The laws changed in 2026. Your landlord may or may not have told you.

If you rent in Florida, here's what's new, what stayed the same, and — most importantly — what these changes mean for you if you're facing eviction, dealing with a non-responsive landlord, or trying to understand your rights.

The Biggest Changes for Florida Tenants in 2026

1. Landlords Can Now Send Notices by Email — But Only With Your Written Agreement

Under House Bill 615 (effective 2025, in full force in 2026), Florida landlords can send legally required notices — including eviction notices and lease termination letters — by email.

But here's the catch: this only applies if you agreed in writing to accept email notice, through a signed addendum to your lease.

If you never signed that addendum, your landlord still has to deliver notices the old-fashioned way: in person, by mail, or by posting at your door.

What this means for you: Check your lease. If you didn't sign an email notice addendum, any eviction notice sent only by email may not be legally valid. This could be a defense.

2. Flood Disclosure Is Now Required Before You Sign a Lease

Senate Bill 948, codified as Florida Statute §83.512, now requires landlords to give you a separate written flood disclosure form before you sign a lease of one year or longer.

This form must tell you:

• Whether the landlord knows of any prior flood damage to the property during their ownership
• Whether any flood-related insurance claims were filed
• Whether the landlord received any government assistance for flood damage

Month-to-month leases and short-term rentals are exempt from this requirement.

What this means for you: If you're signing a new lease and your landlord skipped this disclosure, that's a violation. Keep copies of everything you were — or weren't — given at signing.

3. The 3-Day Notice Still Applies (That Proposed Change Died)

You may have seen headlines about a bill that would have changed the eviction notice for non-payment from 3 days to 5 days. That bill — SB 716 — died in the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2026. It did not become law.

Florida still uses a 3-day notice to pay or vacate under Florida Statute §83.56. That means if you fall behind on rent, your landlord must give you 3 business days to pay or leave before they can file for eviction in court.

What this means for you: If your landlord gives you less than 3 days, or gives you a notice that doesn't include an itemized breakdown of what you owe (required as of 2026), that notice may not be legally sufficient. Don't assume the clock is ticking just because you received a notice.

4. The 3-Day Notice Must Now Itemize All Charges

This is a significant change that many tenants — and even some landlords — don't know about.

A proper 3-day notice must now include a specific, itemized breakdown of all charges claimed — rent, late fees, and any other amounts. A generic "you owe $X" notice may not meet the legal standard.

What this means for you: If your 3-day notice doesn't list exactly what you're being charged for, talk to a tenant rights attorney before you do anything else. A defective notice is a real defense.

5. Domestic Violence Protections Did Not Expand

HB 107, which would have protected domestic violence survivors from eviction tied to the abuse against them, died in committee in 2026. This protection was not enacted.

If you are a survivor dealing with a landlord trying to evict you because of incidents related to domestic violence, contact a tenant rights attorney immediately. Protections may still exist under other laws depending on your circumstances.

What Has NOT Changed

Some things tenants worry about changing — but didn't:

• Security deposit rules: Your landlord still has 15 days to return your deposit (if no deductions) or 30 days to send a written notice of any deductions. (Fla. Stat. §83.49)
• Habitability requirements: Your landlord is still required to maintain your unit in a fit and habitable condition. AC, plumbing, pest control — these obligations didn't change.
• Retaliation protections: Under Fla. Stat. §83.64, it is still illegal for your landlord to evict you or cut services in retaliation for reporting code violations or organizing with other tenants.
• Month-to-month termination: Still requires 30 days' written notice from either party (Fla. Stat. §83.57).

If Your Landlord Is Using "New Laws" to Pressure You

Be careful. In times of legal changes, some landlords misinform tenants about what the law requires. If your landlord is telling you that the law changed and you have to leave, pay more, or accept new terms — get a second opinion before you act.

The Law Offices of Debi V. Rumph focuses exclusively on tenant rights in Florida. If you're not sure whether what your landlord is telling you is actually the law, we'll help you find out.

Schedule a strategy session →