Your rights under Florida law
Why a Florida landlord can't lock you out or cut your utilities
A Florida landlord can't change your locks, take off doors or windows, remove your belongings, or cut off your water, power or other utilities to get you out. Section 83.67 makes the landlord liable for your actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus court costs and attorney's fees. The only legal way to remove a tenant is a court judgment and a sheriff's writ.
Updated Last checked 3 min read
Quick answer
- No lock changes, boot locks or blocking your access.
- No removing outside doors, locks, the roof, walls or windows except for repairs.
- No cutting water, heat, light, electricity, gas, elevator, garbage or refrigeration.
- Penalty: actual and consequential damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is more, plus fees.
- A new, separate violation later can bring a separate award.
On this page
What section 83.67 forbids
- Utilities. The landlord can't cause, directly or indirectly, the termination or interruption of water, heat, light, electricity, gas, elevator, garbage collection or refrigeration, even if the landlord is the one who pays the bill.
- Access. The landlord can't keep you out, whether by changing the locks or using a boot lock or similar device.
- The structure. The landlord can't remove outside doors, locks, the roof, walls or windows, except to maintain, repair or replace them.
- Your things. The landlord can't remove your personal property unless you surrendered or abandoned the home, the last tenant died under the conditions the law sets, or after a lawful eviction.
The penalty
A landlord who breaks section 83.67 owes you your actual and consequential damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney's fees. Later violations that aren't part of the first one can bring separate awards. The statute also treats a violation as irreparable harm, which matters when you ask a judge for an order to get back in.
- Three months of rent
- $6,300
- Your actual losses (hotel, spoiled food, missed work)
- $1,400
- The award is the greater amount, plus costs and attorney fees
- $6,300
If you get locked out today
Step 1: Document it
Photos of the new lock, the notice on the door, the dead meter or the empty unit. Note the time.
Step 2: Ask in writing
Text or email the landlord that you are locked out (or the power is off) and ask for access back today, quoting section 83.67.
Step 3: Call the utility
If the account is in your name and paid, call FPL or your water utility, tell them what happened and ask how fast service can come back. Keep the call reference.
Step 4: Go to court
File in county court for damages and for an order letting you back in. The statute treats a violation as irreparable harm, which is what a judge needs to act quickly.
When it is legal
After the court enters a judgment and the sheriff executes the writ of possession, the landlord can change the locks and move your belongings to the property line. If you surrendered the keys or legally abandoned the home, the landlord can take it back. Taking off doors, locks, windows, walls or the roof is allowed only to maintain, repair or replace them, and the rule on utilities has no repair exception at all.
If you're behind on rent and the landlord turns to self-help, you still owe the rent. The penalty is a separate claim, and it doesn't erase what you owe.
Questions people ask
Can my landlord change the locks if I am late on rent in Florida?
No. Even with unpaid rent, a lock change without a court judgment and sheriff's writ violates section 83.67, with a penalty of at least three months' rent.
Can my landlord turn off the water or electricity?
No. Section 83.67 bars a landlord from causing any utility to be cut off or interrupted, even if the landlord is the one paying the bill.
Can a landlord throw my stuff out?
Only after you surrender or abandon the home, after a lawful eviction, or under the rules for a deceased last tenant. Otherwise it's a violation of section 83.67.
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Words in this guide
Sources
- Florida Statutes, section 83.67: Prohibited practicesleg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes, section 83.62: Restoration of possession to landlordleg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes, section 83.59: Right of action for possessionleg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes, section 83.54: Enforcement of rights and duties, civil action, criminal offensesleg.state.fl.us
Checked against these sources on by Rentvana Editorial. If something has changed, email hello@rentvana.com and we'll fix it.
Questions?
Call 888-601-8344 to talk to a licensed agent, or email hello@rentvana.com and one gets back to you within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm. Renters never pay Rentvana.