Monthly Legal Insights

For Property Managers and Landlords

Source: Law Offices of Heist, Weisse & Wolk, PLLC

A common question we get pertains to how long documents, electronic or paper should be kept. Surprisingly, parties, landlord, tenant or property owner/manager has the right to sue within 5 solid years on a dispute based on a written agreement. If based on a verbal agreement, the time is shortened to 4 years. Advice? Save everything no matter how inconvenient this may be. Does this mean paper? Mountains of documents? Most likely you are safe with everything saved in an electronic format but original documents if on paper are the best. Sneaky folks often wait years to sue hoping your documents and evidence is gone. BEWARE.

A rental unit can look, feel, and smell abandoned but is it? It could be screaming abandoned!! This is where common sense or gut instincts go out the window and you must follow the law. Learn how to be 100% sure you have legal abandonment before you take possession.

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Your tenant pays rent late. Every. Single. Month. It's a chronic, never-ending situation. Well. At least they pay. So now you are fed up chasing the rent, serve a Three Day Notice on the day your lease allows, no payment and BANG, we file an eviction. Any risk here? Won't the judge show no sympathy to the tenant? It's not that simple.

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Source: Law Offices of Heist, Weisse & Wolk, PLLC

One of the most common traits of every successful property manager is that they are or were active members of their property management association. Manage multifamily? Their local apartment association. Manage single family? Their local NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) chapter. These property managers are the best of the best and truly can be considered successful in their profession. While membership is the first step, becoming active and involved will propel a property manager into being the absolute best asset manager they can be. Education, networking and professional designations are crucial and all these associations provide what a property manager needs. Click here for the directory list of the associations in Florida and get involved!

So many evictions can be avoided. As eviction attorneys, we are probably shooting ourselves in the foot for telling you how but it must be done as it's the right thing to do. It's rare to find a tenant who REALLY wants to go to court or REALLY wants to have an eviction filed and with proper communication, often the tenant will agree to vacate. A simple form called an Agreement To Vacate is one of your most valuable tools but as with any tool, you need to know how to use it.

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Chip Tatum Executive Vice President Florida Apartment Association

Our Industry Leader this month is the Executive Vice President of the Florida Apartment Association, the undisputed guiding force in the multifamily housing industry. Mr. Tatum's 25+ year career has included roles including property management, local and state government affairs, and executive roles for both the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando and the Florida Apartment Association. He has indeed propelled the Florida Apartment Association into the future.

Chip Tatum serves as executive vice president of the Florida Apartment Association (FAA). Chip leads a talented association staff and volunteer industry leaders and works collaboratively with nine locally affiliated associations.

Read more about Chip here...

A lot of landlords and property managers fail to realize that there are lesser known legal holidays which must be excluded in the counting of the expiration date on legal notices, the most common being the Three Day Notice. Marking your calendar each year will help you avoid this expensive mistake as you must redo your Notice and wait it out. Don't forget that June 19th, Juneteenth, is a legal holiday and many courts are closed. Closest next Legal Holiday is Memorial Day, May 25. Contact us at info@evict.com to confirm or just consider Juneteenth a Legal holiday to be safe.

Download Your 2026 Legal Holiday List

Taught by: Attorneys Harry Heist or Kirk Eason

Having trouble getting out of the office for a day? Book a date and time for a 2 hour ZOOM LEGAL CLASS designed for your portfolio or association. Dates are filling fast! Don't let a scheduling conflict hold you back from the education you or your agents need. Have a real estate license? We can get you CE credits!

Email us at info@evict.com to get scheduled...

Source: Law Offices of Heist, Weisse & Wolk

Kids love trampolines, neighbor's kids love them and so does the drunk uncle who comes to visit at a family gathering. Insurance companies hate them and will cancel a policy if they spot one while doing a drive by. Learn how a simple yard accessory can cause some serious problems that can be avoided.

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This Month's Top Property Manager Situations

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