Q: Can landlord withholding rental history verification unless rent renewal/move out letter is signed ASAP (due in 9 days).
I am currently living in a rental home with my lease being up 12/31/2020. My landlord requested I sign a renewal/move out letter 60 days prior to my lease being up. Since 10/8 I have received 13 emails (4 today) and 5 text messages requesting this. I do like where I am currently living, however I am considering other rentals and have submitted applications. These possible landlords are contacting and requesting verification of rental history from my current landlord. My landlord sent me a message stating they need the renewal/move out letter signed as soon as possible, as they will not do any verification's unless the letter is signed. No where in my lease agreement or renewal/move out letter states they can withhold verification of rental history if the renewal/move out letter is not signed (meaning signed before/on/after the due date). Can they withhold verifying rental history even if the renewal/move out letter is not due until 10/30/2020? Are there any laws regarding this?
A:
Rather than spending several hours looking for current Florida case law to support or undercut this ingenious way to make tenants notify their landlord whether they are staying or not I will just advise you to make up your mind now instead of "stringing them along" and making them very very nervous.
Explanation: Every corporate landlord in Florida (and probably in all states) is dying right now--because there are so many tenants are out of work and way behind on their rent payments. (Note: The most common reason is because federal law ALLOWS tenants be late because of Covid-19.)
Suggestion: When shopping around for new digs try taking them copies of you last 12 months of bank statements and copies of checks, etc. to show the new landlord that you are a great tenant. (Note: The reason they are requiring proof from you upfront is the very same reason your current landlord is acting frantic.)
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