Read these five clauses before signing a Florida lease

Leases are long and mostly standard. The parts that generate arguments are few. Renewal and notice. How much notice either side has to give, and what happens if nobody gives any — automatic renewal for another full term, or conversion to month-to-month at a different rate. This single clause decides whether a tenant is free to leave in the spring. Early termination. Florida allows a lease to contain a liquidated damages or early termination provision that the tenant accepts separately, capped at a defined number of months' rent. Without it, the tenant remains liable under the general rule and the landlord has a duty that limits how that plays out. Knowing which version is in the lease is worth more than knowing the rent. Maintenance split. Which repairs are the landlord's, which are the tenant's, and whether there is a dollar threshold under which the tenant pays. Air conditioning in Florida is not a minor line item. Fees and deposits. What is a deposit, what is a non-refundable fee, what the pet arrangement is, and how late fees are calculated. A "fee" and a "deposit" have different fates at move-out. Association rules. In a condominium or HOA, the tenant is bound by rules that are not in the lease at all — parking, guests, move-in hours, approval processes. Ask for them before signing, not after the moving truck is booked. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and every deal is different — check your own case with a licensed professional. Alberto Zaltzberg — Adonait · adonait.com