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Temple Terrace is a small city of roughly 26,000 residents located entirely within Hillsborough County, northeast of Tampa. A significant share of Temple Terrace households rent, and many are students or young professionals drawn to the area's proximity to the University of South Florida. Renters here most commonly search for information about security deposit returns, rent increase limits, and what to do when a landlord refuses repairs.
Temple Terrace has enacted no local tenant protection ordinances beyond what Florida state law provides. That means all of your rights as a renter flow from the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682). Those protections cover habitability, security deposits, proper eviction procedures, retaliation, and the prohibition on self-help evictions. Understanding this framework is essential for any Temple Terrace renter.
This page is intended as a general informational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — consult a licensed Florida attorney or a qualified legal aid organization for guidance specific to your situation.
Temple Terrace has no rent control, and Florida law prohibits any municipality from enacting it. In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1431, which amended Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (for counties) and § 166.043 (for municipalities) to expressly ban local governments from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls or limits the amount of rent charged for private residential property. This law nullified a voter-approved rent stabilization measure in Orange County and foreclosed similar local action statewide.
In practice, this means Temple Terrace landlords may raise rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the legally required advance notice — 15 days for month-to-month tenants (Fla. Stat. § 83.57). There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement that landlords justify an increase, and no city office where you can challenge a raise. If your rent increases are unaffordable, your primary options are to negotiate with your landlord, look for a new unit, or — if you believe the increase is retaliatory — assert your rights under Fla. Stat. § 83.64.
The Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) sets the floor for all renter protections in Temple Terrace. Key protections include:
Habitability (Fla. Stat. § 83.51): Landlords must maintain rental units in a condition that complies with applicable building, housing, and health codes. This includes functioning plumbing, heating, roofing, and freedom from pest infestations. If your landlord fails to meet these obligations, you may deliver a written 7-day notice to repair or remedy. If the landlord still fails to act, you may terminate the lease or pursue damages under Fla. Stat. § 83.56.
Notice to Terminate (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 15 days written notice prior to the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to at least 7 days notice. Fixed-term leases end on their stated date without additional notice unless the lease provides otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not increase rent, reduce services, or threaten or pursue eviction because a tenant has complained to a government agency about code violations, joined a tenant organization, or exercised any right protected by law. A court may award damages, attorney's fees, and court costs to a tenant who proves retaliation.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): It is unlawful for a landlord to remove doors or windows, change locks, or willfully interrupt electricity, water, or other essential services to force a tenant out. A tenant subjected to a self-help eviction may recover actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Florida law governs security deposits for Temple Terrace rentals under Fla. Stat. § 83.49. There is no statutory cap on how much a landlord may collect as a security deposit.
Holding requirements: Landlords who collect a deposit must hold it in a separate Florida bank account or post a surety bond. They must provide the tenant written notice within 30 days of receiving the deposit specifying where it is held and whether it is in an interest-bearing account.
Return deadline: If the landlord intends to make no deductions, the full deposit must be returned within 15 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send written notice of the intended claim by certified mail within 30 days. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who fails to send the required notice within 30 days forfeits the right to make any deduction and must return the full deposit.
Penalties for non-compliance: If a landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit or fails to follow the statutory notice procedure, the tenant may sue for the amount wrongfully withheld. Courts may also award court costs and attorney's fees to a prevailing tenant (Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3)(c)).
Evictions in Temple Terrace follow the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.62) and are processed through the Hillsborough County Court.
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 for eviction: (a) 3-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate for nonpayment of rent (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3)); (b) 7-Day Notice to Cure for a curable lease violation (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2)(b)); (c) 7-Day Unconditional Quit Notice for a material, repeat, or uncurable violation (Fla. Stat. § 83.56(2)(a)); (d) 15-Day Notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy without cause (Fla. Stat. § 83.57).
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not comply with or vacate after the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction complaint with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. Florida law requires no just cause — a landlord may decline to renew a lease for any reason after providing proper notice.
Step 3 — Hearing and Final Judgment: The tenant will receive a summons and has five business days to file a written response (answer). If the tenant does not respond, the court may enter a default judgment. If the tenant files a response, a hearing is scheduled. If the court rules for the landlord, a Writ of Possession is issued.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: The Hillsborough County Sheriff enforces the Writ of Possession. The tenant is given 24 hours to vacate before the sheriff can remove them and their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: A landlord cannot lock out a tenant, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force the tenant to leave. Doing so exposes the landlord to liability for actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees (Fla. Stat. § 83.67).
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this site. For advice about your specific circumstances, please consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Bay Area Legal Services. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently, as laws may have changed since this page was last updated in April 2026.
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