The Tampa security deposit demand letter that gets deposits back.
Your Tampa landlord must act within 15 days of termination, or give written notice of an intended claim on the deposit by certified mail within 30 days under Fla. Stat. § 83.49. If they missed it, the statute is written on your side. We cite the statute, mail your demand USPS Certified, and track the response.
The law that protects your deposit
Deposits in Tampa are governed by Florida state law: Fla. Stat. § 83.49. If the landlord misses the 30-day certified-mail notice, they forfeit the right to keep any of the deposit; the prevailing party in a deposit suit recovers attorney's fees. Full Florida deadline & penalty guide →
If the landlord ignores your letter
Deposit claims from Tampa are typically filed in the small-claims court serving Hillsborough County — designed for people without lawyers, with modest filing fees.
Tampa at a glance
Population ~403,000 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate, rounded). Every deposit dispute here runs on the same clock: the 30-day statutory window — and a certified letter is the documented first step.
General legal information, not legal advice. City-specific ordinances change; verify current rules or consult a licensed Florida attorney.