Professional Tampa Bay Property Management That Maximizes Your Investment Returns

A: The amount of a security deposit may be set by the owner in our listing contract. One month rent is the most typical. Depending on the owner’s desire for risk management, sometimes it is adjusted. If a tenant’s screening results do not meet our company’s criteria for acceptance, an owner may elect to raise the security or take a last month in escrow along with the security deposit. In that case, the owner will be contacted to determine how to proceed with an applicant if the screening results are below our criteria for residency.

A: We publish to the owner portal and email a monthly statement on the first day of each month for the full previous month. Additionally, an owner may access live portal reports for invoice transactions that take place between monthly statements and also a current rent payment record.

A: For managed rental properties, the brokerage holds the security deposit in its trust account. The brokerage is responsible for timely claim and distribution of security funds at the end of the lease for managed properties under Chapter 83 Florida statutes. If the Owner self-manages, the owner must hold the security in a separate Florida banking institution for the benefit of the tenant and must pay the tenant either 75% of the actual annual interest earned or 5% per year simple interest, whichever the landlord elects. The owner may also choose to post a surety bond as defined in Chapter 83.49, FL Statutes.

A: Tenants submit maintenance requests through our online portal 24/7. Requests are prioritized (emergency, urgent, routine), and appropriate vendors are dispatched. Emergency issues receive immediate attention. You’re notified of all maintenance activity and can track work orders through your owner portal.

A: Yes. Our lease agreements are Florida-specific, attorney-reviewed, and regularly updated to reflect current landlord-tenant law. They include all required disclosures and protect your interests while complying with Fair Housing and Florida statutes.

A: Our Tampa Bay property management fees are competitive and transparent. Typically, our management fee is 10% of monthly rent for single-family homes, with no hidden fees. We also offer discounts for multiple properties. The first month’s placement fee covers tenant screening, marketing, and lease preparation. Contact us for a customized quote based on your specific property.

• Single-family homes
• Townhomes and condominiums
• Multi-family properties (duplexes, triplexes, etc)
• Luxury waterfront properties
• Vacation rentals (short-term and seasonal)
• Student housing near USF, UT, and other universities
• Senior living communities (55+ properties)

A: Getting started is simple:

1. Schedule a property consultation
2. Review and sign our management agreement
3. Complete payment of the initial setup fee
4. Provide property access and necessary documentation
5. We’ll conduct a property inspection, determine rent readiness, recommend needed repairs, and take photos
6. Once the property is determined to be rent ready, we begin marketing your property immediately

A: No, currently in Florida the acceptable source of a tenant’s income may exclude Section 8 vouchers. This is up to each owner to determine whether or not to accept a Section 8 voucher for all or part of the rent.

A: Yes, advertising and leasing property in Florida for a third party requires an active real estate license. All of our property managers are licensed RE agents

A: Yes, our emergency maintenance line is answered 24/7 by a person qualified to triage an emergency situation need.

Our Property Managers and support staff are available during normal business hours, but will respond to emergency needs after hours.

A: Yes. We offer free ACH transfer from our bank to another U.S. Bank. Unfortunately for our foreign investors, we cannot transfer to foreign banks.

A: The lease will be signed by your property manager when your Power of Attorney is completed and notarized on the listing contract. A copy of the fully executed lease will be visible to you from your owner portal documents.

Having the Broker’s agent sign the lease allows for a speedier move-in process for the tenant and for owner to begin receiving rent proceeds.

If you choose not to give Power of Attorney, we will need to send the lease to you via an electronic email signature service. Each Owner of Record must sign the lease and will receive a separate email signature request.

A: Absolutely! Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group is a full-service real estate brokerage. We work with property owners when they wish to sell a property or purchase more. We also work with tenants who wish to buy homes at the end of their lease term.

A: We disburse rent proceeds to owners every Tuesday and Thursday for all owners whose tenants’ rent has cleared through the brokerage’s bank. Should a tenant pay late, this ensures you’re not waiting until the next month for your distribution.

A: We offer 5 options to tenants to pay rent:

• Mail payment
• Online Portal payment
• Credit Card payment through Paylease
• Cash Payment through “Cash Near Me” at 7-11 Stores
• Physical drop off of rent check at our central accounting office in Trinity

A: The amount of a security deposit may be set by the owner in our listing contract. One month rent is the most typical. Depending on the owner’s desire for risk management, sometimes it is adjusted. If a tenant’s screening results do not meet our company’s criteria for acceptance, an owner may elect to raise the security or take a last month in escrow along with the security deposit. In that case, the owner will be contacted to determine how to proceed with an applicant if the screening results are below our criteria for residency.

A: We publish to the owner portal and email a monthly statement on the first day of each month for the full previous month. Additionally, an owner may access live portal reports for invoice transactions that take place between monthly statements and also a current rent payment record.

