Landlord kept your deposit in Florida? Find your next step.
No refund, only part of your money back, or charges you disagree with? Start with what you received, then build a response using your records and Florida law.
Analysis free · Full case package $29-$49, one time · mailing optional
The deadline check is optional. See what you get
What do you need help with?
Open the situation that fits. Each route gives you something to check, something to keep, and a next step.
I received nothingNo refund and no list of deductions.
Check the trigger, then the date. 30 days to send written notice of intent to impose a claim - by certified mail or, since 2025, by e-mail if the tenant signed an electronic-delivery addendum (§ 83.505); 15 days to return the deposit if no claim.
Keep: your deposit payment, move-out or key-return record, forwarding-address notice and any earlier written request. These establish the timeline behind your demand.
Analyze my missing refund - free →I received part of my depositSome money came back. Find out what explains the difference.
Reconcile the refund. Compare the original deposit, what was returned and each deduction. Separate charges you accept from charges you dispute.
Check the amount they kept - free →Enter the refund and deductions in the case builder. You do not need a separate worksheet first.
The Florida accounting rule: Return the deposit within 15 days if no claim; otherwise send the claim notice within 30 days stating the amount and reason, using substantially the statutory form wording. The tenant then has 15 days after receipt to object in writing; missing the objection window lets the landlord deduct but does not bar a later lawsuit.
Check interest too. No interest is required for the separate non-interest-bearing account option. For an interest-bearing account, the landlord elects at least 75% of the annualized average account rate or 5% simple interest. The surety-bond option requires 5% simple interest (Fla. Stat. 83.49(1)(a)-(c)).
Keep: the refund record, deduction list and notice envelope or delivery record. If money is still unexplained, identify that gap in your written request.
I disagree with the deductionsYou have a charge list, whether or not a refund arrived.
Respond to the specific charges. Note each amount, why you dispute it, and which photo, message or record supports your position. Check the notice instructions above before choosing how and when to reply.
Check my deductions - free →The records rule in Florida: The notice must state the amount and reason and use substantially the statutory form wording; receipts are not statutorily required, but case law places the burden of proof on the landlord in court.
No move-in photos? Use an inventory checklist, inspection report, dated repair request, messages or witness accounts to explain the condition.
I already sent a demandThe landlord has not paid, or the dispute is still unresolved.
Without a timely objection the landlord may deduct the claimed amount, but section 83.49 preserves your right to seek damages in a separate action. Record any partial refund before deciding what remains disputed.
See the Florida court route →Keep: your sent demand, delivery record and any reply. Use the court guide to check where to file, which forms to use, and the filing and service costs.
Turn the dispute into a documented demand
- Free: understand your dispute
- Add your refund, charges and records. Get a charge-by-charge analysis of the deposit rules and potential remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.49.
- Optional: your case documents, $29-$49
- Your demand letter, damages summary and evidence checklist, ready to review and send with your records. Mailing is optional and costs extra.
One charge, backed by a reason and records
Fictional Florida example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $900
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Repainting after a tenancy is ordinary wear and tear unless the walls were damaged beyond normal use (large holes, unauthorized colors). Dated move-in and move-out photos help distinguish ordinary wear from tenant-caused damage.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free Florida letter template.
Before you call the refund late
30 days to send written notice of intent to impose a claim - by certified mail or, since 2025, by e-mail if the tenant signed an electronic-delivery addendum (§ 83.505); 15 days to return the deposit if no claim.
Fla. Stat. § 83.49 ↗Deposit statute reviewed July 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules.
Check the return timeline
Optional date estimate. Read the start conditions above; a passed date alone does not establish a violation. Your date and deposit amount carry into the free analysis.
Already know the dates? Go straight to the refund and charges.
Continue to my free analysis →Questions before your next step
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in Florida?
Check the statutory deadline. 30 days to send written notice of intent to impose a claim - by certified mail or, since 2025, by e-mail if the tenant signed an electronic-delivery addendum (§ 83.505); 15 days to return the deposit if no claim. Save your move-out records, any refund and the itemized statement. Compare them with the deadline and deduction rules below.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Florida?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $8,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run about $55-$300 depending on claim size.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 15 or 30 days in Florida?
Failure to send the claim notice within 30 days forfeits the right to impose any claim on the deposit (the landlord may still sue separately after returning it). Watch out: a tenant leaving before the end of the term must give 7 days' written notice with a forwarding address - otherwise the landlord is relieved of the notice requirement.
Am I owed interest on my deposit in Florida?
In at least some cases, yes. No interest is required for the separate non-interest-bearing account option. For an interest-bearing account, the landlord elects at least 75% of the annualized average account rate or 5% simple interest. The surety-bond option requires 5% simple interest (Fla. Stat. 83.49(1)(a)-(c)).
What can I ask to recover in a Florida deposit dispute?
No fixed multiplier, but the prevailing party recovers court costs and attorney's fees (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)) - a strong settlement lever.
Read the full Florida deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.