JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Renters across Northeast Florida keep reaching out to the News4JAX I-TEAM with the same frustration: problems in their homes that don’t get fixed fast enough—or at all.
In the station’s ongoing “Justice 4 All” series, we’re looking at the question: What are your rights under Florida law if your landlord won’t address serious issues?
WATCH: Press play above to see attorney Millicient Daniels’ full interview with Jennifer Waugh
Local attorney Millicent Daniels says Florida tenants do have protections, starting with the condition of the home itself, what she called “the right to be living in habitable… spaces.”
That means rental units must meet legal standards and “be in compliance with the codes and law” for basics like “plumbing, heating, locked doors, windows,” Daniels said.
Daniels also emphasized that renters are protected from discrimination under state and federal law.
“They have the right to make sure that they’re not being discriminated against,” she said, noting categories protected by fair housing laws, including “race, sexual orientation, disability, religion.”
A critical issue raised in the I-TEAM’s reporting was utilities.
Daniels said tenants “have a right to ensure that there’s no interference or interruption or termination of their utility services,” including “your gas, your water, your electricity.”
She added that those services “cannot be interrupted or terminated” due to a landlord’s direct or indirect actions.
Beyond repairs and utilities, Daniels said renters also have the right to “quiet enjoyment,” meaning the right “not to be disturbed and to live private and peacefully.”
If a landlord needs to enter for repairs or inspections, she said they must “notify the tenant in writing within 24 hours.”
So what should renters do if they’ve reported a problem and nothing changes?
Start with documentation, Daniels said.
“The first thing that you need to do is to go ahead and put it in writing, detail your complaint,” she said. “Send pictures of the particular condition that needs to be repaired.”
She recommends photos that are “time and date stamped,” and then sending a “certified… notice directly to the landlord” to create a clear paper trail.
If that still doesn’t resolve the issue, Daniels suggests escalating to local authorities.
“I would recommend to go ahead and get code enforcement involved,” she said, explaining that code enforcement can inspect properties “to make sure that they’re in compliance.”
And if conditions remain unsafe or unresolved, she advises renters to get legal guidance.
“Definitely you need to go ahead and contact a landlord-tenant lawyer” to discuss options such as “possibly withholding rent and getting out of your lease,” Daniels said.