Do this today
- Put the repair request in writing. Date it. Keep a copy.
- Photograph the condition, including anything that is unsafe — no heat, no water, mold, pests, broken locks.
- Do not withhold rent until you have confirmed that Florida allows a process for it.
- Ask the city housing or health department whether they take condition complaints.
What should I put in writing?
What is broken, since when, how it affects living in the unit, and that you are asking for repair. Send it in a way you can prove. Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act may require written notice before other remedies exist. A text can help; a dated letter you can produce later is stronger.
Can I withhold rent in ${n}?
Sometimes a state has a lawful process for withholding, escrow, or repair-and-deduct. Sometimes skipping rent is itself grounds for eviction. That split is why this site will not tell you to withhold. Confirm Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or ask legal aid in Florida first.
Does Florida Chapter 83 apply the same in Miami and Jacksonville?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. City and county code enforcement, and which county court hears the case, are local. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Orange are different stacks. Confirm the county of the unit.
The Florida chapter
Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Florida places residential tenancy rules in Part II of Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains a landlord–tenant consumer page.
Florida cities and counties run code-enforcement programs for housing conditions, and some have local human-relations ordinances that add protected classes beyond federal fair housing law.
Official sources
- StatuteFlorida Statutes, Chapter 83 — Landlord and TenantOnline Sunshine, the Legislature's official statute publisher.
- State agencyFlorida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services — Landlord/Tenant Law in FloridaState consumer-resources overview for renters.
- Free legal helpFlorida Law Help — Your Rights as TenantsStatewide legal-aid guides and a provider finder.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableFla. Stat. §§ 83.40 to 83.683
- FederalHUD — Florida
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — Florida
Common questions
Does Florida require my landlord to make repairs?
Most states impose a duty to keep a rental habitable. The exact list of systems, the notice you must give, and the remedies are in Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. This page tells you what to write down, not which lever to pull.
Can I withhold rent in Florida if nothing is fixed?
Only if Florida law provides a process for it, and only if you follow that process. Ask legal aid before you skip a payment. A wrong withhold can become an eviction case.
Who else can I call in Florida?
City housing or health departments often take condition complaints. 211 can route you. Legal aid is the right call if a notice or a court paper arrived after you complained.
Does Florida Chapter 83 apply the same in Miami and Jacksonville?
The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is statewide. City and county code enforcement, and which county court hears the case, are local. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Orange are different stacks. Confirm the county of the unit.
The national repairs guide has the full sequence. Open the repairs guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org