Landlord & Housing · free generator
Florida Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Florida, that is not a judgment call: under Florida Statutes section 83.49, your former landlord generally has 15–30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Fla. Stat. § 83.49 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Florida hears claims up to $8,000 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under Florida Statutes section 83.49 (Fla. Stat. § 83.49), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 15–30 days. The 30-day claim notice must state the reason for and amount of the claim using the statute's prescribed wording, sent by certified mail to the tenant's last known address (or as § 83.505 allows); no timely notice means no deduction at all. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where Florida law allows claims up to $8,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Fla. Stat. § 83.49, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in Florida
- Return deadline
- 15–30 days
- Governing statute
- Fla. Stat. § 83.49
- When the clock starts
- 15 days after the tenant vacates at lease termination to return the deposit if the landlord makes no claim; 30 days after termination to send written notice of intent to impose a claim by certified mail (or per § 83.505). The tenant then has 15 days after receiving the notice to object, and the undisputed balance is due within 30 days of the notice.
- Itemized deductions
- The 30-day claim notice must state the reason for and amount of the claim using the statute's prescribed wording, sent by certified mail to the tenant's last known address (or as § 83.505 allows); no timely notice means no deduction at all.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- A landlord who misses the 30-day notice forfeits the right to impose any claim on the deposit and may not seek a setoff — the deposit must be returned in full, though a separate damages suit remains possible afterward. In any deposit lawsuit the prevailing party recovers court costs plus a reasonable attorney fee.
- Small claims limit
- $8,000 (county court small claims), excluding interest, costs, and attorney fees
Worth knowing: If you leave before the lease term ends, Florida expects at least 7 days' written notice of vacating by certified mail or personal delivery — skipping it excuses the landlord from the 30-day claim-notice duty. Interest is owed only if the landlord chose an interest-bearing account (75% of the account's annualized average rate or 5% simple annual, landlord's option). For leases entered or renewed since July 1, 2023, landlords may offer a nonrefundable monthly fee in lieu of a deposit under § 83.491, but the tenant can cancel that arrangement and post a traditional deposit instead. Two-way fee-shifting makes bluffing risky for landlords with weak claims.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Florida small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- 15 days after the tenant vacates at lease termination to return the deposit if the landlord makes no claim; 30 days after termination to send written notice of intent to impose a claim by certified mail (or per § 83.505). The tenant then has 15 days after receiving the notice to object, and the undisputed balance is due within 30 days of the notice.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($8,000 (county court small claims), excluding interest, costs, and attorney fees) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Florida?
15 days after the tenant vacates at lease termination to return the deposit if the landlord makes no claim; 30 days after termination to send written notice of intent to impose a claim by certified mail (or per § 83.505). The tenant then has 15 days after receiving the notice to object, and the undisputed balance is due within 30 days of the notice. The governing statute is Florida Statutes section 83.49. The 30-day claim notice must state the reason for and amount of the claim using the statute's prescribed wording, sent by certified mail to the tenant's last known address (or as § 83.505 allows); no timely notice means no deduction at all.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Florida?
A landlord who misses the 30-day notice forfeits the right to impose any claim on the deposit and may not seek a setoff — the deposit must be returned in full, though a separate damages suit remains possible afterward. In any deposit lawsuit the prevailing party recovers court costs plus a reasonable attorney fee. These cases are built for small claims court — the Florida limit is $8,000 (county court small claims), excluding interest, costs, and attorney fees, filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Florida renters should know about deposits?
If you leave before the lease term ends, Florida expects at least 7 days' written notice of vacating by certified mail or personal delivery — skipping it excuses the landlord from the 30-day claim-notice duty. Interest is owed only if the landlord chose an interest-bearing account (75% of the account's annualized average rate or 5% simple annual, landlord's option). For leases entered or renewed since July 1, 2023, landlords may offer a nonrefundable monthly fee in lieu of a deposit under § 83.491, but the tenant can cancel that arrangement and post a traditional deposit instead. Two-way fee-shifting makes bluffing risky for landlords with weak claims.
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