With rising rents, a need for safe and affordable housing, and tenants not knowing their legal rights, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners recently opened its Office of Tenant Services to help residents understand their rights and have access to assistance with these challenges.
Now open, the Office of Tenant Services is offering “a one-stop shop that addresses issues of landlord and tenant rights for citizens located within unincorporated Orange County.” According to Orange County, its focus will be on outreach and education for both tenants and landlords by providing information related to residential renting within Orange County.
“This is a great opportunity for our county to provide important resources to our residents, and I am excited to officially open the Office of Tenant Services. We will be one of the few counties in the state that has such an office, and our staff has worked tirelessly to make this day possible,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “I am looking forward to engaging with the Legal Aid Society and to using our funds to provide services to tenants and landlords.”
The Office of Tenant Services ensures residents know what their rights are under Florida law. The office can also investigate complaints and enforce the Tenant Bill of Rights Ordinance and the Rental Notices Ordinance, as well as provide referrals for:
- Orange County Code Enforcement
- Other Orange County departments
- Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association
- Nonprofit organizations
- Additional community stakeholders
For more information about this program, visit the Orange County Office of Tenant Services directly.
