When Altus expanded into Tampa, the first thing our team did was sit down with Florida's Chapter 83 — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — and compare it line by line against the Chicago RLTO we have operated under for a decade. The differences are significant. Florida is broadly considered a landlord-friendly state, but "landlord-friendly" does not mean unregulated. It means the rules are different, and owners who assume Florida works like Illinois will make expensive mistakes.
This post covers the provisions that matter most for rental owners in Temple Terrace, Tampa, and Hillsborough County. It is not legal advice — for specific situations, consult a licensed Florida real estate attorney. But it is an accurate operational overview of what Chapter 83 requires.
Security Deposits: The Rules Are Strict Even Without a Cap
Florida does not cap the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit — unlike Illinois, which limits deposits to 1.5 months' rent in many situations. That flexibility is real. But the procedural requirements around deposits are strict, and the penalties for getting them wrong are severe.
Within 30 days of receiving a security deposit, a Florida landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of where the deposit is held — specifically, whether it is in an interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing account, and the name of the financial institution. Landlords with five or more units are required to hold deposits in a Florida banking institution. If you fail to provide this notice, you may forfeit your right to make any claim against the deposit at all.
Return timelines are equally specific. If you are returning the full deposit with no deductions, you have 15 days from the end of the tenancy. If you intend to make deductions, you must send the tenant a written itemized notice of your claims within 30 days — and if you miss that window, you lose the right to make those claims. There is no grace period for the landlord here.
Entry, Notice, and Tenant Privacy
Florida law requires landlords to give at least 24 hours' notice before entering a rental unit for non-emergency purposes. Entry is permitted between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This is similar to Illinois practice, but the specific hours are codified in Florida statute — not just custom.
For emergencies, no notice is required. But the definition of emergency matters: it means a genuine threat to life, safety, or property — not a situation where the landlord simply wants to check on something quickly.
Termination and Eviction Notices
Florida's eviction framework is faster than Illinois's, but it requires precise compliance with notice requirements. The key timelines are:
A 3-day pay-or-quit notice is required for nonpayment of rent. The three days are calendar days, not business days, and weekends and holidays do not extend the period unless the notice period ends on a day courts are closed.
A 7-day cure-or-quit notice applies to most lease violations. The tenant has seven days to correct the violation before the landlord can proceed with termination.
For month-to-month tenancies, Florida now requires 30 days' notice to terminate — this was updated in 2024 from the prior 15-day requirement under HB 1417. Landlords who are still using 15-day notice language in their lease agreements or operational processes need to update those immediately.
Required Disclosures: Four You Cannot Skip
Florida requires several disclosures that must be included in or provided alongside every lease. Missing any of these creates legal exposure.
Radon gas warning. Every lease lasting longer than 45 days must include a specific statutory warning about radon. The language is prescribed by Fla. Stat. § 404.056(5) and cannot be paraphrased — it must appear verbatim. This is one of the most commonly missed requirements for out-of-state landlords entering Florida.
Landlord or agent identity. Florida requires landlords to disclose in writing the name and address of the person authorized to receive notices and demands on behalf of the owner. If a property management company is involved, the company's information must be disclosed.
Lead-based paint. For properties built before 1978, federal law requires disclosure of any known lead-based paint hazards and distribution of the EPA's approved information pamphlet. This applies in all 50 states.
Flood disclosure. Beginning October 1, 2025, Florida landlords are required to provide a flood disclosure to prospective tenants before executing a new residential lease. This is a new requirement that applies to all residential properties regardless of flood zone designation.
Fees in Lieu of Security Deposits
Florida passed HB 133 in 2023, allowing landlords to accept a non-refundable fee in place of a traditional security deposit — provided both parties agree in writing and the agreement fully discloses the terms. This is a meaningful operational option for owners who want to reduce friction in the leasing process, but it requires a properly drafted written agreement. A verbal understanding is not sufficient.
How Florida Compares to Illinois
For owners who have operated in Chicago or the suburbs, the most important adjustment is understanding what Florida does not require that Illinois does. Florida has no statewide rent control. It has no equivalent to the Chicago RLTO's specific move-in and move-out inspection requirements. It does not mandate interest on security deposits in most circumstances. And its eviction timeline — while still a legal process — moves faster than Cook County's court system typically allows.
The flip side is that Florida's disclosure requirements, particularly around radon and flood risk, are more specific than what Illinois mandates. And the security deposit return deadlines are stricter in their consequences: miss the 30-day itemization window in Florida and you may lose your entire claim, regardless of how legitimate the damage was.
Operating in Tampa With Altus
Altus entered Tampa as the property manager for two self-managed portfolios — not as a firm soliciting new Florida clients. Our role is to bring the same operational discipline we apply in Chicago to these specific properties: proper lease documentation, compliant disclosure packages, timely deposit handling, and maintenance coordination that meets Florida's habitability standards.
If you own rental property in Temple Terrace or the broader Tampa area and want to understand how Florida law applies to your specific situation, the right first call is a Florida-licensed real estate attorney. If you are already an Altus client in Chicago and have questions about how we are managing the Florida properties, reach out directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Florida require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?
Florida law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits held in non-interest-bearing accounts. If a landlord chooses to hold the deposit in an interest-bearing account, the interest accrues at 5% per year and must be paid to the tenant at the end of the tenancy. Most Florida landlords use non-interest-bearing accounts to avoid this obligation.
Q: Can a Florida landlord raise rent without notice?
For month-to-month tenancies, Florida requires at least 30 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect. For fixed-term leases, the rent is set for the duration of the lease and cannot be increased until renewal. Florida has no statewide rent control, so there is no cap on the amount of an increase — only on the notice required.
Q: What happens if a Florida landlord misses the 30-day deadline to itemize security deposit deductions?
If a landlord fails to send the tenant a written itemized notice of deductions within 30 days of the tenancy ending, the landlord forfeits the right to make any claim against the deposit. The full deposit must be returned to the tenant. This is one of the most consequential procedural requirements in Florida landlord-tenant law.
Q: Is the radon disclosure really required in every Florida lease?
Yes. Florida Statute § 404.056(5) requires a specific radon warning to be included in every residential lease lasting longer than 45 days. The statutory language must appear verbatim — it cannot be summarized or paraphrased. This requirement applies regardless of whether the property has been tested for radon.
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