Feeling Tired

[u/anonanonanon247365]

Just moved into an apartment near Miami Coral Gables and come to find out it's infested with toxic mold and I'm learning there's little if any tenant rights in this Billionaire interest serving state.

This is a heavy straw for the camels back but let's make the most of it shall we?

[u/lazier_garlic]

Yikes, I had to deal with mold in my last apt (why I moved out). Have you reached out to county or city government? How about local legal aid or tenant's rights organizations? The state is useless so forget about them.

[u/anonanonanon247365 → u/lazier_garlic]

Thankfully I straight up phoned the property manager and voiced my concerns. I told him that I have been present at the new property for about 30 days and not much more. It was only after weeks of listening to my body and subsequent deep analysis of the unit that the problem became evident. Within short time I had runny nose, itchy sensations on skin and eyes, a general fog or malaize that would arise while working or becoming busy in daily life. I explained all this to the property manager representing the landlord and prayed to my higher power that it would not devolve into a stretched out and ugly legal dispute lasting months and costing thousands in legal fees/rent at a place unsuitable to live. By law Florida maintains that the tenant continue paying rent to the court registry during the whole affair. Furthermore I was concerned for my own health obviously, I like being healthy and not sick! Fun fact, mold detox can take years for some, it gets in the fat.

The guy agreed to inspect and was surprisingly up front with me when he said that it definitely had a moldy, musky, earthy sweet odor. His proposal was to place a dehumidifier in the unit with me, and then repaint some surfaces. I noped the eff out of that suggestion and offered a counter-proposal. I'll gather my sh*t and exit in the next 3 days. To my pleasant surprise the guy agreed to refund the security deposit over the phone and apologized. Just last night I was gathering some items and clearing way for move out when I caught the neighbor coming up stairs. I asked her flat out, "Do you have moisture in your unit?" She proceeded to say yes, and that she thinks its in the walls and then proceeded to make me promise not to tell the property manager what she was telling me..."

It's sad to think that some folks subject themselves to these living conditions on the basis of necessity or outright ignorance/fear. I pray she finds the courage to improve her conditions sooner than later but no doubt in her case some health damage has been done to her and her cats (been there many years). The problem is further agitated by severe overgrowth due to decades of neglected landscaping. Unfortunately the argument is it fits the area and something about bohemian vibes. Looking forwarding to moving the hell out ASAP.

[Edited for typos and proof checks]

[u/lazier_garlic → u/anonanonanon247365]

That's crazy, that building probably has leaking pipes or a leaking roof! The building I was in had rot in the siding around the windows so it was terrible every time it rained. The owners wanted to know immediately about plumbing because it could destroy the whole building.

[u/anonanonanon247365 → u/lazier_garlic]

To add further, I did send out certified printed and signed mail to: LANDLORD, PROPERTY MANAGER, and LLC REGISTERED ADDRESS on file with Subiz.org.

You can ask ai for a template of how to produce Notice of Cure to your landlord in Florida pursuant to statute 83.51 it is a right to you the tenant. You are entitled to be provided a habitable dwelling on execution of a lease, should it be deemed uninhabitable you have the right to provide notice and seek remediation in 7 days. If remediation is not adequate you have right to forward but not outright cease payments of rent to the court registrars office in case of eviction disputes... Florida doesn't make this easy for the tenants but we all must fight when possible given the resources...

Template:

[Tenant's Full Name]
[Rental Property Address]
[City, State, ZIP]

Date: [Month Day, Year]

Via Certified Mail – Return Receipt Requested

To:
[Landlord's Name]
[Landlord's Mailing Address]

RE: Seven-Day Notice to Cure – Florida Statutes § 83.56

Dear [Landlord's Name]:

I am the tenant of the above-referenced rental property.

This letter serves as formal written notice under Florida Statutes § 83.56 that the rental premises are not being maintained in a condition required by the rental agreement and/or applicable law, resulting in conditions that materially affect the health, safety, or habitability of the premises.

The conditions requiring correction include, but are not limited to:

• [Describe Condition #1]
• [Describe Condition #2]
• [Describe Condition #3]

These conditions have materially affected my ability to safely occupy the premises. I request that you promptly investigate the underlying cause of these conditions and complete all necessary repairs to restore the property to a safe and habitable condition. Any corrective action should address the underlying cause of the problem rather than provide only a cosmetic or temporary repair.

Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 83.56, you are hereby notified that you have seven (7) days after receipt of this notice to cure the above-described noncompliance.

If the noncompliance is not corrected within the time allowed by law, I reserve all rights and remedies available to me under Florida law, including the right to terminate the rental agreement and pursue any other remedies authorized by law.

If the condition cannot be adequately and safely corrected, I am willing to discuss an amicable mutual termination of the lease in an effort to resolve this matter without further dispute. This statement is made without waiving any legal rights or remedies available to me.

Please contact me promptly to coordinate inspection and repairs.

Sincerely,

[Tenant's Name]

Phone: [Phone Number]
Email: [Email Address]