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Miami Lakes is a planned suburban town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, home to approximately 32,000 residents. A significant portion of Miami Lakes households rent, and tenants in this community are governed entirely by Florida's statewide landlord-tenant law — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682). Miami Lakes has enacted no local housing ordinances beyond what state law requires.
Renters in Miami Lakes most commonly ask about rent increases, security deposit returns, eviction procedures, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make repairs. Florida's 2023 ban on local rent control means landlords in Miami Lakes can raise rents without a legal cap, making it essential for tenants to understand their other statutory protections around deposits, notice periods, habitability, and retaliation.
This article provides a plain-language overview of the tenant rights that apply in Miami Lakes under Florida law. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing eviction or a serious housing dispute, consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Miami Lakes has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any local government from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and related provisions to explicitly preempt local rent stabilization ordinances statewide. This law invalidated a voter-approved rent control measure in Orange County and made clear that no Florida city or county — including Miami-Dade County or the Town of Miami Lakes — may cap how much a landlord charges or increases rent.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Miami Lakes can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for a month-to-month tenancy, with 15 days' written notice under Fla. Stat. § 83.57. There is no local ordinance limiting rent increases, no registration requirement for landlords, and no rent board to file complaints with regarding price increases. Tenants whose leases are up for renewal have the right to negotiate — or to move — but no legal mechanism exists to challenge the amount of a rent increase itself.
Although Miami Lakes has no local tenant ordinances, Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides meaningful protections in several key areas:
Habitability and Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51 & § 83.56): Landlords must maintain rental units in compliance with applicable building, housing, and health codes, and must keep roofs, windows, floors, plumbing, heating, and electrical systems in good repair. If your landlord fails to make an essential repair, you must serve a written 7-day notice demanding the repair. If the landlord still does not act, you may be entitled to terminate the lease or pursue legal remedies. Do not withhold rent without first following the exact statutory notice procedures.
Security Deposit Protections (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must hold deposits in a separate account or post a surety bond. If no deductions are made, the full deposit must be returned within 15 days of lease termination. If deductions are claimed, the landlord must send written notice of the itemized deductions within 30 days; the tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. Failure to comply forfeits the landlord's right to make any deductions.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must provide at least 15 days' written notice before the end of any monthly period. For week-to-week tenancies, 7 days' written notice is required. These are minimum statutory requirements; your lease may provide for longer notice periods.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, threaten eviction, or take any adverse action against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about code violations, organizing or joining a tenant association, or exercising any right protected by law. If a landlord retaliates within one year of a protected activity, the law presumes the action was retaliatory, and the tenant may raise retaliation as a defense in eviction proceedings.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): Landlords are strictly prohibited from removing doors or windows, changing locks, cutting off electricity, water, or other utilities, or taking any action designed to force a tenant out without a court order. Tenants subjected to such conduct may sue for actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 83.49) governs security deposits for Miami Lakes rentals. There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Florida, so the amount is set by the lease agreement.
Holding requirements: The landlord must hold the deposit in a Florida banking institution in a separate non-interest-bearing account, or in an interest-bearing account with interest paid to the tenant, or post a surety bond for the amount. The landlord must provide written notice of how the deposit is held within 30 days of receiving it.
Return deadline — no deductions: If the landlord makes no deductions, the full deposit must be returned to the tenant within 15 days after the lease terminates and the tenant vacates.
Return deadline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to make any deductions, they must send the tenant written notice of the intended deductions by certified mail within 30 days of termination. The notice must itemize each claim. The tenant then has 15 days from receipt of that notice to object in writing. If the landlord fails to send the required notice within 30 days, they forfeit all right to retain any portion of the deposit, regardless of any actual damages.
Penalty for noncompliance: A landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit or fails to follow the statutory process may be liable for the deposit amount plus court costs and attorney's fees (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)). Tenants who do not receive their deposit within the statutory period should send a written demand and, if necessary, file a claim in Miami-Dade County Small Claims Court.
Evictions in Miami Lakes follow the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.625) and must proceed through Miami-Dade County Court. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without a court order.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing for Eviction: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (unlawful detainer) in Miami-Dade County Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and has 5 days (excluding weekends and holidays) to file a written response.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: If the tenant responds and disputes the eviction, the court will schedule a hearing. If the tenant fails to respond, the landlord may obtain a default judgment. A tenant contesting a nonpayment eviction must deposit any disputed rent into the court registry when filing their response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the landlord wins, the court issues a writ of possession. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office enforces the writ, giving the tenant 24 hours' posted notice to vacate before physically removing them.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, a landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes the tenant's belongings to force them out — without a court order — is liable to the tenant for actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
No Just Cause Requirement: Florida law does not require landlords to have a specific reason to end a month-to-month tenancy; proper written notice is sufficient. Fixed-term leases generally cannot be terminated before expiration without cause unless the lease allows it.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. The information on this page reflects Florida law as of April 2026 and is intended to help renters understand their general rights — it is not a substitute for advice from a licensed Florida attorney. If you are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any serious housing issue, please contact a qualified attorney or a legal aid organization in Miami-Dade County. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.
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