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Before You Apply
Tenant Qualification Criteria
Finding the right home should begin with clear expectations. Review our rental qualification standards, application requirements, screening process, pet policies, and other important information before submitting an application.
Please review the criteria below before applying. Application processing fees are non-refundable.
Start Here
Start With the Basics
These are several of the primary standards used when evaluating rental applications. The complete standards and additional requirements are explained below.
3× Rent
Documentable Household Income
Combined documentable income must equal at least three times the property’s advertised monthly rent.
590+
Minimum Credit Score
Applicants must meet the minimum credit score and may also be evaluated on overall credit history.
12 Months
Verifiable Rental History
At least 12 months of verifiable rental history, with no more than three reported late payments in the last 12 months.
Zero $ Owed
Landlord Balances & Evictions
No outstanding balance with a previous landlord and no rental eviction on record.
Before You Pay an Application Fee
Please review all qualification criteria carefully before applying. Every adult applicant must complete an individual application, and application processing fees are non-refundable if an application is not approved.
- Every adult applicant applies separately.
- Review the income, credit, and rental-history standards first.
- Some condominium and homeowners associations have separate approval processes and fees.
What to Expect
Application Requirements
What to expect before a home can be reserved and a lease completed.
Every Adult Must Apply
Applicants must be adults over the age of 18. Each adult who will reside in the household must complete an individual electronic tenant application.
Reservation Fee
To reserve a home, you must first receive application approval from our office, personally view the interior of the home, and agree to accept it in as-is condition.
A reservation fee equal to the advertised first month’s rent is required. This fee will convert to a security deposit after signing the lease and moving in. If you change your mind about renting, you will forfeit 100% of the reservation fee.
Deposit Forfeiture
If you enter into a lease agreement and change your mind before taking possession, you will forfeit all deposit funds as liquidated damages. You may also be responsible for other terms of the lease as provided by Florida Statute.
Application Processing Fee
The application processing fee is non-refundable if you are not approved. Please make sure you can meet the qualification standards on this page before applying.
Lease Preparation Fee
Depending on the property, a $50 attorney lease preparation fee may apply.
Homeowner & Condominium Association Approvals
Some associations require a separate application, fees, and/or a security deposit. All applicants may need to apply through the association, submit to an interview, and pay any required fees or deposits. Association requirements are property-specific — ask about the home you are considering.
Occupancy Standards
Current occupancy standards are a maximum of two persons per bedroom, with exceptions for minor children. Some municipalities or homeowners associations prohibit more than two unrelated adults from residing in a single-family dwelling. Consequently, South Florida Realty Management prohibits the rental of a single-family dwelling to more than two unrelated adults; occupancy limitations do not apply to minor children of the two primary adult residents.
How Applications Are Screened
Rental applications are evaluated using multiple sources of information. Approval is not based on a single factor alone. The background investigation may include:
- Review of credit report and credit score
- Public-record search for past evictions
- Verification of current employment
- Verification of previous landlord references
- Criminal background check
- Review of local county civil and criminal public records
- Comparison of applicant names with sex-offender databases
By submitting an application, you authorize South Florida Realty Management to conduct the background investigation described here and in the application materials.
How We Decide
Qualification Standards
The complete standards behind the summary at the top of this page.
Income
Applicants must have a combined documentable income of three times the property’s advertised monthly rent. We use an automated income-verification system but may still require paper bank statements in some cases.
Credit
Applicants must have a minimum credit score of 590. Residency may be denied due to poor credit history.
Rental History
Applicants must have at least 12 months of verifiable rental history with no more than three late payments in the last 12 months, as reported by previous landlords. Applicants must have taken good care of the property.
Balances & Eviction History
Applicants must not have an outstanding balance with a previous landlord or a rental eviction on their record.
Pet Policy
We love pets! Many of our rental homes are pet-friendly, but pet acceptance varies by property and is subject to the applicable policy and approval process.
30 lbs
Maximum Size
$300
One-Time Pet Fee
$25/mo
Monthly Pet Rent
We do not accept animals over 30 lbs, and birds are prohibited. Some units will not accept pets for any reason. Approved pets incur a one-time non-refundable pet fee of $300 and a $25 monthly pet rent, each per approved pet.
Due to homeowner insurance restrictions, certain K9 breeds are not accepted — K9s resembling breeds such as German Shepherds, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Chows, or Rottweilers may not be accepted. Please speak to a property manager about your specific pet(s). We reserve the right to deny any pet at any time for any reason.
Pet registration: before tenant approval, if you are bringing a pet, please register your pet with PetScreening.com using our referral link. There is a nominal cost to register your pet unless you have a bona fide assistance animal.
Assistance Animal Accommodations
Reasonable-accommodation requests for assistance animals are handled separately from the pet policy above. Submitting a reasonable-accommodation request through PetScreening.com is free, and requests are reviewed by PetScreening’s legal team.
Property & Residency Policies
Smoke-Free Homes
All rental units are smoke-free. Smoking inside a rental unit is cause for immediate lease termination, and tenants will forfeit all security deposits.
Association Requirements
Some condominium and homeowners association communities impose their own application requirements, interviews, fees, deposits, occupancy restrictions, and approval timelines. The association’s requirements are separate from ours and are specific to each property.
Protect Yourself
Renter’s Insurance Recommendations
$100,000
Recommended Level — Personal Property Damage and Renter’s Liability
We strongly recommend all tenants maintain personal property damage and renter liability insurance. Remember, landlords may carry property insurance, but a landlord’s policy never covers a tenant’s personal belongings, and tenants are responsible for repair costs due to negligence.
South Florida Realty Management recommends a renter’s insurance policy that protects your personal property from disaster; such policies in the $100,000 limit range can generally be purchased for around $20–$30 per month in South Florida currently. If you have questions, speak with your property manager for more information and an agent referral.
Ready to Find Your Next Home?
Review available rentals, confirm the property-specific requirements, and apply when you have found the right home.
Application fees are non-refundable. Please review the complete qualification criteria and property-specific requirements before applying.