The Timeline, Step by Step
Florida's rules for security deposits are in Florida Statute 83.49. Here is what each deadline means for you as the renter.
- You move out and give your new address. The notice Florida's deposit law requires tells renters to give the landlord a new address when they move out, so deposit notices can reach them. Do it in writing.
- Within 15 days: if the landlord is not claiming any of the deposit, they return it, with interest if your lease calls for it.
- Within 30 days: if the landlord wants to keep part or all of it, they must send written notice by certified mail to your last known mailing address. The law also allows email in some cases. The notice has to say how much they are claiming and why.
- Within 15 days of getting that notice: you can object in writing. If you do not, the landlord can take the deduction.
- Within 30 days of the notice date: the landlord sends you whatever is left of the deposit.
If the Landlord Misses the 30 Day Deadline
This is the part most renters do not know. If the landlord does not send the written notice within 30 days, the statute says they lose the right to make a claim on the deposit. They can still go to court for damages, but they have to return the deposit first.
If a dispute ends up in court, the side that wins can get its court costs and a reasonable attorney fee paid. That is in the same statute.
We are a cleaning company, not lawyers. If you are in a dispute, read the full statute or get legal help.
What a Clean Unit Looks Like at Handover
A dirty unit gives a landlord a reason to claim. It is also the reason you can do the most about before you leave. These photos are from one of our move-out cleans in Jacksonville. Drag the slider to compare.
Move-out bedroom, before and after
Drag the slider to reveal the transformation.
Landlords open the oven, the fridge and the cabinets. They look at baseboards, window tracks and the bathroom grout. Our move-out checklist goes room by room.
Ready to get started?
Four Things to Do Before You Hand Back the Keys
- Photograph every room after it is clean. Open the oven, the fridge and the cabinets in the photos. Keep the dates.
- Give your new address in writing. The notice can only reach you if they know where to send it.
- Clean a few days before the walkthrough, not the night before. That leaves time to fix anything the landlord points out.
- Watch your mail for 30 days. A claim notice comes by certified mail, and your 15 days to object start when you get it.
One customer, Angela S., told us about her move-out clean: “they showed up early, ready to get the job done. The service was thorough and very professional.” If you would rather hand the cleaning off, see our move-out cleaning.
