General Florida rules to know
No statewide deposit cap
Florida does not set a maximum deposit. Landlords with five or more rental units must tell you in writing, within 30 days or in the lease, where and how the deposit is held and whether it earns interest (Statutes §83.49).
Deposit return
If the landlord is not making a claim, the deposit is due within 15 days after the lease ends. To make a claim, the landlord must send written notice within 30 days, by certified mail or (if agreed) email; you then have 15 days after receiving it to object in writing. Give the landlord your new address when you move out.
Nonpayment notice
Before filing to evict for unpaid rent, a landlord generally must give a three-day written notice, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Month-to-month notice
Either side generally must give at least 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy.
No local rent control
State law largely prevents cities and counties from limiting rent increases, so your lease terms carry most of the weight.
Clauses worth reading twice in any lease
Rent, due date and late fees
Check the exact due date, any grace period, how late fees are calculated and whether they repeat daily. Many states limit late fees or require them to be reasonable.
Security deposit
Look for the amount, where it is held, what can be deducted and when it comes back. States set their own caps and return deadlines.
Lease length, renewal and ending early
Watch for automatic renewal, the notice you must give to leave, and early termination or "lease break" fees.
Repairs and maintenance
See who handles which repairs and how to request them. Clauses that push all repairs onto the tenant deserve a closer look.
Landlord entry
Check how much notice the landlord gives before entering and for what reasons.
Utilities, fees and extras
Note which utilities you pay and any added fees: parking, pets, amenities, trash, admin or "convenience" fees.
Subletting, guests and roommates
See whether you can sublet or add a roommate, guest limits, and whether roommates are jointly liable for the full rent.
Rules you might break by accident
Pet rules, smoking, alterations, satellite dishes, short-term rentals. Breaking a lease rule can be grounds for ending the tenancy.
How Contract Checked helps
Upload your document and get a plain-English report: risk ratings on specific clauses, protections that are missing, and the questions to ask before you sign. Then ask follow-up questions about your own document. You see the credit cost before anything runs.
Check my Florida leaseLease guides by state
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord charge an early termination fee?
It can, if you agreed to it. Florida law lets a lease offer an early termination fee or liquidated damages of no more than two months’ rent, with no more than 60 days’ notice, but you must accept it by signing a separate addendum (Statutes §83.595). Read that addendum and its deadline closely.
Is this legal advice?
No. Contract Checked gives general information and an AI reading of your document. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. For a dispute, an eviction or a large amount of money, talk to a licensed attorney or a local tenant organization.
Can I upload a photo of a paper lease?
Yes. Upload a PDF, a Word file, pasted text or a photo. Photos are read with OCR before the analysis.
What happens to my lease after I upload it?
Your documents are stored in your account so you can reopen the report and ask follow-up questions. You can delete them from your dashboard anytime. See the privacy policy for details.