Does a move-out clean get your security deposit back in Florida?
Last reviewed August 21, 2026 by the cleaning.miami team
Short answer
It helps, but the law does the heavy lifting. A Florida landlord may deduct for cleaning only if the unit is dirtier than ordinary wear and tear, and must give written notice of any claim within 30 days of the tenancy ending, or return the deposit within 15 days if there is no claim. Miss the 30 days and the landlord forfeits the right to claim against the deposit. A documented professional move-out clean is your evidence.
Key facts
| Deposit returned, no claim | Within 15 days of termination (Fla. Stat. 83.49) |
|---|---|
| Written notice of a claim | Within 30 days, certified mail or email (Fla. Stat. 83.49) |
| Tenant's window to object | 15 days after receiving the notice (Fla. Stat. 83.49) |
| If the landlord misses 30 days | Forfeits the right to claim against the deposit (Fla. Stat. 83.49) |
| Typical move-out clean price | $250-$600 (Housecall Pro) |
What Florida law actually requires
Florida Statute 83.49 sets the timetable, and it is unusually favourable to tenants who know it. If the landlord does not intend to claim against your deposit, they must return it, with interest where applicable, within 15 days of the tenancy ending. If they do intend to claim, they must send you written notice within 30 days, by certified mail to your last known address or by email, stating the reason for the claim.
Miss that 30-day deadline and the landlord forfeits the right to impose a claim on the deposit. They may still sue for damages afterwards, but they must return the deposit first, which changes the negotiating position completely.
If you receive a notice of claim, you have 15 days to object in writing. Say nothing for 15 days and the landlord is authorised to deduct. This is the deadline most tenants miss, usually because the notice arrives while they are unpacking somewhere else.
| Event | Deadline | Consequence of missing it |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord returns deposit, no claim | 15 days after termination | Tenant may sue for the deposit |
| Landlord sends written notice of claim | 30 days after termination | Landlord forfeits the right to claim |
| Tenant objects to the claim in writing | 15 days after receiving notice | Landlord may deduct the claimed amount |
Cleaning charges versus ordinary wear and tear
A landlord may not charge you for the normal deterioration of a home someone lived in. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in a walkway, small nail holes and appliances that are simply older are wear and tear. Grease-caked oven interiors, a mouldy shower, pet stains, rubbish left behind and a fridge full of food are not. Those are cleaning, and they are chargeable.
This is where a professional move-out clean earns its money. It does not stop a landlord attempting a deduction, but it moves the argument onto documented ground, and in a dispute the party with a dated invoice, a scope of work and photographs is in a much stronger position than the party asserting the place was dirty.
- Book the clean for after the furniture and belongings are out; a move-out clean of a furnished home misses exactly what gets inspected
- Photograph every room after the clean, with a timestamp, including inside the oven, the fridge and the cabinets
- Keep the invoice, and make sure it lists the scope rather than just "cleaning"
- Do the walkthrough with the landlord or agent if they will agree to one, and get their sign-off in writing
- Send your forwarding address in writing, because the 15- and 30-day clocks depend on the landlord having somewhere to send notice
What a move-out clean covers that a regular clean does not
A move-out clean is a deep clean of an empty home, weighted toward what an inspection actually looks at. With nothing in the way, the reach is total: inside every cabinet and drawer, inside the oven and fridge, behind where the appliances stood, interior windows and tracks, marks on walls, baseboards, and light fixtures.
Housecall Pro puts move-in and move-out cleans at $250 to $600. Against a Miami deposit, commonly one to two months' rent, that is usually a straightforward calculation, particularly where a landlord's own cleaning contractor would be charged back to you at a rate you did not negotiate.
Related questions
Can a Florida landlord charge for professional cleaning automatically?
Only if the lease says so or the unit is left dirtier than ordinary wear and tear, and either way they must follow the notice procedure in Fla. Stat. 83.49. An automatic non-refundable cleaning fee written into a lease is a different thing from a deduction against the deposit; read which one you signed.
What if my landlord never sent notice within 30 days?
Under Fla. Stat. 83.49 the landlord then forfeits the right to impose a claim on your deposit and must return it, though they retain the option of suing for damages separately. Write to them citing the statute and the date the tenancy ended. Keep it factual and keep a copy.
Should I clean myself or hire a move-out cleaner?
Hire one if the deposit is meaningfully larger than the clean, if you are moving out of state, or if the unit needs oven, fridge and grout work, which are the three things landlords deduct for most often. A dated invoice and photographs are also evidence, which your own Saturday afternoon is not.
When should the move-out clean be scheduled?
After everything is out and before you hand back the keys, ideally the same day as the final walkthrough. A clean performed around furniture leaves untouched exactly the areas an inspection checks: inside cabinets, behind appliances, closet floors.
Does a move-in clean matter as much?
Different purpose, still worth it. A move-in clean is about not inheriting the last occupant's kitchen, and about documenting the condition you received the property in. Photograph the unit before your belongings arrive; that record is what protects you at the other end of the tenancy.
Sources
- Florida Statute 83.49 — Deposit money or advance rent; duty of landlord and tenant — The Florida Senate (15-day return, 30-day notice of claim, 15-day objection window)
- House Cleaning Prices — Housecall Pro (Move-in and move-out clean range)
Figures are quoted from the sources above and were current when this page was last reviewed. Prices move, and tax thresholds and statutes are amended, so check the source before relying on a number.
Related reading
- Move Out Cleaning — Move out cleaning services in Miami built to pass landlord inspection: inside cabinets, appliances, baseboards and grout. Get your deposit back.
- Move In Cleaning — Move in cleaning services in Miami. We sanitize inside cabinets, appliances, bathrooms and floors before you unpack a single box. Book your date.
- Deep clean vs standard clean — Deep cleaning versus standard cleaning, line by line: what each covers, which jobs are add-ons at nearly every company, and when a deep clean is worth paying for.
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General information for people hiring residential cleaners, published by cleaning.miami, a cleaning company in Miami. It is not legal or tax advice. See all answers.