Raising the rent is one of the most common questions Jacksonville homeowners ask us, and the rules are simpler than most people expect. This guide explains the rent increase notice Florida landlords need to give, when you can raise rent, and how to do it without losing a good tenant.
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How Much Rent Increase Notice Does Florida Require? Quick Answer
Florida has no statewide cap on how much rent can go up, and state law preempts local landlord-tenant rules, so Jacksonville and St. Johns County cannot set their own. During a fixed-term lease, rent usually stays the same unless the lease allows an increase. For a month-to-month tenancy, give written notice at least 30 days before the end of a monthly rental period, the same notice required to end that tenancy. Older forms that say 15 days are out of date.
Fixed-Term Leases: Raise Rent at Renewal
Most single-family homes we manage in Jacksonville are on 12-month leases. During that term, the rent is set by the lease. If you want a higher rent, the usual time is renewal. We send a written renewal offer with the new rent well before the lease ends so the tenant has time to decide. If your lease requires a notice before the end of the term, Florida law says that notice period must be between 30 and 60 days, so check the lease wording.
Month-to-Month Tenancies: The 30-Day Rule
For month-to-month tenants, Florida’s notice rule changed in 2023. The party giving notice now has to give at least 30 days’ written notice before the end of a monthly period. Landlords commonly use the same notice period to change the rent: the new amount starts at the beginning of the next full rental period after the notice runs.
Example: if rent is due on the 1st and you want the increase to start March 1, the written notice should reach the tenant before the end of January, giving at least 30 days before the February period ends.
What a Rent Increase Notice in Florida Should Include
- Tenant names and the property address
- The current rent and the new rent
- The date the new rent starts
- How the tenant can respond, renew or ask questions
- The date and how the notice was delivered (keep a copy)
Increases You Should Never Make
Florida law prohibits retaliatory rent increases, such as raising rent because a tenant complained to a government agency about code violations or asked for required repairs. Federal and state fair housing laws also prohibit increases based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. Apply the same pricing rules to every tenant and document why the new rent fits the market.
How Much Should You Raise the Rent?
The law does not cap it, but the market does. A large jump can trigger a move-out, and a vacant month plus turnover costs often wipes out a year of increases. We compare current Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Clay County rents for similar homes, look at the tenant’s history and condition of the home, and recommend a number that keeps you competitive. See what your home should rent for with a free rental income analysis.
Rent Increase FAQ
Can a landlord raise rent in the middle of a lease in Florida?
Generally no, unless the lease specifically allows it. Most increases happen at renewal.
How often can a landlord raise rent in Florida?
State law does not limit how often, but each change has to follow the lease and the notice rules above.
Does the notice have to be in writing?
Yes. Written notice protects both sides and is required to end a month-to-month tenancy.
Can my property manager handle rent increases?
Yes. We handle renewals, market reviews, notices and documentation for every home we manage.
Let Us Handle Renewals and Rent Increases
Rental Property Partners prices renewals with local data and sends compliant notices on time, so you keep good tenants and fair rent.
Learn more: property management fees in Jacksonville, Florida landlord-tenant law for homeowners and our rent increase notice Florida management packages.
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Affiliated business disclosure: Realty ONE Group Elevate is owned by Tanya Cosmini. Title Company of Florida is owned by her husband, Sam Gorniak, and Rental Property Partners is owned within the same family. Because of these family relationships, the owners may benefit when you use more than one of these companies. You are not required to use any of them and are free to choose other providers.
Rental Property Partners. General information, not legal advice. Laws change; review your lease and consult a Florida attorney for your situation. Equal Housing Opportunity.