Do I need to put tenants up in hotel during termite tenting?

[Jean H.]

Although I had my rental house tented for termites before the tenants moved in, I recently went to inspect the property and found some evidence of termites.  I called the termite tenting people and they confirmed I do indeed have termites.  Tenting requires that the residents leave for 3 days and 2 nights and to take out all food and pets.

As the landlord, do I just tell them the house needs to be tented and to have them schedule the tenting while they are out of town, or do I need to offer them an alternative place to stay while it is being tented?

The tenants and I are not on the best of terms.  They've only been in the house for 6 months and have consistently tried to pay late every month (I have insisted on on-time rental payments, and they have complied, but grudgingly), brought a dog in despite a "no pets" policy, and are generally stand-offish (the first thing they did when they moved in was install a security system, and when I come by the house even with an appointment, they call me while I'm on the front steps and say that they're not in the house). 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Randy E.]

First, I would hold off on the tenting.  Do the tenants have a lease or are they month-to-month?

If m-t-m, give them 30 days notice to move.  If a lease and the lease states they are not to have a pet, file for eviction for cause.  Either way, once they are out, schedule the tenting and list the property for rent again.

You ended up with bad tenants and I wouldn't want to have to deal with them any longer.

As to your original question, I'm not a lawyer and I don't know Florida real estate law, but my guess is a landlord is responsible for putting tenants in a hotel during a time when the rental unit is inaccessible.  

Good luck.