Florida Notice of Intent to Claim a Security Deposit (Template)

To claim any part of a security deposit, a Florida landlord must give the tenant written notice of the intention to impose a claim, and the reason, within 30 days after the rental agreement terminates, by certified mail to the tenant’s last known mailing address or by e-mail in accordance with s. 83.505 (Fla. Stat. s. 83.49(3)(a)). The notice must contain a statement in substantially the following form, quoted here from the statute.

The statutory wording

Quoted from s. 83.49(3)(a), with the statute’s blanks left as blanks:

This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for damages in the amount of ________ upon your security deposit, due to ________. It is sent to you as required by s. 83.49(3), Florida Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object in writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 15 days after the time you receive this notice or I will be authorized to deduct my claim from your security deposit. Your objection must be sent to (landlord’s address).

The statute says “substantially the following form,” so exact punctuation is not the point. The amount, the reason, the 15-day objection period, and the address for objections are.

What to state and attach

Amount of the claim and the reason for it. The statute requires the intention to claim and “the reason for imposing the claim.”
Your address for objections. Use an address you actually check. It should be consistent with the name and address you disclosed under s. 83.50, or update the tenant under that section.
Attachments: s. 83.49(3)(a) does not require receipts, photos, or invoices. An itemized list gives the tenant something concrete to accept or dispute, and keeping your backup on file is sensible practice, but the statute does not demand it.

How to send it

Certified mail to the tenant’s last known mailing address. Keep your mailing receipt.
E-mail, but only if s. 83.505(1) is satisfied: the parties signed an addendum specifically agreeing to e-mail delivery, each gave a valid e-mail address, and the addendum conspicuously says the election is voluntary and revocable. An e-mail notice is deemed delivered when sent unless it is returned as undeliverable (s. 83.505(4)), and you must keep a copy and evidence of transmission (s. 83.505(5)).

Regular first-class mail, text messages, and hand-delivery are not named in s. 83.49(3)(a). Section 83.505(6) says it does not preclude service by other means “permitted by law,” but Chapter 83 does not say that any other method satisfies (3)(a). Stick to the two named methods. Section 83.505 was created by s. 1, ch. 2025-16, and s. 83.49 was last amended by s. 2, ch. 2025-16.

The tenant’s address

The statute says “last known mailing address,” not forwarding address. As practice, not statute: use whatever the tenant most recently gave you in writing, and the rental address if you have nothing better. Under s. 83.49(5), a tenant who leaves early or leaves a periodic tenancy must give 7 days’ written notice by certified mail or personal delivery that includes an address where the tenant can be reached. If none is given, the statute relieves the landlord of the (3)(a) notice requirement but does not waive the tenant’s rights to the deposit. Get advice before relying on that.

Copyable template

[Landlord name]
[Landlord mailing address for objections]
[Phone / e-mail]

Date sent: [date]
Sent by: [certified mail / e-mail under s. 83.505 addendum dated ____]

To: [Tenant name(s)]
Last known mailing address: [address]
Rental unit: [rental address]
Rental agreement terminated: [date]

This is a notice of my intention to impose a claim for damages in the
amount of $[total] upon your security deposit, due to [reason; see
itemized list below]. It is sent to you as required by s. 83.49(3),
Florida Statutes. You are hereby notified that you must object in
writing to this deduction from your security deposit within 15 days
after the time you receive this notice or I will be authorized to
deduct my claim from your security deposit. Your objection must be
sent to [landlord's mailing address].

Itemized reasons:
1. [item, e.g. repair of ____] - $[amount]
2. [item] - $[amount]
Total claim: $[total]
Deposit held: $[amount]   Interest, if any: $[amount]

[Signature / printed name]

After you send it

Calendar 15 days from the date the tenant receives it.
No written objection: you may deduct the claim and must remit the balance within 30 days after the date of the notice (s. 83.49(3)(b)).
Objection: the statute does not prescribe further steps beyond (3)(c), which covers court action. Court procedure is outside Chapter 83; ask the court clerk or a Florida attorney.

Common mistakes

Sending it on day 29 by a method the statute does not name.
E-mailing with no signed s. 83.505 addendum.
No stated reason, or no amount.
Leaving off the 15-day objection language or an address for the objection.
Deducting before the tenant’s 15 days run.
Assuming silence ends it: failure to object does not waive the tenant’s right to seek damages in a separate action.

Sources

Fla. Stat. s. 83.49 — Florida Senate, 2026 Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. s. 83.505 — Florida Senate, 2026 Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. s. 83.50 — Florida Senate, 2026 Florida Statutes

Related guides

Informational only, not legal advice. Statute text checked against the 2026 Florida Statutes (Chapter 83, Part II) on October 4, 2026. Statutes change every legislative session and a court may read them differently than a summary does; for a dispute, an eviction or anything expensive to get wrong, talk to a Florida landlord-tenant attorney.

Want the complete picture? The Florida Small Landlord Compliance Guide puts every Part II rule in one place, cites the 2026 statute for each, and includes the statutory notices ready to copy.

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