Miya’s Law: What Florida Landlords and Tenants Should Know About New Rules for Florida Landlords and Property Managers
Key components of a new law aimed to increase residential tenant safety became effective on January 1, 2023. The law, codified as Florida Statutes Section 83.515, and commonly referred to as “Miya’s Law,” is named after Miya Marcano, an Orlando college student who was tragically murdered in her apartment by a maintenance worker who entered her unit with an apartment key fob. Miya’s Law imposes heightened duties on Florida landlords and property managers. Florida landlords and property managers should be aware of these changes to ensure compliance with the law.
Background Screenings
Under Miya’s Law, landlords of public lodging establishments (as defined under F.S. 509.242(1)(d)) or nontransient or transient apartments, are required to perform thorough background checks on any potential apartment complex employee as a condition of employment.
The background screening must be performed by a consumer reporting agency in accordance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The screening must also include a search of criminal history records and sexual predator and sexual offender registries of all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Under the law, landlords have the right to disqualify a potential employee if the applicant has been found guilty, convicted, or entered a plea of guilty to a criminal offense that involves the disregard of safety of others (i.e., a felony or misdemeanor in the first degree in Florida), or a criminal offense committed in any jurisdiction which involves violence, including, but not limited to, murder, sexual battery, robbery, carjacking, home invasions, and stalking.
