WHAT DUTIES DOES A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD HAVE TO MEET?

When a Florida resident decides to offer a residential property for rent on the market, they may discover that serving in the role of landlord is less appealing than they originally thought it would be. Residential landlords have duties to fix property conditions and maintain habitability for their tenants. Though they still have duties to fulfill, commercial landlords are generally not bound to the same strict duties as their residential counterparts.

Duties for commercial landlords are often spelled out in lease agreements, and this post will focus on the creation of those documents to serve the needs of the parties. All readers are reminded that this post is informational in content. No part of this post should be read as legal advice on any particular case or claim.

Commercial Lease Agreements: Information on Duties

Commercial properties are important to the development of communities throughout Florida. They do not, however, provide places for individuals and their families to live. Commercial properties are used to house businesses and enterprises for production and manufacturing.

To this end, issues of habitability are not applicable to commercial leases. Additionally, tenants in commercial spaces often want to take control of property maintenance and alteration on their own so that they can turn their rented spaces into the best possible locations for their fledgling entities. Many commercial landlords have a hands-off approach to their relationships with their tenants, though through their lease agreements they may be required to provide specific services and accommodations.

Preparing a Protective Commercial Lease Agreement

The manner in which a landlord crafts a commercial lease agreement can significantly alter the duties and responsibilities that they will have to their tenants. Form agreements may not serve all of a landlord’s needs and may in fact impose on them detrimental terms contained in generic and unapplicable language. Commercial landlords deserve to enter into fair lease agreements, and their attorneys can help them prepare documents that meet their expectations.