Did your Jacksonville landlord keep your security deposit? We fight to get it back — with no fees unless we win.
Jacksonville is the largest city by land area in the contiguous United States, and its rental market is just as spread out — from the historic bungalows of Riverside and Avondale to the riverfront blocks of San Marco, the high-rises Downtown, the sprawl of Southside, and the established neighborhoods of Mandarin and Arlington. When you rent across a city this big, a withheld deposit can feel like one more thing lost in the shuffle. It shouldn’t be. Hoffman Legal helps Duval County tenants hold landlords accountable when a deposit is kept for “cleaning,” “damage,” or charges that were never explained.
Our office is in Dania Beach in South Florida, and we represent Jacksonville tenants remotely — by phone, email, and video — with your case filed and decided right here in Duval County. No matter which side of the St. Johns River you live on, the same law protects you: Florida Statute 83.49. We do the legal heavy lifting so you don’t have to take on your landlord alone.
Florida’s security deposit rules are statewide, but here is how they play out for Duval County tenants.
If your Jacksonville landlord makes no deductions, your full deposit is due back within 15 days. If they want to keep any of it, they must mail you an itemized claim by certified mail within 30 days.
Deposit disputes are typically filed in the Duval County Court. Claims of $8,000 or less go through the small claims division — a faster, tenant-friendly process.
If your landlord blows the 30-day notice window or sends a vague claim, Florida law says they forfeit the right to keep your deposit — even if the unit truly needed work.
When a tenant prevails, Florida law generally requires the landlord to pay the tenant’s reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs — which is why we can take strong cases at no cost to you.
Tell us what happened. We review your lease, your move-out, and any deduction notice — at no cost — and tell you honestly whether you have a strong claim.
We gather your photos, texts, receipts, and payment records and pinpoint exactly where your landlord violated Statute 83.49.
We send a formal demand letter Jacksonville landlords take seriously. Most disputes settle here — quickly and in your favor.
If the landlord won’t do the right thing, we’re ready to file in Duval County Court and pursue every dollar you’re owed.
You pay nothing unless we win. The consultation is always free.
Full bilingual representation for Jacksonville’s English- and Spanish-speaking renters.
Speak with a real attorney, not a call center — day or night.
We’re based in South Florida and serve Jacksonville remotely. Handle your entire case by phone, email, or video — you never have to travel.
The statewide rule applies in Jacksonville: under Florida Statute 83.49, a landlord who makes no deductions must return your full deposit within 15 days of move-out. If they intend to keep any portion, they must send written, itemized notice by certified mail within 30 days.
Most Jacksonville deposit disputes are filed in the Duval County Court. Claims of $8,000 or less are handled in the small claims division, which is faster and designed to be navigable. In practice, the vast majority of our cases settle before a courtroom is ever needed.
Frequently, no. A landlord cannot deduct for ordinary wear and tear — routine carpet cleaning, faded or scuffed paint, and minor marks are normal turnover costs the landlord absorbs, not charges they can pass to you. If your itemized notice reads like a standard make-ready list, you likely have grounds to challenge it and object within 15 days.
No — Jacksonville is huge, and we help tenants across all of it: Riverside, Avondale, San Marco, Downtown, Southside, Mandarin, Arlington, and the Beaches communities. Because we work with you remotely, the distance between neighborhoods never affects how we handle your Duval County case.
Hoffman Legal represents tenants across Florida. Explore our other service areas: