This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0743z1.DOCX
DATE: 5/31/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 743 Estoppel Letters
SPONSOR(S): Fabricio and others
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 708
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 119 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
HB 743 passed the House on May 2, 2023, as SB 708.
A mortgagor selling collateralized property, refinancing a mortgage, or paying off a mortgage may request an
estoppel letter from the mortgagee or mortgage servicer (lender). Florida law currently defines an “estoppel
letter” as a statement of the amount of the unpaid balance of a loan secured by a mortgage, including principal,
interest, and any other charges due under or secured by the mortgage, and the interest on a per-day basis for
the unpaid balance. A lender must deliver an estoppel letter to the requesting party within 14 days after
receiving a written request for the same.
In some estoppel letters, lenders expressly reserve the right to change the amounts listed and disclaim the
reliance of others on the letter. Further, if after sending an estoppel letter the lender determines the mortgagor
owes additional funds beyond those stated in the letter, some lenders return payments made in reliance on the
letter. Until the discrepancy in amounts owed is resolved, interest and potential fees continue to accrue and
title to the property remains unclear.
The bill revises the estoppel letter process. The bill:
Reduces the timeframe within which a lender must send a requested estoppel letter from 14 days to 10
days and prohibits a lender from qualifying, reserving the right to change, or conditioning or disclaiming
the reliance of others on information provided in an estoppel letter;
Allows a lender to send a corrected estoppel letter to supersede prior estoppel letters if certain
conditions are met;
Prohibits a lender from denying the accuracy of an estoppel letter against anyone who relied on it, but
permits recovery of the sum owed from the mortgagor;
Requires a lender to both accept payment received in reliance on an estoppel letter and promptly apply
such payment to the unpaid balance of the loan;
Requires a lender to execute and record an instrument confirming release of the mortgage in the official
records of the proper county, and send the recorded instrument to the mortgagor, within 60 days of
receiving full payment of the loan secured by the mortgage; and
Revises the definition of “estoppel letter.”
The bill has no fiscal impact on state or local governments. It may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact
on the private sector.
The bill was approved by the Governor on May 25, 2023, ch. 2023-135, L.O.F., and will become effective on
October 1, 2023.
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DATE: 5/31/2023
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Background
Florida law currently defines an “estoppel letter” as a statement of the amount of the unpaid balance of a
loan secured by a mortgage, including principal, interest, and any other charges due under or secured by
the mortgage, and the interest on a per-day basis for the unpaid balance.
1
An estoppel letter is often
requested when selling property that serves as collateral for a mortgage, refinancing a mortgage, or paying
off a mortgage. The request may be made by the mortgagor,
2
the record title owner of the property, a
fiduciary or trustee lawfully acting on behalf of the record title owner, or any other person lawfully
authorized to act on behalf of the mortgagor or record title owner.
3
Depending on who requests the estoppel letter, the following information must be included:
If the requesting party is the mortgagor or someone lawfully authorized to act on behalf of the
mortgagor, the estoppel letter must include an itemization of the principal, interest, and any other
charges properly due under or secured by the mortgage and interest on a per-day basis for the
unpaid balance.
4
If the requesting party is the record title owner of the property or someone lawfully authorized to act
on behalf of the record title owner, the estoppel letter may include the itemization of the information
required above, but at a minimum must include the total unpaid balance due under or secured by
the mortgage on a per-day basis.
5
Where the amount of money owed on a mortgage loan has been fully paid, the mortgagee or mortgage
servicer (lender) must execute an instrument in writing confirming release of the mortgage, have the
instrument acknowledged, and record the executed, acknowledged instrument in the official records of the
property county.
6
Within 60 days of receiving full payment of the mortgage loan, the lender must send the
recorded release to the person who made the full payment.
7
In the case of a civil action arising out of this
requirement, the prevailing party is entitled to attorney fees and costs.
8
Some estoppel letters include language reserving the lender’s right to change the amounts listed in the
estoppel letter and disclaiming the reliance of others on the information included in the estoppel letter. If the
lender determines after sending the estoppel letter that the mortgagor owes additional money, some
lenders return the funds received from the closing which were sent in reliance on the amount stated in the
estoppel letter. This results in the continued accrual of interest, potential fees, and unclear title to the
property until resolution of the discrepancy.
1
S. 701.041(1)(a), F.S.
2
Mortgagor means “[s]omeone who mortgages property; the mortgage-debtor or borrower.” Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).
3
S. 701.04(1), F.S.
4
S. 704.04(1)(a), F.S.
5
S. 704.04(1)(b), F.S.
6
S. 704.04(2), F.S.
7
Id.
8
Id.
