• Renters' rights in Florida are governed by state law.skyscraper at miami beach, florida image by Albo from Fotolia.com
  
  When a landlord and tenant enter into a lease agreement in Florida, their interaction is governed by state law. The Florida landlord and tenant statutes place specific restrictions and allowances on both the landlord and tenant. All rental agreements, whether they are in writing or oral, are subject to the landlord-tenant statutes.
  
  

Duration

• Florida landlords and tenants may enter into rental agreements for any period of tenancy they desire. The most typical forms are week-to-week and month-to-month. Tenants pay rent in accordance with the period of the lease. If a month-to-month rental agreement is entered into, the tenant is obliged to pay rent on a monthly basis. Conversely, if there is no lease provision detailing the terms of tenancy, the duration is determined based on when rent is paid. If the tenant pays rent weekly, the lease is week-to-week.
  
  

Landlord Duties

• Under Florida law, landlords must provide habitable living conditions on the property. This includes: providing working smoke detectors; ensuring the property complies with local housing and health codes; maintaining the roof; keeping the property structurally sound; providing for proper plumbing and sanitation; and generally making sure the property is livable.
  
  

Renters' Duties

• In addition to paying the rent on time and in accordance with the terms of the lease, renters have duties imposed on them by law. These include: maintaining the property in a clean and sanitary manner; removing all garbage; keeping all plumbing fixtures in a sanitary state; using the property so as not to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the neighbors; and not intentionally destroying or damaging property belonging to the landlord, or allowing anyone else to do so.