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[felabeorbt]

Some people, including me, have been living in a hotel for well over a year, and a document has been given to permanent tenants (like myself) by the owners in which it specifically says the tenant has until the 5th of each month to pay rent, and if not paid by then, a certain extra amount is charged. This document we’re told by management has no specific validity and is only given because of tax purposes.

These tenants--as different than guests--are not given the same benefits (for lack of better word here) such as in the best of cases the maid refusing to supply toilet tissue, but on the other hand no real effort being made by managers to have maid clean the hotel rooms of tenants, again, as opposed to guests. I know of cases in which some tenants do refuse to have their rooms cleaned on the basis that although “their home” consists of a bedroom and a bath, they do not wish to be bothered by any cleaning lady because they live as crowded as can be, having all their belongings with them; this includes entire wardrobe, food, home accessories and many other belongings!!!!

Management in the hotel is lacking in many aspects, and government agencies that supposedly regulate hotels in the state of Florida, when called over to the building for multiple violations--including fire and building code--simply give the hotel a clean bill of health (I know because I have been one to call them). Also there is the fact that no warning of any kind is given the tenants as to when water will be cut due to leaking old pipes even when management has known the pipes have been in that condition for days. Neither when exterminator will be stopping by, meaning that people can wake up to no water at all, or be aroused from their sleep at any given time due to exterminator or other matter even on Saturday mornings.

I have come to know that there are really no strict regulations for hotel owners in the state of Florida--at least not in south Florida--and I can only suppose due to this economic crisis in which thousands have lost their homes to foreclosure in this state, that a great majority of hotels in the area are making a big profit renting to permanent tenants.

But what are the rules or laws (if any) for permanent hotel tenants regarding documents which supposedly are for tax purposes for owner, but which are made to sign and initialize by tenants? Don’t these documents prove that these persons are tenants and not guests? Do these tenants have any rights? By the way some of the tenants have made and kept copies of those signed documents. The catch might be, of course, that it was given by management but neither managers nor owner ever signed or initialized it themselves!!!!

Also, does a hotel owner have the obligation towards permanent tenants to send a letter saying he will be raising rent?

Or does posting it at the office door be sufficient notice, especially if it’s less than four days prior to the 1st of the month?

And the last question: Is it legal to raise the rent again after having raised it only a month ago?

[egan]

Yes, it is their place.

[egan]

You're a tenant, not a hotel guest. You're probably getting a special rate below what the nightly or weekly rate would be, so they're under no obligation to provide you with the same service that they give the guests. If you don't like this arrangement, find a real place to live.

And yes, if you have no lease or contract they can raise the rent on you whenever they want.

[weiford]

You're not a tenant, you're a guest. You don't pay rent, you pay whatever the hotel owner says you need to pay. If you have a contract that specifies you pay a certain amount of money for a certain amount of time then you can enforce that contract. Otherwise the state doesn't really get involved in flophouses.