The Florida Senate

83.43  Definitions.--As used in this part, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some other meaning is plainly indicated:

(1)  "Building, housing, and health codes" means any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning health, safety, sanitation or fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or appearance, of any dwelling unit.

(2)  "Dwelling unit" means:

(a)  A structure or part of a structure that is rented for use as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person or by two or more persons who maintain a common household.

(b)  A mobile home rented by a tenant.

(c)  A structure or part of a structure that is furnished, with or without rent, as an incident of employment for use as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one or more persons.

(3)  "Landlord" means the owner or lessor of a dwelling unit.

(4)  "Tenant" means any person entitled to occupy a dwelling unit under a rental agreement.

(5)  "Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part and a mobile home lot and the appurtenant facilities and grounds, areas, facilities, and property held out for the use of tenants generally.

(6)  "Rent" means the periodic payments due the landlord from the tenant for occupancy under a rental agreement and any other payments due the landlord from the tenant as may be designated as rent in a written rental agreement.

(7)  "Rental agreement" means any written agreement, including amendments or addenda, or oral agreement for a duration of less than 1 year, providing for use and occupancy of premises.

(8)  "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.

(9)  "Advance rent" means moneys paid to the landlord to be applied to future rent payment periods, but does not include rent paid in advance for a current rent payment period.

(10)  "Transient occupancy" means occupancy when it is the intention of the parties that the occupancy will be temporary.

(11)  "Deposit money" means any money held by the landlord on behalf of the tenant, including, but not limited to, damage deposits, security deposits, advance rent deposit, pet deposit, or any contractual deposit agreed to between landlord and tenant either in writing or orally.

(12)  "Security deposits" means any moneys held by the landlord as security for the performance of the rental agreement, including, but not limited to, monetary damage to the landlord caused by the tenant's breach of lease prior to the expiration thereof.

(13)  "Legal holiday" means holidays observed by the clerk of the court.

(14)  "Servicemember" shall have the same meaning as provided in s. 250.01

(15)  "Active duty" shall have the same meaning as provided in s. 250.01

(16)  "State active duty" shall have the same meaning as provided in s. 250.01

(17)  "Early termination fee" means any charge, fee, or forfeiture that is provided for in a written rental agreement and is assessed to a tenant when a tenant elects to terminate the rental agreement, as provided in the agreement, and vacates a dwelling unit before the end of the rental agreement. An early termination fee does not include:

(a)  Unpaid rent and other accrued charges through the end of the month in which the landlord retakes possession of the dwelling unit.

(b)  Charges for damages to the dwelling unit.

(c)  Charges associated with a rental agreement settlement, release, buy-out, or accord and satisfaction agreement.

History.--s. 2, ch. 73-330; s. 1, ch. 74-143; s. 1, ch. 81-190; s. 3, ch. 83-151; s. 17, ch. 94-170; s. 2, ch. 2003-72; s. 1, ch. 2008-131.