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  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 07/29/23
    First Name: Kristiina
    Last Name: Thompson
    Email: kristiina.thompson@gmail.com
    Organization Type: other
    Organization: N/A
  • Comment

    "Florida's renters need to be protected. Last year, after resigning my lease in March for the upcoming year, I was given a two month's notice in late July that my lease had been terminated. Why? Due to a ""family emergency"" and the landlord needed to vacate two units in the building by October.

    My unit was selected, and in between two intensive surgeries and significant recovery, I had to move and find a new home, when I could barely walk. After I last minute found a new apartment, I was told from a friend in a different unit in the building that the remaining two units also had their leases terminated, due to ""a family emergency"", with the same two month notice, in a time of year when most units had been signed for the year before, in the college town I live and work in.

    Shortly after moving into my new apartment, I saw a listing for my old unit. The rent had nearly doubled for a 1/1, from $795 to $1,400, with significant exterior damage (nearly a 100 year old building), with no noticeable changes. In the landlord's listing, he mentioned he may be interested in, instead, listing several units in the building and working with ""a savvy Air BnB user who can help set up the hosting application"".

    There was no family emergency. Greed fueled the sudden termination of several leases of working class folks in that building.

    Last year was the most stressful year of my life between back to back surgeries and having to suddenly find a new home, when I needed stability the most. I am extremely fortunate to have found a new home. I came so close to being houseless due to one man's greed. "