475.453 Rental information; contract or receipt; refund; penalty. - Florida Statutes

475.453 Rental information; contract or receipt; refund; penalty.

   (1) Each broker or sales associate who furnishes a rental information list to a prospective tenant, for a fee paid by the prospective tenant, shall provide such prospective tenant with a contract or receipt, which contract or receipt contains a provision for the repayment of any amount over 25 percent of the fee to the prospective tenant if the prospective tenant does not obtain a rental. If the rental information list provided by the broker or sales associate to a prospective tenant is not current or accurate in any material respect, the full fee shall be repaid to the prospective tenant upon demand. A demand from the prospective tenant for the return of the fee, or any part thereof, shall be made within 30 days following the day on which the real estate broker or sales associate has contracted to perform services to the prospective tenant. The contract or receipt shall also conform to the guidelines adopted by the commission in order to effect disclosure of material information regarding the service to be provided to the prospective tenant.

   (2) The commission may adopt a guideline for the form of the contract or receipt required to be provided by brokers or sales associates pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1).

   (3)(a) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

   (b) In addition to the penalty prescribed in paragraph (a), the license of any broker or sales associate who participates in any rental information transaction which is in violation of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be subject to suspension or revocation by the commission in the manner prescribed by law.

History. s. 1, ch. 78-214; ss. 31, 42, 43, ch. 79-239; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 30, 38, ch. 82-1; ss. 28, 30, ch. 88-20; s. 10, ch. 91-89; s. 108, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 17, ch. 93-261; s. 44, ch. 2003-164; s. 8, ch. 2006-210.