Did your Tampa landlord keep your security deposit? We fight to get it back — handled remotely, with no fees unless we win.
Tampa’s rental market has surged alongside the Gulf Coast’s growth, and tenants from the historic brick streets of Ybor City to the new towers of Channelside are paying more than ever to secure a home. When a landlord refuses to return that deposit — pointing to “cleaning,” “damage,” or fees that were never spelled out in the lease — the loss lands hard. Hoffman Legal helps renters across Hyde Park, South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Westshore, Carrollwood, and the surrounding suburbs of Brandon and Riverview hold landlords to the letter of the law.
A practical note for Gulf Coast tenants: our office sits in Dania Beach, in South Florida, but we represent Tampa-area renters statewide and run these cases remotely. You won’t need to drive across the state — everything happens by phone, email, and video. The law that protects you is the same one that protects every Florida tenant: Florida Statute 83.49, and we know how to put it to work for you.
Florida’s security deposit rules are statewide, but here is how they play out for Tampa and Hillsborough County tenants.
If your Tampa landlord makes no deductions, your full deposit is due back within 15 days. If they want to keep any of it, they must mail you an itemized claim by certified mail (or agreed-upon email) within 30 days.
Deposit disputes in Tampa are filed in the Hillsborough County Court. Claims of $8,000 or less go through the small claims division — a faster, tenant-friendly process.
If your landlord misses the 30-day notice window or sends a vague claim, Florida law says they forfeit the right to impose a claim on your deposit — even if the unit truly needed work.
When a tenant prevails, Florida law generally requires the landlord to pay the tenant’s reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs — which is why we can take strong cases at no cost to you.
Call or message us from anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. We review your lease, your move-out, and any deduction notice — at no cost — and tell you honestly whether you have a strong claim.
We gather your photos, texts, receipts, and payment records — all submitted digitally — and pinpoint exactly where your landlord violated Statute 83.49.
We send a formal demand letter Tampa landlords take seriously. Most disputes settle here — quickly and in your favor.
If the landlord won’t do the right thing, we’re ready to pursue your claim in Hillsborough County Court for every dollar you’re owed.
You pay nothing unless we win. The consultation is always free.
Full bilingual representation for Tampa’s English- and Spanish-speaking renters.
Speak with a real attorney, not a call center — day or night.
We handle Gulf Coast cases entirely by phone, email, and video. No drive to South Florida — ever.
The statewide rule applies in Tampa: under Florida Statute 83.49, a landlord who makes no deductions must return your full deposit within 15 days of move-out. If they intend to keep any portion, they must send written, itemized notice by certified mail (or agreed-upon email) within 30 days — and if that notice is missing, late, or vague, they forfeit the right to impose a claim.
Tampa deposit disputes are filed in the Hillsborough County Court. Claims of $8,000 or less are handled in the small claims division, which is faster and designed to be navigable. In practice, the vast majority of our cases settle before a courtroom is ever needed.
Often, no. Landlords cannot deduct for ordinary wear and tear — routine cleaning, faded paint, and minor scuffs are the landlord’s cost of doing business, not yours. If your itemized notice reads like a list of normal turnover costs from a Seminole Heights bungalow or a Channelside apartment, you likely have grounds to challenge it.
Absolutely. Our office is in Dania Beach, but we represent Tampa-area tenants statewide and handle Gulf Coast cases remotely. From Hyde Park to Brandon to Riverview, you can complete your entire deposit case by phone, email, and video — no travel required.
A note on how deposit notices may be delivered: since July 1, 2025, a Florida landlord may deliver the deduction notice by email instead of certified mail — but only when landlord and tenant have both signed the electronic-delivery addendum described in Florida Statute 83.505. A landlord who misses the notice deadline forfeits the right to keep your deposit, although the law still allows a separate damages lawsuit after the deposit is returned.
Sources: Fla. Stat. § 83.49 — security deposits • Fla. Stat. § 83.505 — electronic delivery of notices
This page provides general information about Florida law, not legal advice for your specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your case, contact us for a free consultation.
Hoffman Legal represents tenants across Florida. Explore nearby service areas, or start with one of our plain-English legal guides: