Renter's Rights Handbook 

This handbook is a guide for people who are renting or seeking to rent housing in Florida.

Although this handbook is entitled Renters’ Rights, the reader should always remember the tenants’ legal responsibilities as well. After all, you may unknowingly jeopardize your rights by not fulfilling your legal responsibilities.

This handbook should be read in its entirety—many of the chapters and ideas are interrelated. Th e handbook is not intended to be an all-inclusive overview, or the best advice in every situation. This handbook is not meant to be a substitute for the advice of an attorney. This handbook primarily deals with the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. § 83.40) which applies to the rental of a dwelling unit (Fla. Stat. § 83.41). Florida’s Landlord/Tenant Act does not apply to transient occupancy in a hotel, motel, condominium, or similar public lodging, or transient occupancy in a mobile home park (Fla. Stat. § 83.42(3)). The handbook includes amendments to the law through May 2005.

Places to contact for additional help are listed in an appendix at the end of the handbook.