Second bill would let state trump local rental rules.
As Florida grapples with a shortage of affordable housing, the Senate on Friday gave final approval to a bill that could lead to landlords collecting monthly fees instead of security deposits from renters.
The Senate also signed off on a measure that would lead to state law trumping local regulations governing landlords and tenants. Both measures are ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Senators voted 31-7 to pass the bill (HB 133) about renters paying monthly fees. Supporters said it would provide an option to help renters get into apartments without having to come up with potentially large security deposits.
Senate sponsor Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, used an example of an apartment that costs $1,500 a month. He said a new tenant could be forced to pay twice that much to get into the apartment and might be able to better afford it by paying a monthly fee.
Some folks don’t have $3,000,” DiCeglie said. “So this is simply an option.”
But opponents have said potential fees would not be capped and that renters wouldn’t be able to eventually recoup the money, like they might with security deposits. Also, after they move out, they could be forced to pay to repair damage to apartments.
Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, likened the bill, which passed the House last week, to “exploitation.”
“To allow this kind of profiteering, which is what this is, is not something that I can support,” Thompson said.
DiCeglie, however, said such fee arrangements are already being used and that the bill would “codify it and put some guardrails around it.”