can the property owner start charging you rent after you have lived on the property for over 16 years and not be charged
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can the property owner start charging you rent after you have lived on the property for over 16 years and not be charged
short version the property owner gave me a three day notice to leave or pay
almost 5000 dollars in back rent can they do that when you never paid rent
in the years you have lived on the property. when something stopped working
or needed repaired i fixed it. if the lawn needs mowed i get it done. the
original verbal agreement was i pay the property tax and when i asked i got
i dont know.
Asked on April 12, 2016 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
If you didn't pay rent previously, most likely you would legally be considered a guest, not a tenant. A guest may only stay as long as the property owner let's him/her stay, and at any time--regardless of how long you have been there--the property owner can ask you to leave; or can say you must leave unless you agree to apy a certain amount. If you don't go, they could bring an "ejectment" action in the courts to remove you (this will likely take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending in part on how crowded/busy your local courts are). So while they can't compel you to pay in that they could not sue you for the money, they can give you the ultimatum of leave or pay, and you can decide whether to go or pay.
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