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DATE: 5/31/2023
Effect of the Bill
Content of Estoppel Letters
The bill standardizes the information that must be contained in an estoppel letter, regardless of whether the
requestor is the mortgagor, a record title owner, or a person lawfully authorized to act on behalf of the
mortgagor or record title owner. At a minimum, the letter must include:
The unpaid balance of the loan secured by the mortgage as of the date specified in the letter,
including an itemization of the principal, interest, and any other charges comprising the unpaid
balance; and
Interest accruing on a per-day basis for the unpaid balance, if applicable.
Prohibition of Certain Activities on Behalf of Lenders
The bill prohibits the lender from qualifying, reserving the right to change, or conditioning or disclaiming the
reliance of others on the information provided in an estoppel letter; any attempt to do so is void and
unenforceable. This prohibition does not apply to mortgages for which a notice of a lawsuit in a foreclosure
action or a suggestion of bankruptcy has been properly filed and recorded.
If the lender determines that any information in an estoppel letter is inaccurate, the lender may send a
corrected estoppel letter. The corrected estoppel letter will supersede any prior estoppel letter, provided the
corrected estoppel is received by 3 p.m. at least one business day before payment is made in reliance on
the estoppel letter.
If any information in the estoppel letter is inaccurate and a timely corrected estoppel letter is not sent, the
bill prohibits the lender from denying the accuracy of the estoppel letter against any person who relied on it.
However, this does not affect the lender’s right to recover any sum not included in the estoppel letter, nor
does it limit any claim or defense to recovery that the borrower may have.
If a payment is received at the location and in the manner specified by the lender, the lender must accept
and may not return any payment received in reliance on the estoppel letter, and the lender must promptly
apply such payment to the unpaid balance of the mortgage loan. This will prevent the accrual of interest
and potential fees while the lender and the borrower work through any discrepancies as to the amount
owed.
Process for Requesting and Sending Estoppel Letters
The bill reduces the timeframe within which a lender must send a requested estoppel letter setting forth the
unpaid balance of the mortgage loan from 14 days to 10 days. If the request for an estoppel letter is made
by a person other than the mortgagor, the request must include a copy of the instrument showing such
person’s title in the property or other lawful authorization, and the lender must notify the mortgagor of the
request.
A written request for a mortgage payoff letter must be sent to the lender by first-class mail, postage
prepaid; by common carrier delivery service; or by e-mail, facsimile, or other electronic means at the
address made available by the lender for such purpose, or through an automated system provided by the
lender for requesting an estoppel letter. The request is considered received:
Five days after the request sent by first-class mail is deposited with the United States Postal
Service;
The day the request is delivered by a common carrier delivery service; or
The day the request is sent by e-mail, facsimile, or other electronic means or through an automated
system provided by the lender for requesting an estoppel letter.
If any of the foregoing days fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the request for an estoppel letter is
considered timely received by the lender on the next business day.
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DATE: 5/31/2023
The bill also specifies the process by which an estoppel letter may be sent. The lender or servicer must
send an estoppel letter by first-class mail; by common carrier delivery service; or by e-mail, facsimile, or
other electronic means, as directed in the written request, or through an automated system provided by the
lender for this purpose. However, the lender is not required to pay for a common carrier delivery service. If
the 10-day period after a written request is received by the lender ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday,
the estoppel letter is considered timely if it is sent by the close of business on the next business day.
The bill requires the lender, within 60 days after the mortgage loan has been fully paid or paid pursuant to
the estoppel letter, to execute, have duly entered in the official records of the proper county, and send to
the mortgagor or record title owner an instrument acknowledging release of the mortgage (i.e., a
satisfaction of mortgage or a release of mortgage). The prevailing party in a civil action brought against the
lender to enforce this requirement is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. The recorded release
of the mortgage does not relieve the mortgagor, or the mortgagor’s successors or assigns, from any
personal liability on the mortgage loan. In the event of a discrepancy in the amount owed on the mortgage
loan, this provision will ensure clear title to the property while maintaining the lender’s ability to recover
sums properly owed under the mortgage loan.
The bill conforms the definition of “estoppel letter” in s. 701.041, F.S., to the estoppel letter requirements in
s. 701.04, F.S.
The bill provides legislative findings relating to the importance of the timeliness and accuracy of an
estoppel letter to both the consumer and the lender.
The provisions of the bill will apply to all mortgages, and all loans secured by such mortgages, existing as
of, or entered into on or after, October 1, 2023.
The bill provides an effective date of October 1, 2023.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on the private sector. The bill may lead to
smoother real estate closings to the extent that lenders provide more accurate information in estoppel
letters. In the event of a discrepancy in the amount owed on the mortgage loan, the bill will prevent
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DATE: 5/31/2023
accrual of interest and potential fees while the lender and the borrower work through the issue.
Additionally, the bill will ensure clear title to the property while maintaining the lender’s ability to recover
sums properly owed under the mortgage loan.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.