Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and tenant
Primary state source for deposit handling, notices, objections, and the renter’s forwarding-address responsibilities.
Florida / Security deposits
Build the record before deciding what the deposit notice means.
Florida law separates holding the deposit, returning it, asserting a claim, and objecting to a claim. The dates and delivery method matter, but the first step is confirming which event actually occurred.
What the law organizes
Four events to keep separate.
- 01
The deposit or alternative fee
Identify what was paid. A security deposit and an optional fee in lieu of a deposit are not the same arrangement.
- 02
The end of the tenancy and return of possession
Keep the lease-end, move-out, key-return, and notice dates separate. Do not assume one date controls every question.
- 03
The landlord's return or claim notice
Preserve the notice exactly as received, including its delivery method, envelope, attachments, and stated deductions.
- 04
The renter's response
The statute includes an objection process. A lawyer or legal-aid provider can help evaluate a disputed claim or missed notice.
Evidence checklist
Keep the records that show what happened.
- The lease and every deposit or fee disclosure
- Proof of the amount and date paid
- Move-in and move-out photographs or video
- The date the tenancy ended and the date possession was returned
- Your written forwarding address and proof it was delivered
- Every claim notice, envelope, email, estimate, receipt, and refund
Primary authorities
Read the official Florida sources.
Open official source
Electronic delivery of notices
Primary state source for when a landlord and tenant may elect to deliver certain notices by email.
Fee in lieu of security deposit
Primary state source for optional fees offered instead of a security deposit and required disclosures.
Coverage: Florida statewide residential rental information. This release does not determine coverage for public housing, federally assisted housing, transient occupancy, commercial arrangements, or every statutory exception.