Whether you just signed your lease or have rented the same place for a while, you should know what your lease says. Nothing is more important than reading everything in your lease. If you have trouble understanding your Orlando lease agreement, contact your property manager. Bear in mind that an attorney has reviewed and approved your lease agreement, ensuring it abides by Florida Statute 83, Landlord and Tenant laws.
Rent and Fees
We cannot stress this enough: thoroughly read your lease agreement. Keep a copy on hand so you can refer to it whenever you need to refresh your memory. Many tenants either overlook important items or forget them after lease-signing day.
But let’s start with the basics.
Rent Amount and Due Date
This may seem like total “duh” details, but you’d be surprised how many people fail to remember them.
Know how much your rent amount and the amounts of any penalty fees for late payment. At The Realty Medics, there is NO grace period. Rent is due on the first of each month. Period.
Renter’s Insurance
Every tenant should have renter’s insurance. This is mandatory for every tenant with lease agreements through The Realty Medics and is included in the Resident Benefits Package. However, tenants have the option to take out a policy on their own to gain higher coverage amounts. While a small price to pay, it can save a tenant thousands of dollars in possession replacements.
How? Should a leak or natural disaster create issues in the rental home, the owner’s insurance covers the building materials, not the tenant’s stuff. Renter’s insurance covers the cost of replacing anything damaged or destroyed.
Call Out Problems Early
While not every problem requires immediate attention, tenants should still complete a move-in checklist within one week of tenancy. The checklist protects tenants from having their security deposit deductions for any defective or poor-condition items. The tenant may find themselves held responsible for anything reported later or discovered upon moving out.
Outdoor Maintenance and Care
There should never be any question about whether the tenant or the owner is responsible for outdoor maintenance and care. Lease agreements spell out the division of responsibility.
Lawn Care and Landscaping
Tenants are only responsible for basic lawn care tasks. As a renter, you should be ready to complete regular mowing, edging, weeding, trimming, and watering tasks. Otherwise, you should make arrangements to pay for these services on your dime.
The owner will be responsible for picking up the tab for larger activities like tree trimming or bigger landscaping projects.
Pool Maintenance
When it comes to the complicated maintenance for hot tubs or swimming pools, the owner is responsible for the tab. With that said, maintaining the water level (draining or adding water as needed) is the tenant’s responsibility.
Tenants will need to pay for any damage resulting from too much or too little water in the pool. Should a tenant create a major yet completely avoidable problem, they will also be responsible for the repair costs.
Indoor Maintenance and Care
The same is true of indoor maintenance and care. Lease agreements in Orlando clearly indicate which tasks tenants are responsible for.
Basic Plumbing
Tenants must unclog toilets, replace toilet flapper valves, and remove foreign objects in garbage disposals, sinks, and drains.
Air Conditioning Maintenance
When you live in Orlando, keeping the AC in tiptop shape is one of THE most important tenant responsibilities. The Realty Medics has multiple resources explaining how to change A/C filters and keep the A/C condensation drain clear.
Miscellaneous Repair/Replacement
The tenant is also responsible for repairing or replacing glass, and screens in doors and windows. They are also on the hook to replace light bulbs or tubes.
Pest Extermination
Since tenants live on the premises, they are also responsible for any internal or external extermination. Should they require professional services, tenants can reach out to their property manager to help them hire trusted experts.
Additional Tenant Lease Considerations
If you have a lease through The Realty Medics, we are the only point of contact. Our tenants will not have the opportunity to speak with the owner directly.
Every single rental home through The Realty Medics does not allow smoking indoors, trampolines, or above-ground pools. Any additional lease considerations will reflect the specifics of the property. Below are a few common ones:
Owner and HOA Interactions
Any homeowner association (HOA) violations caused by the tenant will be the tenant’s responsibility to solve and put things in good standing. If it is an owner’s violation, The Realty Medics will have the owner handle the problem.
Pets and Other Roomies
During the application process, potential tenants must list every cohabitant, human or otherwise.
Pets must be screened during the application process. Any pets brought in at a later time without the property manager’s knowledge are a violation of the lease agreement.
If a tenant wants to add a roommate, they must go through the application process and obtain owner permission. Otherwise, this is a violation of the lease agreement.
Any Alterations
Before making any “improvements” to the rental home, contact your property manager so they can get the owner’s permission. Tenants should not destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove anything on the rental property belonging to the landlord. No one can put up or change existing structures or amenities without the landlord’s permission.
That means don’t change the color of the paint, remove carpeting, or create new doorways on a wall. Assume this has happened enough for us to have to mention it.
Utilities
Tenants cover the basic utilities like power, water, cable, wifi, and phone lines. The only exception is if any costs are included in the HOA costs, such as those in a townhouse or condo.
Ask If You Don’t Know
If something doesn’t make sense to you, don’t try to just wing it. Should you have any questions about your lease agreement, reach out to your property manager. You can also call our main line 321-947-7653 or visit the Tenant Portal.
