Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Tavares is the county seat of Lake County, Florida, a growing small city situated on the shores of Lake Dora in Central Florida. As the region has attracted new residents and development, the local rental market has tightened, and many Tavares renters are actively seeking information about what the law requires of their landlords regarding rent increases, deposit returns, and habitability.
All tenant rights in Tavares are governed by Florida state law — specifically the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, found at Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682. Tavares and Lake County have not enacted any local tenant protections beyond what the state provides. Florida law does give renters meaningful protections around security deposits, repair obligations, anti-retaliation, and the eviction process, but it does not cap how much a landlord can charge or raise the rent.
This page summarizes the tenant rights that apply to Tavares renters under Florida law as of April 2026. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, contact a qualified attorney or a free legal aid organization serving Lake County.
There is no rent control in Tavares or anywhere else in Florida. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which permanently prohibits any county or municipality from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing a rent control ordinance. This law is codified at Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and § 166.043 (for municipalities). The legislation directly overrode voter-approved rent stabilization measures, including one that had passed in Orange County in November 2022, rendering those local ballot measures null and void.
In practice, this means your landlord in Tavares can increase your rent by any amount at any time, as long as they provide proper written notice before the increase takes effect. For a month-to-month tenancy, that notice must be at least 15 days before the next rent period begins (Fla. Stat. § 83.57). There is no cap, no percentage limit, and no requirement that the landlord justify the increase. Renters on a fixed-term lease are protected from increases until the lease expires, but once the term ends, the landlord may set any new rent.
While Florida does not limit rent increases, the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides Tavares renters with several important protections:
Habitability (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords must maintain the rental unit in a condition that complies with applicable building, housing, and health codes. This includes maintaining the roof, windows, screens, floors, plumbing, electrical systems, and heating. Landlords must also provide functioning smoke detectors and keep common areas clean and safe.
Repair Remedies (Fla. Stat. § 83.56): If your landlord fails to make essential repairs that materially affect your health or safety, you may serve a written 7-day notice specifying the problem. If the landlord still does not act, you may terminate the lease or, in certain circumstances, pursue damages in court. You cannot simply withhold rent without following the proper notice procedure.
Notice to Terminate (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): A landlord must give at least 15 days' written notice before terminating a month-to-month tenancy, and at least 7 days' written notice for a week-to-week tenancy. These deadlines run to the end of the rental period, not from the date of the notice alone.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not raise your rent, reduce services, threaten eviction, or take other adverse action in retaliation for your complaining to a building or housing inspector, organizing or joining a tenant association, or exercising any right protected under Florida law. If a landlord retaliates within one year of your protected activity, the law creates a presumption of retaliation.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): A landlord cannot remove your belongings, change your locks, remove doors or windows, or intentionally cut off electricity, water, or other utilities in order to force you out. These acts are illegal regardless of whether you are behind on rent. A tenant subjected to self-help eviction may sue for actual and consequential damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Florida law sets specific rules for how landlords must handle security deposits, all found at Fla. Stat. § 83.49. Tavares landlords must follow these procedures exactly or risk forfeiting their right to make any deductions.
No statutory cap: Florida does not limit how large a security deposit a landlord may collect. The amount is set by the lease agreement.
Holding requirements: The landlord must hold the deposit in a separate Florida bank account (either interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing) and must disclose in writing how and where the deposit is being held within 30 days of receipt.
Return deadline — no deductions: If the landlord intends to return the full deposit, they must do so within 15 days after you vacate the unit and provide your new mailing address.
Return deadline — with deductions: If the landlord intends to make any deductions, they must send you a written notice of their intended deductions by certified mail within 30 days of you vacating. The notice must itemize each claimed deduction.
Your right to object: After receiving the landlord's deduction notice, you have 15 days to object in writing. If you object and the dispute is not resolved, either party may seek resolution through the courts.
Penalty for non-compliance: A landlord who fails to send the required notice within 30 days forfeits the right to make any deductions from the deposit. Courts have held that failure to follow the statutory procedure — even if the tenant owes damages — bars the landlord from retaining any portion of the deposit (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(a)).
Evictions in Tavares follow the procedures set out in the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.625). Florida law does not require a landlord to have just cause to end a tenancy — but they must follow every procedural step correctly.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must deliver proper written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason:
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If you do not vacate or resolve the issue within the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Lake County Court (the local county court serving Tavares). The landlord must pay filing fees and serve you with a summons.
Step 3 — Your Response: You have 5 business days after service to file a written response with the court (Fla. Stat. § 83.60). If you are contesting a non-payment eviction, you may be required to pay the disputed rent into the court registry.
Step 4 — Hearing and Judgment: The court will schedule a hearing. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a Writ of Possession is issued. You then have 24 hours after the Writ is posted to vacate before the sheriff may remove you and your belongings.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord in Tavares cannot remove your property, change the locks, shut off utilities, or otherwise force you out without a court order. Doing so violates Fla. Stat. § 83.67, and you can sue for damages equal to the greater of three months' rent or your actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the information here may not reflect the most current legal developments. The application of these laws depends on the specific facts of your situation. If you have a legal dispute with your landlord or need advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a free legal aid organization serving Lake County. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.