Effective July 1, 2025, a significant change to Florida’s landlord-tenant law takes effect with the enactment of Florida Statute § 83.505. For the first time, landlords and tenants may legally communicate and deliver required statutory notices by email, provided certain conditions are met. This marks a departure from the prior legal framework, which recognized only hand delivery or mailing as valid methods of notice.
Under § 83.505, electronic delivery of notices is only permitted when both landlord and tenant have expressly agreed to it in writing through an addendum to the rental agreement. The statute requires the addendum to meet specific conditions:
- Mutual Consent – Both parties must clearly and specifically agree to receive notices by email.
- Designation of Email Addresses – Each party must provide a valid email address to be used for electronic communications.
- Voluntary Participation – The addendum must conspicuously state that the decision to accept electronic notice is entirely voluntary.
- Revocation Rights – The addendum must also advise both landlord and tenant that either party may revoke consent to electronic notices at any time.
The statute provides a model addendum form that may be incorporated into the lease agreement to ensure compliance.
Once a party has consented to electronic delivery, they retain the right to revoke their agreement. Revocation is accomplished by providing written notice to the other party. The revocation becomes effective upon delivery of the written notice and does not affect the validity of any prior electronic notices already sent.
Similarly, a party may update their designated email address at any time. The new email address becomes effective once written notice of the change has been delivered to the other party.
A notice sent electronically in accordance with § 83.505 is deemed delivered at the time it is transmitted, unless the email is returned to the sender as undeliverable. To ensure compliance and preserve evidence, the sender must maintain a copy of the notice itself and proof of the electronic transmission.
The adoption of § 83.505 represents a modernization of Florida’s landlord-tenant statutes. Until this change, landlords and tenants were limited to paper-based delivery methods, such as certified mail or personal hand delivery. Electronic communications, even if acknowledged, were not considered legally sufficient notice.
With this amendment, landlords and tenants now have the option to streamline communications and avoid delays associated with postal service or in-person delivery. However, the law strikes a balance by ensuring participation is voluntary and revocable, protecting parties who may prefer or require traditional delivery methods.
In practice, this means notices such as the three-day notices to pay rent or vacate, seven-day notice of noncompliance, notices of renewal or termination, and other statutory communications under Chapter 83, Part II may now be delivered by email if the statutory requirements are satisfied.
This new law changes how landlords and tenants may deliver notices, making it important to seek legal guidance on its impact and how to properly integrate the required addendum into rental agreements. The Rice Law Firm is well-equipped to provide knowledgeable counsel in these matters and other legal concerns you may have. If you
would like to consult with an attorney on these issues and other legal matters, please give us a call at 386-257-1222.