¿Su landlord no le devolvió el depósito? If your Hialeah landlord kept your security deposit, we fight to get it back — in English or Spanish, with no fees unless we win.
Hialeah is one of the largest renter cities in Florida, and it works differently than most. Many rentals here are duplexes, converted efficiencies, and small apartment buildings owned by individual landlords rather than big management companies. Deals are often made in Spanish, sometimes on a handshake, and deposits are frequently paid in cash. When the tenancy ends, some landlords treat that deposit as theirs to keep — betting the tenant won’t push back.
That bet is wrong. Florida Statute 83.49 protects every Hialeah tenant — whether your lease is written in English or Spanish, whether you paid by check or cash, and regardless of your immigration status. The landlord has 15 days to return your money or 30 days to send an itemized written claim — by certified mail, or by email only if you both signed an electronic-notice addendum under Florida Statute 83.505 — explaining exactly why they’re keeping any of it. No letter, no claim — the law is that direct.
Hoffman Legal handles your entire case in the language you prefer. David Hoffman speaks fluent Spanish, answers calls personally, and has helped renters throughout Miami-Dade recover deposits from landlords who assumed no one would ever call them on it.
The most common Hialeah deposit problem we see isn’t a disputed carpet stain — it’s a landlord who simply goes silent. The tenant moves out of an apartment near Amelia Earhart Park or a casita off West 49th Street, waits a month, calls twice, and hears nothing. Under Florida law, that silence is itself a violation: if no proper notice arrives within 30 days, the landlord has forfeited the right to keep a single dollar.
Cash and verbal arrangements don’t weaken your case as much as landlords think. Receipts, text messages, Zelle or cash-app records, photos of the unit, and even witness statements can establish what you paid and what condition you left behind. Even without a written lease, a residential tenancy is still covered by Statute 83.49 — and the same deadlines still apply.
The rules below apply to every residential rental in Hialeah — written lease or not, English or Spanish.
If your Hialeah landlord makes no deductions, your full deposit is due back within 15 days of move-out. To keep anything, they must mail a written, itemized claim by certified mail (or agreed-upon email) within 30 days.
Hialeah deposit disputes go to the Miami-Dade County Court — which even operates a branch courthouse right in Hialeah. Claims of $8,000 or less are heard in the small claims division.
A landlord who skips the required notice, sends it late, or sends a vague list forfeits the claim against your deposit — even if they insist the unit needed work.
When a tenant wins, Florida law generally makes the landlord pay the tenant’s reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs. That’s why your case costs you nothing unless we recover.
Cuéntenos qué pasó — in English or Spanish. We review your lease or rental arrangement and any notice, free of charge.
We assemble receipts, texts, payment records, and photos — building proof of what you paid and how you left the unit.
We send a formal demand letter, in the landlord’s language, that changes the conversation immediately. Most Hialeah cases resolve here.
If the landlord still refuses, we’re ready to file in the Miami-Dade County Court and pursue everything you’re owed.
You pay nothing unless we win. The consultation is always free.
Our Dania Beach office is a short drive up the Palmetto — and your whole case can be handled by phone.
Speak with a real attorney, not a call center — day or night.
Full representation in English or Spanish — your choice, at no extra cost.
Under Florida Statute 83.49, a landlord who takes no deductions must return your full deposit within 15 days of move-out. To keep any portion, they must send an itemized written claim by certified mail (or agreed-upon email) within 30 days. If neither happens, the landlord has forfeited the claim and owes you the full amount.
Very likely yes. Florida’s deposit law covers residential tenancies whether or not the lease is written. Bank withdrawals, receipts, texts, Zelle records, and witnesses can prove what you paid. Landlords who operate informally often ignore the notice requirement entirely — which means they’ve already forfeited the right to keep your money.
Sí. David Hoffman habla español con fluidez y puede manejar su consulta, sus documentos y todas sus llamadas completamente en español, sin costo adicional. Usted no paga nada a menos que ganemos su caso.
No. Florida Statute 83.49 protects every residential tenant regardless of immigration status, and status is not an issue in a deposit case. Landlords who hint otherwise are using intimidation — one of the oldest tricks for keeping money that isn’t theirs.
In the Miami-Dade County Court; small claims of $8,000 or less go through its small claims division, and Miami-Dade even maintains a branch courthouse in Hialeah. Most of our cases, though, settle after a demand letter — without any filing at all.
A note on how deposit notices may be delivered: since July 1, 2025, a Florida landlord may deliver the deduction notice by email instead of certified mail — but only when landlord and tenant have both signed the electronic-delivery addendum described in Florida Statute 83.505. A landlord who misses the notice deadline forfeits the right to keep your deposit, although the law still allows a separate damages lawsuit after the deposit is returned.
Sources: Fla. Stat. § 83.49 — security deposits • Fla. Stat. § 83.505 — electronic delivery of notices
This page provides general information about Florida law, not legal advice for your specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your case, contact us for a free consultation.
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