Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Florida?
No. In Florida, it is unlawful for a landlord to single a tenant out for a rent increase or a cut in services, or to bring or threaten an eviction, primarily to retaliate against a tenant who acted in good faith, such as by complaining to a code agency, joining a tenant organization, giving the landlord a repair notice, or exercising fair housing rights. No period of presumed retaliation applies, and the defense fails if the landlord proves the eviction is for good cause, such as nonpayment of rent. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is Fla. Stat. § 83.64.
| What | Florida |
|---|---|
| Retaliation by a landlord | Prohibited by statute |
| Time period in the statute | Prohibited; no set period |
| How the period works | No period; the tenant proves retaliation |
Source
Fla. Stat. § 83.64
Read the statute in the Florida Statutes (The Florida Senate): flsenate.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.
Guides on this rule
- Landlord Retaliation Laws: Protected Tenant Acts and Time Limits — When an eviction, rent increase or cut in services is presumed retaliatory: 180 days in California, six months in Texas, a year in New York.
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The same question in other states
- Alabama
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- Arizona
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- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
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