text: I am a Florida landlord-tenant attorney.  The disposition of your security deposit will be determined according to the terms of your original written lease.  The Landlord-tenant statute, F.S. 83 does not provide for late fees and does not grant a "grace period."\n\nThe good news is that the statute is very specific on how a claim against a security deposit must be made (section 83.49(3)).  In order to impose a claim against your security deposit the landlord must send you a written claim by certified mail within 30 days of the end of the lease,  or the right to make any claim at all is forfeited.  \n\nIf the claim is property made be certified mail,  you must object within 15 days.  Then you can sue the landlord in small claims court.  The party that looses the case has to pay for both side's attorney fees.\n\nNow that your lease is up, you are a "tenant at sufferance" and technically liable for double rent until you sign a new lease or the landlord accepts a rental payment.\n\nSigning the new lease without a security deposit on it does not affect your rights to your old deposit.  Since you are not under a lease at the moment you may move with no penalty.  Just be sure to give the landlord your forwarding address, because if she doesn't know where you moved, she can send her claim against your deposit to your old rental unit.\n\nFeel free to contact me through my website for more information.