State Specific Question About: FLORIDA (FL)

My tenant only moved in almost a month now and already there are violations to the lease provisions. The realtor submitted a package for 1 divorced male with his 12 yr old as occupants, no others...The number of occupants was the main reason I opted for this application.. But now since moved in, his ex-wife (allegedly) and their 2 other children have staying there in addition to their 3 dogs. My lease provision states the 2 authorized applicants and has a pet clause which states no pet is permitted without written approval and pet addendum.

Every time I approach him its always that she does not stay here and its her dogs that came with her while she is visiting. The only problem is she sleeps there every day and so are the dogs. How do I prove my case as tenants constantly lie and proving others other than applicant resides at your property and with dogs? I am concern as this is a 12 month lease and there have already proven to be non compliant tenant who will just lie. I have a pet policy which is a non refundable pet fee for 1 dog and 1 cat. The maximum of dogs I allowed per property is 2 and certain breed.

No pets is no pets at any time. Period.

Hopefully your lease has an unauthorized resident clause? You can nail him on both. That's a lot more people and pets and a lot more wear and tear.

Ours is 75$ a month for EACH resident not on lease staying past the allotted "vacation" time per calendar month or year.

But the dog thing for me is a HUGE NO.

Document with pictures etc.

How can his two other children get left off the lease?? Are they adults or are they stepchildren? That's weird to me.

This clause is now in my lease:

Pets: No pets. Tenant shall not keep any pets in or on the premises unless by prior written approval of landlord. Tenant shall not "pet sit" or allow visitors to bring pets in or on the property. If pets are discovered on the property tenant agrees to pay a non-refundable pet fee of $500 per incident and landlord may at his discretion terminate the lease or proceed with tenancy on a month to month basis adding $100 per month as pet rent.

Count this experience as tuition for some very important lessons.

First, you need to be confident and knowledgeable about the contents of your lease - and it needs to contain clauses that are clear in both expectations and consequences.

Then you need to communicate this confidence & knowledge to your tenants - you must clearly be in charge. That means you give one written notice of a violation with a date and a consequence.

Then if a Tenant refuses to abide by the legally binding contract they willingly entered into - follow through with the consequences (fees, eviction, whatever) immediately.