By Kristen Hernandez
Law makers in Florida have stepped up to help combat the unaffordable housing crisis plaguing every county in the state. Historically, renters have had little to no government protection from uncapped rent hikes, units without working air conditioning, apartments that require major repairs or upgrades, or having to vacate a unit with little notice at a landlord’s whim.
Rep. Jervante Edmonds, D, of Palm Beach is leading the calvary to make significant changes to Florida’s housing laws. Edmonds sponsored two new housing bills; one focused on protecting renters and one on assisting homeowners.
House Bill 31, or HB31, passed through January’s legislative session and will offer more tenant protections. HB 41 also passed and will offer funding for homeowners struggling with the recent surge in insurance rates.
“I took on Florida’s biggest crisis” said Edmonds, in a Facebook post. “Affordable housing.”
New Renter Protections
Key provisions addressed in HB31 include:
Cap on Rent Increases – Uncontrolled rent hikes have been a major factor facing renters and causes financial instability. This provision restricts rent increases to no more than once in a 12-month period, with a cap of 30% of the current rent.
Requirements for Working Air conditioners in Rental Units – In South Florida’s heat, working air conditioning is essential to everyday safety. The bill will ensure that the basic standards in rental properties, except for single-family homes or duplexes, include functioning air conditioning.
Extended Notice Periods for Lease Termination– Revises the notification period landlords are required to provide before terminating a rental agreement.
Allowance for Landlords to act on Partial Rent Payments – HB31 also provides landlords the ability to terminate a rental agreement or take legal action for noncompliance, even if tenants make partial rent payments.
Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, South Florida counties reported 15,354 new eviction filings.
Low-income households made up 32% of all rentals within Broward County in 2023, according to a Florida Rental Market Study Winter Update by University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies. A household is considered low-income if combined earnings are 60% of area median income (AMI) or less.
Relief for Homeowners
Throughout Florida, homeowner’s insurance has increased 102% in the last three years and costs three times more than the national average, according to the Insurance Information Institue. Edmonds’ second housing bill, HB 41, is directed towards assisting homeowners struggling to keep up with soaring home and auto insurance rates.
“This bill would establish a grant program, awarding $2,500 for those 65 and older and $1,500 for those younger to pay for Home and Auto Insurance,” said Edmonds, on his social media page. “Random people are getting dropped by their insurance companies, and right now we have to focus on real solutions. That’s why I proposed this bill.”
Both housing bills take effect on July 1, 2024. Florida’s housing laws have been unbalanced for decades, and it’ll take some time before the new protections will prove to be enough to curb the housing crisis.
