As climate concerns grow and extreme weather events become more frequent, Florida lawmakers are taking important steps to protect consumers and promote transparency in real estate transactions. One such development is Senate Bill 948 (companion to House Bill 1015), which introduces new flood disclosure requirements for residential leases and condominium/cooperative sales or rentals.
These new rules go into effect on October 1, 2025, and they could have significant implications for landlords, tenants, buyers and developers across the state. Read on for more details about the bill, and to learn more about other legislative updates coming out of the 2025 session, check out this post.
What Does Senate Bill 948 Require?
Landlords of residential rental properties must disclose specific flood risk information to potential tenants before signing a lease. This includes whether the property is located in a flood zone as well as any relevant history or risk related to flooding.
If a tenant does not receive the required disclosure and experiences substantial flood damage, they have the legal right to terminate the lease and receive a refund of any advance rent paid.
For condominium and cooperative developers, they must now include flood risk information in contracts for the sale or long-term rental of a condo or cooperative unit. The contract must also state whether the developer knows of any flood damage that occurred while they owned the property.
Why This Matters
These new laws are designed to increase consumer awareness and help Floridians make more informed decisions about where they live. Whether you’re renting a home, buying a condo or leasing long-term, understanding the flood risk of a property is critical for ensuring proper insurance coverage, avoiding costly surprises and planning for emergencies.
Contact Our Legal Team with Questions
As the effective date of October 1, 2025, approaches, landlords and developers should prepare to update their lease and sales documents to ensure compliance. Likewise, tenants and buyers should look for these disclosures and ask questions if they are not provided. Transparency now can prevent loss later.
If you have questions about how SB 948 affects your community, real estate practices or association responsibilities, don’t hesitate to reach out to our legal team at Dania Fernandez & Associates, P.A.
