house with roommate
    I live in Florida and own my home. I am looking for a legal, Florida lease agreement to bring in a roommate to share my home. I want not only term information but I want to be able to add to the agreement for certain things like the treatment of my pets, etc. Where can I find a legal, Florida lease between an owner and a roommate. Thank you.
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
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    #2

    Sep 18, 2013, 09:23 AM
    Free FL Standard Lease - FL-LeaseAgreement.RocketLawyer.com‎

    There is no special form for tenants with whom you share space. Eviction in Florida is the shortest in the US, 15 days after you give written notice to vacate.
    Work on a list of all possible requirements that you want from a roommate.
    The most standard way to have some security as a landlord is to require 3 months rent: first, last, and security. Two of those months have to go into an escrow account, and the security has to be returned within 30 days of the last day on the premises, with receipts for any damages deducted.
    Unfortunately pets are regarded as property by the courts, so their 'value' isn't measured the way we measure value! And of course the people who will treat your pets the best might be the ones who wish you will let you bring a pet with them.
    You might want to rent month-to-month rather than yearly. That allows either of you to terminate at any time with notice, even if it means you may have some vacant times. You don't want to be stuck with someone you don't like.

    I have found (as someone who has owned homes and had roommates) that it's not so much what you write down in a contract as it is how well you screen applicants, and how well you find that 'spot' between being in control of the property and being a pleasant roomie. They need to be grateful and considerate, but you do too. You are each doing the other a favor. I would want to see the originals of the last 3 months of their checking account statements, just to glance at. I would pay for a credit check, and verify employment or other income.
    My sister owns a condo she rents out (not living there) mostly to students and she requires that rent be direct deposit. Of course that doesn't prevent someone from closing out their bank account.
    Be very specific about rent in full on a certain date, and a fee for being late. Make it clear that you won't take partial payments, and how many times you will allow late payments before you terminate the tenancy. Nothing worse than walking around each other waiting to be paid!

    What hours do you want quiet? What about parking? Allowing their things in common areas? Kitchen rules, bathroom? Does their present apartment have cockroaches (I might even want to go see where and how they live, if you get to the stage of accepting them). What rules will you have about guests? That's often the worst one - all of a sudden a boyfriend materializes.
    Think of EVERYTHING. Make a list. But always remember that rules are one thing and enforcing them is another. It's mostly a basis for letting someone know where you stand.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #3

    Sep 18, 2013, 09:37 AM
    You should be able to find a lease template many places online, or even your local Staples, Office Depot etc.

    But as Joy said, just about anything you put in is legal as long as the roommate agrees to it. You can't discriminate and you can't have the roomie sign away any rights. Other than that you should be OK.

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