Q: Can I make my landlord wait until I move out to fully renovate inside my apartment?
My apartment complex was recently bought by a new company and the new company is fully renovating all the units. Some things they will be doing is removing all cabinets in the kitchen and putting in new ones, painting counter tops, which requires us not to use them for 48 hours and a lot of other "improvements" that require us to leave the apartment for a certain amount of time and make arrangements for our pets to be secured or put up in a kennell. They give us a notice that says "on Friday or Monday we will be renovating your apartment...... If we need additional time we will let you know." Every time they have sent us this notice it is after the "latest date" they promised. My lease says "pursuant to Fla. Stat. 83.53 they may enter for the protection or preservation of the premises.... Or any other reasonable business purpose". Do I have to let them do the renovations they want or am I covered under my right to private, peaceful possession of the dwelling? Thank you for your help.
A: Unless you just like to take the contrary position and try to convince everyone else that they should follow your view, you should ask yourself why this temporary inconvenience really matters. People who follow the "positive thinking" way of going through life would be thrilled to know their entire apartment was going to be renovated--free of charge. So, rather than spend more of your free time looking for some legal advice that--if followed--might just end up by your eviction for withholding rent or some other worse violation of the lease. If that happens, and if you hire a lawyer to defend you, all of this silly stuff that started the dispute will seem even sillier then. Relax; try to find the brighter side of this temporary situation and then start enjoying your like-new digs.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
