ORLANDO, Fla. — A bill filed ahead of Florida’s 2022 legislative session could create a means to lessen some of the cost challenges for renters.
What You Need To Know
- House Bill 537 would make it more affordable for renters to get into homes
- It would create way for landlords to accept monthly payments instead of a deposit
- The measure was introduced by Florida Rep. Jim Mooney (R-Miami)
- It was filed in advance of the 2022 legislative session
Florida State Representative Jim Mooney (R-Miami) filed House Bill 537. The legislation would address ways for landlords to accept monthly payments from renters in lieu of a larger upfront deposit.
There’s no statute stopping landlords from doing this right now.
The bill, in its current form, is seen as merely an early framework, with more adjustments to come. This could mean the creation of an insurance-like program, providing assurances and protections for landlords who opt to allow monthly payments instead of a large-sum deposit.
Renters would still be obligated to pay for any damages or outstanding rent owed under the legislation.
“I think any tool to help get people into a rental can only be a good thing,” Representative Mooney said. “Unfortunately, it’s not going to solve the issue in a one-size-fits-all, but every tool available can help someone.”
Meli Feliciano of Davenport said such an option would go a long way in helping her family get into an affordable rental unit.
Her family has just weeks to find someplace new. The home they currently rent is being turned back into a short-term vacation rental.
Feliciano said she’s finding in her search that most places are too expensive or not available. That’s on top of coming up with money to pay for upfront fees, deposits and other charges.
“We went and looked at an apartment yesterday,” Feliciano said. “You can give them $700 to hold it, put in the application, but once you get approved, which could be in the matter of a day or two, you have 24 hours to pay like two months’ worth of rent for a deposit, and apart, it’s not even ready until the end of December.”
Feliciano said her family will have to come up with several thousand dollars just to secure housing — money they don’t’ have.
“It’s one thing after another, and trying to get out of the hole is near impossible,” Feliciano said.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has added significant pressure to Florida families.
Felciano and her husband were both laid off in 2020. It’s taken both months to find new jobs, and rebounding has been anything but easy.
They’re not alone.
Heart of Florida United Way estimates it served 1,452 households in Central Florida between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, providing more than $3.6 million in rental assistance.
Various programs offer rental assistance to help push off eviction; however, fewer programs help with the upfront costs of moving into an affordable unit.
The need has only grown.
“Heart of Florida United Way works to help ALICE (Asset Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed — which equated to 46%, or 350,000 households of our tri-county population — prepandemic,” the organization said. “Now, it’s estimated the number has grown to 57% based on our recent survey. ALICE lives paycheck-to-paycheck in jobs that typically require them to work on site. Pre-COVID, most couldn’t afford to be out of work for one week, let alone more than one year.”
It’s expected Mooney’s House Bill 537 will be one of several pieces of legislation filed for the 2022 legislative session addressing the affordable housing crisis.