Make a Florida Rental Application

The Florida Rental Application Process

The Florida rental application allows landlords to verify a prospective tenant's background information and credit history before signing a lease agreement. In Florida, there is no maximum for an application fee; the landlord may ask for any amount.

Florida landlords may also ask approved tenants for any amount as a security deposit; there is no limit. Tenants are also required to pay a pet deposit fee to have a pet on the property. In Florida, the landlord must keep any fees or deposits in a separate account.

Need a roommate? Then you need a roommate agreement! Download a roomate agreement now!

A Sample Florida Rental Application with Examples for Each Step

The rental application should include the following sections:

• Prospective Property including complete (legal) address with the unit number (if any)
• Personal Information about the Applicant including full name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number/state or state ID number, phone number(s), and email address
• Rental History this includes the past three addresses or past five years, including current/previous address(es), name and phone number of landlord/manager, how long they lived at the address, and reason for leaving
• Employment History/Income this is the past five years, including current/previous employer(s), address, position, dates of employment, supervisor name and phone number, monthly income, type(s) of other income, salary/monthly income, name, address, and phone number of provider, bank account(s), bank balance(s), and credit card accounts
• Other Occupants including name, date of birth, and relationship to the prospective tenant
• Personal References at least two personal references, including name, address, phone number, occupation, and years they have known the prospective tenant
• Emergency Contact Information including name, address, phone number, and relationship to the prospective tenant
• Vehicles including make, model, year, license plate number/state, and a statement that vehicle is currently registered and insured
• Pet Information if any; the applicant must agree (on the rental application) to pay an additional pet fee (the landlord must give permission in writing for a tenant to have a pet on the property)
• Personal History/Statement including smoking status, possession of water-filled furniture, prior evictions, whether the prospective tenant ever broke a lease, prior bankruptcies, prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, and any other information the applicant believes the landlord should know
• Dated Agreement and Authorized Signature including consent to a credit/criminal background check and agreement to provide any additional information requested by the landlord

 

Rental Application Resources for Tenants in Florida

FLAdvocate.org                      

Florida PIRG Education Fund 

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida    

Florida Rental Application Laws

According to state law, a tenant’s security deposit must be returned to him or her no later than 15 days after he or she vacates the premises (Fla. Stat. Ann. § 88.49, 83.43 (12)).