August 14, 2026 · 3 min read
When a storm is approaching, renters often wonder where their responsibilities end and their landlord's begin. Who puts up the shutters? Who covers damaged furniture? What happens if the home becomes unlivable? The answers depend partly on your lease and partly on Florida law, and knowing them before a watch is issued makes the days ahead of a storm much calmer. This guide is for tenants renting homes, condos, and apartments in Bradenton, Sarasota, and the surrounding area.
Start With Your Lease
Your lease is the first place to look. Many leases address who installs and removes storm shutters, how outdoor furniture and grills should be secured, whether you should notify the landlord before evacuating, and how to report damage afterward. If yours is silent on any of these, ask your landlord or property manager now rather than when a storm is days away. Under Florida law, landlords are generally responsible for keeping the roof, windows, doors, exterior walls, and other structural components in good repair, while tenants are responsible for their own belongings and for following reasonable instructions about securing the home.
Your Belongings Are Your Responsibility
A landlord's insurance is written to protect the building, not the tenant's possessions. If wind-driven rain ruins your couch or a long outage spoils your groceries, your landlord's policy generally will not cover it. A renters insurance policy is what protects your personal property, and it is worth reviewing before the season peaks. Keep in mind that the flood disclosure Florida now requires with leases of one year or longer states plainly that renters insurance policies do not include flood coverage, so ask an agent whether separate flood coverage makes sense for you. Our earlier post on renters insurance in Florida explains the basics.
Before the Storm: A Renter's Checklist
Once you know your role, a short list covers most of what you need to do.
- Look up your evacuation level by address
- Bring in patio furniture, plants, grills, and decorations
- Photograph your belongings and the unit's condition
- Store your lease and important documents in a waterproof bag
- Confirm how to reach your landlord or property manager
- Plan where you will go if an evacuation order is issued
Both Manatee and Sarasota Counties use lettered evacuation levels, A through E, based on storm surge risk, and each county offers an online tool to look up yours. Your level depends on where you live, not whether you rent or own, so check it just as a homeowner would.
After the Storm: Reporting Damage and Your Rights
Report any damage to your landlord or property manager as soon as it is safe, in writing and with photos, using your usual maintenance request process if one is available. Do not arrange major repairs yourself unless your lease or your landlord allows it. If the home is damaged so severely that its use is substantially impaired, and the damage was not caused by the tenant, Florida law generally allows the tenant to end the lease and move out, or to vacate only the unusable portion with rent reduced by that portion's fair rental value. The law also addresses giving tenants a chance to retrieve belongings once it is safe. These situations are fact-specific, so get guidance before making a decision.
Note: This article is general information about Florida landlord-tenant law and renters insurance as of this writing. Your lease, your policy, and the specific facts of any damage will affect how these rules apply, so consult an attorney or a licensed insurance professional with questions about your situation.
If you rent a home we manage, our tenant resources page is a good place to start, or contact our team with any questions before the next storm.