An attorney demand letter carries a different level of authority than an informal request. It tells the landlord or property management company that a licensed attorney has reviewed your claim, identified the applicable law, and is asserting your legal rights on your behalf.

Property managers and landlords often give attorney communications greater attention because they recognize the dispute has become a legal matter rather than an ordinary customer complaint. In many cases, that can encourage a faster and more meaningful response.

Every demand letter from Go Law, PLLC is personally reviewed and signed by Attorney Tess Golonka.

Under Florida Statute § 83.49(3)(a), your landlord has 15 days after you vacate to return your deposit, or 30 days to send written notice by certified mail of intent to impose a claim on it. If the landlord doesn't send the required 30-day certified notice, the landlord forfeits the right to keep the deposit under Florida law. However, landlords do not always pay voluntarily. An attorney can help enforce your rights through a demand letter or, when necessary, litigation.

Ohio Revised Code § 5321.16 requires the deposit (with an itemized list of deductions) within 30 days of lease termination and delivery of possession, if you provided a forwarding address. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to double damages plus your reasonable attorney fees.

Often not. Landlords generally cannot charge you for normal wear and tear — routine repainting, ordinary carpet wear, and turn-of-unit cleaning are frequently the landlord's cost of doing business, not yours. Deduction letters from large apartment complexes are a common source of wrongfully withheld deposits, and they're exactly what we challenge.

Nothing upfront. Deposit recovery is handled on contingency — the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered, stated plainly in your written fee agreement before we begin. Both Florida and Ohio law also let a prevailing tenant recover attorney's fees from the landlord in many cases. If we recover nothing, you owe nothing.

They help enormously, but don't let missing documents stop you from applying. Upload whatever you have: the lease, move-in/move-out photos, the landlord's deduction letter, and any texts or emails. We'll tell you if we need anything else.

We're based in Miami and handle deposit recovery and demand letters throughout Florida — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and everywhere in between — and throughout Ohio, including Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. New York is coming soon.

Start with a firm attorney demand letter. A statute-compliant notice to vacate signed by counsel signals that eviction proceedings are the next step — and it frequently resolves holdover situations without a courtroom. Fill out the form below and select "Landlord — tenant won't vacate."

Most demand letters are ready for attorney review within days of a completed intake, and many deposit disputes resolve within weeks of the letter being served. Litigation, if it ever becomes necessary, takes longer — and we'll always tell you honestly whether it's worth it.