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Hallandale Beach is a coastal city in southern Broward County, Florida, situated between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a dense mix of condominiums, apartment communities, and seasonal rentals, a significant portion of Hallandale Beach residents are renters — many of whom have questions about what rights they hold under Florida law.
Florida's statewide landlord-tenant framework, found primarily in the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682), governs all rental relationships in Hallandale Beach. The most common questions from local renters involve rent increases, how to get a security deposit back, what notice is required before eviction, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make repairs.
This page is intended to give Hallandale Beach renters a clear and accurate overview of their legal rights under current Florida law. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal dispute with your landlord, contact a licensed Florida attorney or a local legal aid organization for guidance tailored to your situation.
Hallandale Beach has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any city or county from enacting rent caps. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which was signed into law and amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (counties) and Fla. Stat. § 166.043 (municipalities) to expressly bar local governments from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls or limits the amount of rent charged for private residential property.
This statewide ban was a direct response to voter-approved rent stabilization measures in Orange County and elsewhere. Even where local voters had passed ballot measures supporting rent control, HB 1431 nullified those efforts. As a result, no municipality in Florida — including Hallandale Beach — may legally cap residential rents under any circumstances.
In practice, this means a landlord in Hallandale Beach may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term, or upon proper notice for a month-to-month tenancy (15 days' written notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.57). There is no percentage limit on rent increases and no requirement to justify them. Renters facing steep rent hikes have no local ordinance to appeal to; their primary legal options are to negotiate with the landlord, decline to renew, or seek more affordable housing.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides Hallandale Beach renters with several important protections, described below.
Habitability and Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51 & § 83.56): Landlords in Florida are legally required to maintain rental units in a condition that meets building, housing, and health codes, and to keep all structural components, plumbing, heating, and appliances in working order. If your landlord fails to make required repairs after you provide 7 days of written notice, you may have the right to terminate the lease or pursue other statutory remedies under Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1). For non-material issues, different timelines and remedies apply.
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must hold security deposits in a separate account or post a surety bond and must notify tenants in writing of where the deposit is held within 30 days of receipt. Upon move-out, if no deductions are claimed, the full deposit must be returned within 15 days. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send written notice via certified mail within 30 days; the tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. Failure to follow this process means the landlord forfeits the right to make any deductions.
Notice Requirements (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 15 days' written notice before the end of any monthly period to terminate the tenancy. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to at least 7 days' notice. A landlord who fails to provide proper notice cannot legally begin eviction proceedings based on that termination.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, threaten eviction, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about housing code violations, organizing or joining a tenant union, or exercising any legal right under Florida law. If retaliation occurs within 12 months of a protected action, there is a rebuttable presumption of retaliation, and the tenant may seek damages including attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): Self-help eviction is illegal in Florida. A landlord cannot remove doors, windows, or locks; cut off electricity, water, or other utilities; or remove the tenant's personal property as a means of forcing the tenant out. Violations entitle the tenant to recover actual and consequential damages, or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law under Fla. Stat. § 83.49 sets specific rules for how landlords in Hallandale Beach must handle security deposits. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Florida — the amount is determined by the lease agreement.
Holding Requirements: Within 30 days of receiving a security deposit, the landlord must either hold it in a separate non-interest-bearing or interest-bearing Florida bank account, or post a surety bond. The landlord must provide written notice to the tenant disclosing how and where the deposit is being held.
Return Deadline: If the landlord makes no deductions, the full deposit must be returned within 15 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord intends to withhold any portion, they must send the tenant a written notice of intended deductions by certified mail within 30 days of the tenancy ending. The notice must itemize the claimed deductions.
Tenant's Right to Object: After receiving the 30-day deduction notice, the tenant has 15 days to send a written objection to the landlord. If the tenant objects and the landlord fails to return the disputed amount within 15 days of the objection, the landlord may be liable for the full original deposit — forfeiting the right to make any deductions at all.
Penalty for Noncompliance: A landlord who fails to comply with the notice and return requirements of Fla. Stat. § 83.49 forfeits the right to impose any deductions from the deposit. Tenants may sue in small claims court to recover the deposit, and the court may also award attorney's fees to the prevailing tenant.
Evictions in Hallandale Beach are governed by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, primarily Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.625. Florida does not require just cause for eviction upon lease expiration; however, the landlord must follow a precise legal process.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing for eviction, the landlord must serve the tenant with proper written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason:
Step 2 — Filing an Eviction Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (also called an unlawful detainer action) in the Broward County Court. The tenant must be properly served with the summons and complaint.
Step 3 — Tenant Response: The tenant typically has 5 business days to file a written response with the court after being served. Failure to respond may result in a default judgment in favor of the landlord.
Step 4 — Court Hearing: If the tenant responds, the court will schedule a hearing. The judge will evaluate both sides and issue a ruling. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession.
Step 5 — Writ of Possession: After a judgment for possession is entered, the landlord may request a Writ of Possession from the clerk. A Broward County Sheriff's deputy will serve the writ and, if necessary, physically remove the tenant after a 24-hour posting period.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, a landlord may never lock out the tenant, remove belongings, shut off utilities, or use any non-judicial method to force a tenant out. Doing so exposes the landlord to liability for damages of three months' rent or actual damages — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. For advice about your particular circumstances, consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance upon it.
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