Andrew Douglas, P.A., Florida Construction Law Attorney

09/02/2026

Florida Contractor Facing a DBPR Complaint: What Happens Next?

Receiving a complaint from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (“DBPR”) can be unsettling for a licensed contractor. A complaint can involve allegations ranging from workmanship and permitting issues to abandonment, financial mismanagement, unlicensed activity, fraud, or violations involving a contractor’s qualifying responsibilities. The filing of a complaint, however, does not mean that DBPR has determined that the contractor violated Florida law....

Florida Contractor Facing a DBPR Complaint: What Happens Next? Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm DouglasFirm

07/29/2026

Florida Unlawful Detainer and Unauthorized Occupant Removal: The Difference Between Florida Statutes Sections 82.035 and 82.036

Florida property owners frequently use the term unlawful detainer to describe the process of removing a person who occupies property without a continuing legal right to possession. However, Florida law provides several different procedures depending on how the person entered the property, whether permission was originally given, and whether a landlord-tenant relationship exists. Two statutes commonly considered in these situations are Florida Statutes sections 82.035 and 82.036....

Florida Unlawful Detainer and Unauthorized Occupant Removal: The Difference Between Florida Statutes Sections 82.035 and 82.036 Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm Evictions

06/18/2026

Terminating a Florida Lease (Without a Specific Term) Under Section 83.57: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

Florida law gives landlords and tenants a way to end certain rental arrangements without proving that either side did anything wrong. That rule is found in Florida Statute § 83.57, which applies to a tenancy without a specific term. In practical terms, this usually means a week-to-week, month-to-month, quarter-to-quarter, or year-to-year tenancy. Most common is month-to-month. These arrangements continue from one rental period to the next until either the landlord or the tenant gives proper written notice....

Terminating a Florida Lease (Without a Specific Term) Under Section 83.57: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm Evictions

05/12/2026

Florida Security Deposit Claim Notices: How Landlords Should List Amounts, Estimates, and Deductions

When a Florida tenant moves out, the landlord may discover unpaid rent, property damage, missing items, cleaning issues, or other charges. The landlord may believe the security deposit should cover some or all of those amounts. But Florida landlords need to be careful. If a landlord intends to impose a claim on a residential tenant’s security deposit, Florida law requires a written notice....

Florida Security Deposit Claim Notices: How Landlords Should List Amounts, Estimates, and Deductions Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm Evictions

04/10/2026

How to Contest a Florida Construction Lien Without Making Costly Mistakes

A Florida construction lien can create immediate problems for a property owner. It can delay a sale, interfere with refinancing, disrupt a draw request, and add pressure to a construction dispute that was already difficult. If you need to contest a Florida construction lien, it is important to move carefully and strategically. A recorded lien is not automatically valid just because it appears in the public records....

How to Contest a Florida Construction Lien Without Making Costly Mistakes Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm DouglasFirm

04/08/2026

Florida Commercial Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent: What Landlords Need to Know

When a commercial tenant stops paying rent, most landlords want the same thing: possession back as quickly as possible, with as little delay and expense as possible. A Florida commercial eviction for nonpayment of rent can move relatively fast, but only if the landlord gets the early steps right. Commercial tenancies in Florida are governed by Part I of Chapter 83, not the residential portion of the statute, and that distinction matters....

Florida Commercial Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent: What Landlords Need to Know Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm DouglasFirm

04/01/2026

How Florida Property Owners Can Protect Against Construction Liens

Construction liens can create major problems for Florida property owners. Even when you pay your general contractor in full, a subcontractor, laborer, or supplier may still file a lien if they were not paid for work or materials provided to your project. For homeowners, commercial property owners, and developers, a construction lien can delay a sale, interfere with refinancing, cloud title, and even lead to a foreclosure action....

How Florida Property Owners Can Protect Against Construction Liens Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm

03/06/2026

Florida Roommate and Subtenant Evictions: Who Can Evict Whom (and How)

Landlord-focused guide for Florida property owners and managers Roommate and subtenant disputes in Florida can derail an otherwise straightforward possession case because the key issue is not always “who’s causing problems,” but who has the legal right (standing) to remove whom—and whether the correct case type is eviction (Chapter 83) or unlawful detainer (Chapter 82). This Florida-specific guide walks landlords through the most common living arrangements, what notices apply, and how to choose the cleanest path to possession....

Florida Roommate and Subtenant Evictions: Who Can Evict Whom (and How) Florida Construction Law Attorney & Commercial Litigation Law Firm DouglasFirm

02/24/2026

How Much Should You Demand in a Demand Letter? A Practical Guide to Calculating Contract Damages

Most disputes don’t start in a courtroom—they start in an email thread that gets tense, a vendor who stops responding, or a customer who suddenly “has issues” only after the invoice is due. At that early stage, a demand letter can do what litigation often can’t: force clarity. It frames the facts, defines the legal basis, and—most importantly—puts a number on the table that the other side can take seriously....

02/20/2026

Florida Evictions: Can a Landlord File for Possession Only and Sue for Damages Later?

When a tenant defaults, most Florida landlords want two things: (1) possession back quickly and (2) money damages(past-due rent, accelerated rent, and/or property damage). A common question is whether Florida law allows you to split those goals into two separate actions—one case focused on possession, and a separate case later (or in parallel) for damages. Yes. Florida appellate courts recognize that eviction is designed to be a fast, possession-focused proceeding, and that monetary claims can be pursued separately....

Florida landlords can file an eviction for possession only and pursue unpaid rent, acceleration, and other damages in a separate action. Learn the pros/cons and key Florida case law.