Florida’s rent increase laws as of 2024 are shaped by a landlord-friendly legal environment in which tenants have limited protection against rising rents. The state does not impose any statewide rent control or rent stabilization measures, except in extremely rare situations where a declared housing emergency poses a serious threat to public safety. Even in those cases, any local rent control measures must be renewed annually and are subject to strict limitations, often excluding a significant portion of rental properties from coverage.
Landlords in Florida retain broad discretion to set and increase rental rates. There are no statutory caps on how much a landlord can raise the rent, meaning tenants may face significant increases at renewal time, especially in high-demand markets. Rent cannot be increased during the term of a fixed lease unless the lease agreement specifically allows for such changes. Once the lease term ends, landlords have the freedom to adjust the rent to any level they see fit.
Notice requirements for rent increases are one of the few protections available to tenants. For fixed-term leases, landlords must provide notice before raising the rent at renewal, typically 60 days for annual leases, though the exact period can vary depending on the lease duration and local regulations. In the case of month-to-month tenancies, landlords are generally required to give at least 15 to 30 days’ written notice before implementing a rent increase. Some cities and counties, such as Miami-Dade and West Palm Beach, have enacted local ordinances that require landlords to provide even more notice—up to 60 days—for rent increases above a certain threshold, such as 5%. Tenants are advised to review both their lease agreements and local laws to understand the specific notice requirements that apply to them.
The frequency of rent increases is another area where tenants have limited protection. For fixed-term leases, rent can only be increased at renewal. For month-to-month leases, landlords can raise the rent as often as they wish, provided they give the required notice each time. This means that tenants in month-to-month arrangements may experience more frequent rent adjustments.
Florida law does offer some safeguards against discriminatory or retaliatory rent increases. Landlords are prohibited from raising rent for discriminatory reasons or in retaliation against tenants who exercise their legal rights, such as reporting unsafe living conditions or joining a tenant organization. Tenants who believe they have been targeted for a retaliatory or discriminatory rent increase may have legal recourse.
Tenants in government-subsidized or affordable housing programs are subject to additional regulations. Federal and state rules may impose further restrictions on rent increases and require approval before changes can take effect. Notably, a new Florida law set to take effect in July 2026 will prohibit rent increases during the term of affordable housing rental agreements that are 13 months or shorter, though increases will still be allowed at renewal.
Florida tenants should be aware that rent increases are largely unregulated in terms of amount and frequency, with landlords only required to provide proper notice and avoid discriminatory or retaliatory actions. Understanding the terms of your lease and local ordinances is essential for protecting your rights as a tenant in Florida.
Sources
[1] https://originality.ai/blog/points-to-paragraph-converter
[2] https://logicballs.com/tools/bullet-points-to-paragraph-generator
[3] https://livechatai.com/ai-bullet-points-to-paragraph-generator
[4] https://easy-peasy.ai/templates/bullet-points-to-paragraph-converter
[5] https://www.unifire.ai/ai-writer/bullet-points-to-paragraph-converter/
