Knowledge Hub
Leasing & Tenancies
Lease agreements, tenant screening, and the fundamentals of the Florida landlord-tenant relationship.
Knowledge Base Terms
Tenant Estoppel
A legal document where a tenant confirms the status of their lease and rental payments, often used during property sales.
Guarantor
A guarantor is a person who agrees to be legally responsible for a tenant's financial obligations if they fail to pay.
Screening Criteria
Screening criteria are the objective, non-discriminatory standards used to evaluate whether a tenant is suitable for a rental property.
Tenant Score
A numeric rating generated from a prospect's credit and rental history to predict their reliability as a tenant.
Prorated Rent
The portion of rent charged for a partial rental period when a tenant moves in or out mid-month.
Adverse Action Notice
An adverse action notice is a required legal notification sent to a tenant applicant who was rejected due to information in their report.
Eviction History
Eviction history tracks past legal proceedings initiated by landlords against an individual for lease violations or non-payment of rent.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.
Co-Signer
A person who signs a lease alongside the tenant, assuming legal responsibility for rent payments and damages if the tenant defaults.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
A federal law that regulates how consumer credit information is collected and used during the tenant screening process.
Income Verification
The process of confirming a prospective tenant's earnings to ensure they can afford the monthly rent.
Lease Renewal
An agreement to extend the duration of an existing rental contract under either the original or newly negotiated terms.
Credit Report
A record of an applicant's credit history, including loans, payment behavior, and debts, used by landlords to assess financial reliability.
Notice of Non-Renewal
A formal notification provided by either party stating that the rental agreement will not be extended and the tenant must vacate.
Security Deposit Claim
The formal procedure a landlord must follow to retain a portion or all of a security deposit due to damages or unpaid rent.
Consumer Report
A broader category of reports, including credit reports and background checks, used to evaluate a prospective tenant's reliability.
Assignment
An assignment occurs when a tenant transfers their entire remaining interest in a lease agreement to a third party.
Employment Verification
The process of confirming a prospective tenant's current employment status and income through their employer.
Source of Income
The origin of a tenant's funds used to pay rent, such as employment wages, government benefits, or retirement distributions.
Addendum
A supplemental document attached to a lease that adds specific terms or modifies the original agreement without rewriting the entire contract.
Reference Check
The process of verifying an applicant's rental history by contacting previous landlords to assess their reliability.
Service Animals
Dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability — protected under the Fair Housing Act and ADA, distinct from emotional support animals.
Security Deposit
Funds held by a landlord to cover potential damages, unpaid rent, or lease violations caused by the tenant during the tenancy.
Walk-Through Inspection
A guided tour of the rental unit at the start and end of a lease to document its condition and identify existing or new damage.
Applicant
An individual who has submitted a formal request and documentation to lease a rental property.
Month-to-Month Tenancy
A rental arrangement that renews automatically each month until either the landlord or tenant provides proper notice to terminate.
Criminal Background Check
A screening process used to review an applicant's history of arrests and convictions to evaluate potential risk to other residents.
Related News
Jacksonville Rental Registry: Search Code Violations Free
While Jacksonville does not currently mandate a formal landlord licensing or registration requirement due to state preemption, a new registry has been launched to provide transparency. This tool allows users to search rental properties by address to view historical code enforcement data.
New registry helps Jacksonville renters research housing violations
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has launched a new online tool, JaxStableHousing.org, which allows prospective tenants to search for reported code enforcement violations at rental properties. The registry provides three years of city data to help renters make more informed decisions before signing a lease.
You May Need a Business Tax Receipt
Florida has no statewide landlord business license, but counties and cities levy Local Business Taxes with wildly different rules — Miami-Dade exempts 1–4-unit apartments, Charlotte taxes only short-term rentals, and some cities require a receipt for every single-family rental. Check both the county and the municipality before assuming anything.
City of Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville and the Sheriff's Office will present a free, full-day Landlord Training Program on Thursday, September 24, 2026, covering applicant screening, crime prevention through environmental design, and eviction procedures involving criminal conduct.
What Renters Want in 2026
According to AppFolio's 2026 Renter Preferences Report shows that renters are more willing to move, but good maintenance, clear communication and a smooth move-in experience can significantly improve retention. The lesson for independent landlords is simple: renters value responsiveness and transparency more than expensive bells and whistles.
When a Tenant Dies
What Florida Landlords Must Do Before Taking Back the Rental
From the Blog
The Insurance Gap in Your Rental
A burst washing machine hose can create three separate losses: the building, the tenant's belongings, and someone's legal responsibility. Here's how landlord insurance, renters insurance and liability coverage divide the bill — and how to set expectations before move-in.
Heron Bay Landlords Push Back Against Sweeping Rental Restrictions
A proposed Heron Bay HOA overhaul limiting owners to one lease per year has been delayed after 250+ owners objected — what Florida landlords should learn from the dispute.
Florida HOA Laws Are Changing — What Landlords Need to Know
Florida's HOA laws have shifted toward transparency and accountability. Here's what changed, what failed in 2026, and the rental restrictions landlords must check before buying into an HOA.
Tenant Selection - <em>The Big Picture</em>
A lawful, consistent tenant selection system covering written criteria, applications, identity, income, rental history, consumer reports, fair housing, fraud, and adverse action.
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