DAVIS ISLANDS, Fla. - Under a new Florida law taking effect October 1, landlords must provide written disclosure of any flood risks or past flood damage before tenants sign a lease.

If they fail to do so and flooding later damages a unit, renters can legally break their lease. The law does not create criminal penalties or new legal grounds for tenants to sue landlords – it’s strictly about transparency and giving renters information up front.

Local perspective:

After Hurricane Helene sent nearly 10 feet of storm surge into Tampa Bay area neighborhoods, flood disclosure has become a pressing issue. On Davis Islands , most properties were flooded, including many rental units.

Property manager David Lowery, who oversees hundreds of rentals in the Tampa Bay area, said he sees both bene

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