What can I do if my landlord won't fix the AC in Florida

Use the free tool — Repair Request Letter FL

Is a broken AC always the landlord's problem?

Not always. Florida law (Fla. Stat. 83.51) lists the conditions that count as repair problems a landlord must fix. Whether air conditioning is one of them can depend on your specific lease and your local building code. This guide — and the free tool behind it — cannot read either of those documents for you.

The written notice Florida law requires

Before you can withhold rent or end your lease over a repair problem, Florida law (Fla. Stat. 83.56 and 83.60) requires you to send your landlord a written notice and wait 7 days. The deadline is counted from the date you send the notice, not the date the landlord receives it.

The notice describes what's broken, since when, and what you've already told the landlord.
It states the day-7 deadline, calculated from the date you send it.
It should be based on conditions recognized under Fla. Stat. 83.51.

What you can — and can't — do after day 7

If the landlord hasn't fixed the problem by the day-7 deadline, Florida law gives you some options, such as withholding rent or ending the lease, under the same statutes (83.56, 83.60). These are serious steps with real risk.

Withholding rent without a proper written notice — or over something the landlord isn't legally required to fix — can lead to eviction.
Before you withhold any rent, call Florida legal aid at floridalawhelp.org or dial 211.

What to keep as proof

Keep a copy of the notice you send and a photo log of the problem — dated photos of the broken AC, plus notes on when and how you told the landlord before. Deliver the notice by hand or mail it to the address listed on your lease.

Copy of the notice
Dated photos
Notes on prior conversations with the landlord
Delivery method and date

If you need more help, remember the three calls: your local code enforcement office, Florida legal aid, or 211.

What this tool can and can't do

This is not legal advice. The tool is based on Florida Statutes chapter 83, Part II (Residential Tenancies) as of 2025–26. It cannot read your lease, and it does not deliver the notice for you — you still have to send it yourself. It is not affiliated with any landlord, management company, or agency.

Whether air conditioning counts as a landlord obligation depends on your lease and local code. Withholding rent carries real risk. Confirm your situation with Florida legal aid (floridalawhelp.org) or 211 before you act.

What to do next

The free tool reads what you describe about your own AC problem — what's broken, since when, what you've already told the landlord, and your rent status — and generates the written notice, the day-7 date, and a checklist of what to document before you send it.

Use the free tool

Repair Request Letter FL is an informational tool based on Florida Statutes chapter 83, Part II (Residential Tenancies) as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice, cannot read your lease, and does not deliver notices. Whether air conditioning is a landlord obligation depends on the lease and local code. Withholding rent carries risk; consult legal aid before doing so. It is not affiliated with any landlord, management company or agency.