What Florida Landlords Need to Know About the New Flood Disclosure Law
If you own rental property in Southwest Florida, there’s a big change coming your way. Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed Florida Senate Bill 948 (2025) into law, and it directly impacts landlords and property managers across the state. Starting October 1, 2025, all landlords must provide a flood history disclosure to prospective tenants before signing a residential lease.
Now, I know—another new law might feel like just one more thing on your plate. But this one is important, especially here in SWFL, where flooding isn’t just something you see on the news. From Cape Coral’s canal-front homes to vacation rentals in Naples and rental investments in Fort Myers, flood risk is part of everyday life. This law is designed to bring more transparency to tenants and, ultimately, protect both sides of the lease.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
Navigating the New Law
Here’s the thing: for years, homebuyers in Florida have had to ask a lot of questions about flood zones, insurance, and past water damage. But renters? They were often left in the dark. Senate Bill 948 changes that by requiring landlords to come clean about any known flood history.
The new statute, Florida Statute 83.512, makes it crystal clear:
If you’re renting out a home or condo for a year or more, you must provide tenants with a stand-alone flood disclosure form.
This can’t be buried in the lease fine print. It has to be a separate document, signed and dated, before the lease is executed.
Think of it this way—if your property had flooding issues in the past, your tenant deserves to know upfront. And if it hasn’t, this disclosure gives you peace of mind knowing everything is above board.
What Must Be Disclosed
So, what exactly has to go into this new disclosure? The law spells it out clearly. The form must include:
A statement that standard renter’s insurance does not cover flood damage, and tenants should consider separate flood insurance.
Whether you, as the landlord, are aware of any past flooding on the property during your ownership.
Whether you’ve ever filed a flood-related insurance claim, including with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Whether you’ve ever received federal disaster assistance (like FEMA aid) for flood damage at the property.
A plain-language definition of “flooding”—covering tidal waters, heavy rainfall, or runoff that leads to standing water.
Here’s why this matters: let’s say you own a seasonal rental in Cape Coral, and it flooded during a heavy summer storm last year. If you don’t disclose this information and your new tenants suffer substantial property loss due to flooding, they may have the right to terminate their lease—and you’ll be on the hook to refund prepaid rent.
The bottom line: it pays to be transparent.
How Home Pointe Property Management Will Handle This
As a local SWFL property management company with 15 years of experience, we know how overwhelming new regulations can feel. That’s where we come in.
At Home Pointe Property Management, we’re already preparing updated lease packets that will include the required flood disclosure form. Here’s how we’ll make it simple for our landlords:
Compliance made easy: We’ll ensure every new lease signed after October 1, 2025, includes the disclosure—no guesswork for you.
Recordkeeping: We’ll keep signed copies on file, so if there’s ever a question, you’re protected.
Tenant education: Our team will walk tenants through what the disclosure means and why flood insurance is worth considering.
Local knowledge: Because we specialize in areas like Estero, Fort Myers, Naples, and Cape Coral, we understand the unique risks of each neighborhood. For example, a vacation rental near Old Naples has very different flood considerations than a canal-front home in NW Cape Coral.
By letting us handle the details, you don’t have to worry about missing a step—or worse, facing penalties for non-compliance.
Final Thoughts
Laws like Florida Senate Bill 948 might feel like red tape, but they’re really about protecting landlords and tenants alike. By being upfront about a property’s flood history, you’re setting the stage for a stronger, more trusting landlord-tenant relationship.
And here’s the good news—you don’t have to navigate this change alone. Home Pointe Property Management has been guiding landlords in Southwest Florida for over 15 years. From rental investments in Fort Myers to vacation rentals in Naples and seasonal rentals in Cape Coral, we’ve seen it all—and we know how to keep your investments safe and compliant.
If you’d like help preparing your properties for this new disclosure requirement, or if you just want a knowledgeable team to manage the details for you, we’d love to chat.
👉 Contact us today and let’s make sure your rentals are ready for October 2025 and beyond.
