Florida security deposit law
What if my landlord never sent an itemized statement in Florida?
The short answer
That is a violation in Florida: Fla. Stat. § 83.49 requires an itemized statement of deductions within 30 days, and skipping it can forfeit the landlord's right to keep anything.
In Florida, the itemized statement is not a courtesy, it is a legal requirement: Fla. Stat. § 83.49 obligates the landlord to list every deduction within 30 days of move out.
The consequence of skipping it is severe: a landlord who fails to provide the required itemization can forfeit the right to retain any portion of the deposit, even for deductions that might otherwise have been valid. Courts treat the procedure as the price of keeping a tenant's money.
Your move is the same either way: a demand letter that cites the requirement, states that no itemization was received within the 30 days deadline, and demands the full deposit with the statutory exposure of forfeiture of the entire deposit spelled out. Send it certified. A landlord who ignored the paperwork rarely wants to explain that to a judge in County Court.
The Florida rules at a glance. Governing statute: Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Return deadline: 15 days (30 days with deductions claimed). Missed procedure can forfeit the landlord's entire claim to the deposit. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: County Court, claims up to $8,000.
Looking for the rules beyond this state? My landlord kept my deposit and didn't give me an itemized statement
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