{
    "dataset": "Homzora Florida Repairs and Habitability Reference 2026",
    "jurisdiction": "State of Florida",
    "scope": "The landlord duty to maintain premises under section 83.51, and the procedure a tenant must follow to withhold rent or terminate over a repair, under sections 83.56 and 83.60.",
    "the_sequence": "Notice first, then remedy. Seven days written notice naming the problem and stating an intention to withhold. Seven days for the landlord to cure. Only then does the withholding defense exist. And once a case is filed, five business days to get the disputed rent into the court registry.",
    "the_trap": "The registry deadline is what decides most of these cases. A tenant who withholds rent, is sued, and does not deposit the money within five business days of service waives every defense. The court enters default judgment and issues a writ without ever hearing about the repair.",
    "how_florida_compares": "Florida has an express statutory withholding procedure, which not every state does. Where Georgia leaves the question of repair and deduct contested between published sources, Florida sets out the steps in the statute and the courts publish standard forms for the notice.",
    "basis": "Compiled from the published text of section 83.51(1) as carried in the Florida Courts landlord and tenant forms instructions, together with published practitioner summaries of sections 83.56, 83.60 and 83.201.",
    "sources": [
        "Florida Courts, Landlord and Tenant Forms instructions, quoting Florida Statute 83.51(1)",
        "Published practitioner summaries of Florida Statutes 83.56, 83.60, 83.201 and 83.64, 2025 and 2026"
    ],
    "verified": "2026-09-13",
    "note": "This is not legal advice and does not evaluate any particular tenancy. Withholding rent carries real risk of eviction if the procedure is not followed exactly. Speak to a Florida attorney or a legal aid organization before withholding anything.",
    "license": "CC BY 4.0 for the Homzora compilation. Statutory text is a public record.",
    "methodology": "https://homzora.co/miami/guides/methodology/",
    "rows": [
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.51(1)(a)",
            "subject": "Comply with codes",
            "what_it_requires": "The landlord shall at all times during the tenancy comply with the requirements of applicable building, housing and health codes.",
            "key_figure": "continuing duty",
            "notes": "The obligation follows the condition rather than the calendar. A unit habitable at move in can fall out of compliance later."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.51(1)(b)",
            "subject": "Where no codes apply",
            "what_it_requires": "Where there are no applicable building, housing or health codes, the landlord shall maintain the roofs, windows, screens, doors, floors, steps, porches, exterior walls, foundations and other structural components.",
            "key_figure": "structural maintenance",
            "notes": "The statute lists the components explicitly rather than leaving it to interpretation."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.56(1)",
            "subject": "The seven day notice",
            "what_it_requires": "A tenant must deliver written notice naming the repair problem and stating an intention to withhold rent, then wait a full seven days.",
            "key_figure": "7 days",
            "notes": "The notice is the gateway to every remedy. Without it, or if sent fewer than seven days before rent is due, the defense is waived."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.56(1)",
            "subject": "What the notice must contain",
            "what_it_requires": "It must specify what is broken, state that the tenant intends to withhold rent if it is not fixed, and give seven days.",
            "key_figure": "three elements",
            "notes": "The Florida Courts publish standard forms for this. Using one avoids arguments about whether the notice was adequate."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.60",
            "subject": "The withholding defense",
            "what_it_requires": "A tenant facing eviction for nonpayment may raise material noncompliance with the landlord duty under 83.51(1) as a complete defense.",
            "key_figure": "complete defense",
            "notes": "Only available where the seven day procedure was followed and the tenant was otherwise current on rent."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.60",
            "subject": "The court registry rule",
            "what_it_requires": "After the landlord files, the tenant has five business days from service to deposit the disputed rent into the court registry or file a motion to determine rent.",
            "key_figure": "5 business days",
            "notes": "This is the provision that decides most of these cases. Missing it waives every defense, the court enters default judgment and issues a writ, and there is no hearing on the repair at all."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.201",
            "subject": "Repair and deduct",
            "what_it_requires": "Florida provides a limited repair and deduct remedy under section 83.201.",
            "key_figure": "limited remedy",
            "notes": "Homzora has not compiled the conditions and limits of this section and does not publish them. Unlike some states, Florida does have an express statutory provision rather than a contested position."
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.56",
            "subject": "Terminating instead of withholding",
            "what_it_requires": "Where a tenant wants to leave rather than have the repair made, the procedure is nearly identical: the same written notice and the same seven day wait, followed by termination.",
            "key_figure": "7 days",
            "notes": ""
        },
        {
            "provision": "Fla. Stat. 83.64",
            "subject": "Retaliation is prohibited",
            "what_it_requires": "Florida bars retaliatory conduct by a landlord.",
            "key_figure": "statutory bar",
            "notes": "Homzora has not compiled the protected actions or remedies under this section and does not publish them."
        },
        {
            "provision": "practical",
            "subject": "Being current on rent",
            "what_it_requires": "A tenant pursuing habitability remedies generally must not be delinquent. Withholding before completing the statutory procedure typically forfeits the remedy even where the condition is serious.",
            "key_figure": "current on rent",
            "notes": "The single most common mistake is withholding first and giving notice afterwards. That is treated as nonpayment."
        }
    ]
}