Can a landlord charge fees and issue an eviction notice after failing to provide a promised lease renewal?

Landlord-Tenant

My property manager didn't send a lease renewal for me to sign, so I’m being charged an additional $615 per month on top of my rent.

January 14, 2026

Blake

8,244 satisfied customers

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Thank you for explaining. Based on what you’ve shared, there are several legal concepts under Florida law that may apply:

Lease Renewal & Notice Requirements – Florida landlords are generally expected to provide clear written notice if lease terms change, including new fees. Charging a month-to-month fee without providing a renewal lease or proper notice may be improper (Florida Statutes § 83.46).
Good Faith & Fair Dealing – Florida law implies a duty of good faith in contracts. If management promised to credit the month-to-month fee upon renewal and failed to provide the renewal lease, that may support a bad-faith argument.
Unfair or Deceptive Practices – If fees were imposed without proper disclosure or contrary to prior representations, this could raise consumer protection concerns (Florida Statutes § 83.45).

Here are some steps you should consider:

Review the Notice Carefully – Confirm the amount demanded and the deadline. Florida pay-or-vacate notices are time-sensitive.
Gather Documentation – Save all emails, payment records, your prior lease, and any messages where management discussed crediting the fee.
Written Follow-Up – Reach out to the property manager again in writing, referencing the prior agreement and requesting immediate correction.
Formal Demand Letter – If they do not respond, send a formal letter to the company outlining the timeline, the promised credit, and disputing the additional fee.
Escalation Options – You may consider filing complaints with Florida consumer protection agencies or consulting a local landlord-tenant attorney. Small claims court may be an option, depending on the damages.
Mediation – Some disputes can be resolved faster through mediation rather than eviction court.

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My property management company didn't send a lease renewal for me to sign, so I’m being charged an additional $615 per month on top of my rent.

Lexi, Chatbot

Have you tried resolving this with their customer service or property manager?

Yes, with the property manager.

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you?

No.

Blake

Hello, my name is Blake. I’m a licensed attorney, and I’ll be happy to help. To start, when did this issue occur, and where is the property located?

I’m located in Winter Garden, Florida. The renewal was supposed to be in August.

Blake

Thank you. When did your lease officially end?

My lease ended on 7/30/2025.

Blake

Have you received anything in writing about renewing the lease or about the additional month-to-month fee?

requested to move out because of electrical bill issues and repairs. Those were resolved with the area manager. He proposed that if I renewed the lease, the month-to-month fee would be credited back to me. I emailed the property manager on September 2, requesting the renewal lease. She said she would send it in a few days, but I never received it. I emailed again on Monday, and still no response. I paid this month’s rent without the extra fee. I received a pay or vacate notice.

Blake

Thank you for explaining. Based on what you’ve shared, there are several legal concepts under Florida law that may apply:

Lease Renewal & Notice Requirements – Florida landlords are generally expected to provide clear written notice if lease terms change, including new fees. Charging a month-to-month fee without providing a renewal lease or proper notice may be improper (Florida Statutes § 83.46).
Good Faith & Fair Dealing – Florida law implies a duty of good faith in contracts. If management promised to credit the month-to-month fee upon renewal and failed to provide the renewal lease, that may support a bad-faith argument.
Unfair or Deceptive Practices – If fees were imposed without proper disclosure or contrary to prior representations, this could raise consumer protection concerns (Florida Statutes § 83.45).

Here are some steps you should consider:

Review the Notice Carefully – Confirm the amount demanded and the deadline. Florida pay-or-vacate notices are time-sensitive.
Gather Documentation – Save all emails, payment records, your prior lease, and any messages where management discussed crediting the fee.
Written Follow-Up – Reach out to the property manager again in writing, referencing the prior agreement and requesting immediate correction.
Formal Demand Letter – If they do not respond, send a formal letter to the company outlining the timeline, the promised credit, and disputing the additional fee.
Escalation Options – You may consider filing complaints with Florida consumer protection agencies or consulting a local landlord-tenant attorney. Small claims court may be an option, depending on the damages.
Mediation – Some disputes can be resolved faster through mediation rather than eviction court.

That’s not exactly what I was expecting.

Blake

I understand. These situations are stressful, especially with a pay-or-vacate notice involved. If you’d like, I can provide a formal letter template you can use to dispute the charges and request the renewal lease.

Yes, I’d like a formal letter example.

Blake

Here is a general template you may use:

I am writing to formally dispute the additional month-to-month fees applied to my account. On September 2, 2025, I requested a lease renewal, and management advised that a renewal would be sent and that any month-to-month fees would be credited upon renewal. Despite follow-up emails, no renewal lease has been provided. Instead, I have received a notice to pay or vacate. I request immediate delivery of the renewal lease and correction of my account consistent with prior representations.

Can I send this by email or certified mail?

Blake

You can send it by email for speed, but I strongly recommend also sending it by certified mail. Certified mail provides proof of delivery, which is important if the dispute escalates.

I’ll go to the office tomorrow and ask them to sign a copy acknowledging receipt because of the notice I received today.

Blake

That’s a smart approach. I wish you the best of luck, and feel free to reach out if you have more questions.

Thank you very much.

Blake

You’re very welcome.

Blake

8,244 satisfied customers

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