Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners voted today to put in place a new Rental Notices Ordinance that will require landlords to give a 60-day written notice for any rent increases of more than 5%.
The ordinance, which is meant to protect tenants, will take effect throughout all of Orange County, including all 13 municipalities. The ordinance also provides protections for residents and landlords who may not have a written lease agreement in place and pay rent on a quarterly or monthly basis – and either party will be able to terminate residential arrangements by giving the other party no less than 60 days written notice.
“The 60-day notice is critical. Having this ordinance in place gives tenants time to prepare and seek alternative housing in the event that they do not wish to stay where they are currently living,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings.
Renters can file a complaint against a landlord or property owner who has raised the rent by more than 5% without giving 60 days’ written notice by calling 3-1-1.
The Rental Notices Ordinance will become effective once filed with the Florida Department of State, which can take up to 10 days.
The county and city must do their part in lowering taxes on non homestead properties and be diligent in collecting from the scam lords who rent and maintain their homestead exemption for a lower tax bill.
Is expanding notices really the problem? We need to implement a maximum rent increase law. In return, landlords will receive a reduced property tax. If the city is serious about this, they need to buy into it their part.