A: For managed rental properties, the brokerage holds the security deposit in its trust account. The brokerage is responsible for timely claim and distribution of security funds at the end of the lease for managed properties under Chapter 83 Florida statutes. If the Owner self-manages, the owner must hold the security in a separate Florida banking institution for the benefit of the tenant and must pay the tenant either 75% of the actual annual interest earned or 5% per year simple interest, whichever the landlord elects. The owner may also choose to post a surety bond as defined in Chapter 83.49, FL Statutes.

A: Tenants submit maintenance requests through our online portal 24/7. Requests are prioritized (emergency, urgent, routine), and appropriate vendors are dispatched. Emergency issues receive immediate attention. You’re notified of all maintenance activity and can track work orders through your owner portal.

A: Yes. Our lease agreements are Florida-specific, attorney-reviewed, and regularly updated to reflect current landlord-tenant law. They include all required disclosures and protect your interests while complying with Fair Housing and Florida statutes.

We’re created a downloadable document for your reference, which you can access HERE.

City of Tampa Launches Rent it Right Tampa
Tampa, Fl. (August 2, 2016) –To ensure that residential rental units within the City meet minimum housing standards, the City embarked upon a Residential Rental Registration Ordinance called Rent It Right Tampa.

The Ordinance was a collaborative effort of the Great Tampa Association of Realtors, the Bay Area Apartment Association and the City of Tampa. Unique features of the Ordinance allow for the property owner landlords to inform the City of the contact information for the tenant and what the tenant responsibilities are under the lease agreement.

Recently, 29,000 notices were mailed to property owners advising them of the Rent It Right Tampa Ordinance. The Ordinance requires property owner landlords who offer residential rentals, or who rent 1-4 units to complete a no fee/no cost registration on line at tampagov.net/rentalcert. Annual registration is required and there are sanctions for noncompliance.

Also, within the on line site, property owner landlords are provided with applicable City codes to assist them in ensuring and maintain compliance. For the City ensuring compliance helps to prevent blighted areas and reduce incidence of crime and emergency services call.

For additional information regarding Tampa’s rental registration ordinance, contact their Rental Certificate hotline at 813-274-8766.

• City of Bellair – Requires both Owner and Tenant applications. Call 727-588-3769 or go to http://www.townofbelleair.com/
• City of Clearwater – Requires Owners to purchase an occupancy permit. Call 727-562-4567 or go to www.MyClearwater.com – (Development Services Department
• City of New Port Richey – Residential Rental Property Permit required. Call 727-853-1061 or go to www.CityofNewPortRichey.org
• St Pete rental license– Occupational License required for Rental Properties. Call 727-363-9242 or go to www.StPeteBeach.org

The property you own may be subject to local ordinances that govern how often, and for how long, your property may be rented. For more information on whether your property may be subject to a local ordinance, check this great resource provided by the Suncoast Association of Realtors.

Please note – local ordinances are subject to change at any time and this reference may at times be out of date. For the latest municipal rules on short term rentals, please reach out to their respective contacts.

To download, please visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

The lease contract between you and your tenant is governed by the terms of the Florida Landlord Tenant Law, FL Statute 83. We maintain a relationship with the office Heist, Weisse and Wolk, PA a firm of Florida attorneys whose only specialty is Landlord Tenant Law. We use their services to prepare leases, handle non-compliance issues, and evictions when necessary. They are available to guide our agents through circumstances that may occur in the lease relationship. As a landlord you may want to look at their website www.evict.com to read informative articles that are published monthly.
Florida Landlord Tenant Law Chapter 83.

For more information on lead-based paint, review this resource.

As a landlord, it’s important to ensure that both you, and your property are protected by rental property insurance.

If you’d like to review costs and coverage, please reach out to our insurance partner, Preferred Partners Insurance by calling (727) 258-6769 or emailing quotes@InsuranceByPPI.com. You can find more information on rental property related policies on their website.

Please review our reference document for our online Owner’s Portal, which outlines how to login and where to access your information and reports.

Access it here.

This program can help:

• Off Season Snowbirds
• Military families that do not wish to have tenants in their home
• Property owners in HOA rental-restricted communities
• Leisure travelers who want to relax and enjoy their time away
• Owners whose employer requires them to temporarily relocate
• Owners who need to become a caregiver of a distant loved one

Often these “keep an eye on” duties fall to a family member or neighbor and are done out of friendship as a favor. While this sounds like an easy solution, it creates risk for both owner and fried and can ruin a good relationship. Most folks do not have a ready source of service providers and are not contractually obligated to perform needed tasks and recognize problems in their early stages. Homes that sit vacant for an extended period are targets for vandals and squatters.

We offer a professionally accountable short or long term property minder solution that includes a varied menu of valet services along with consistent periodic visits accompanied by a written and pictorial record of condition and tasks that are either needed or provided.

We’re created a downloadable document for your reference, which you can access HERE.

City of Tampa Launches Rent it Right Tampa
Tampa, Fl. (August 2, 2016) –To ensure that residential rental units within the City meet minimum housing standards, the City embarked upon a Residential Rental Registration Ordinance called Rent It Right Tampa.

The Ordinance was a collaborative effort of the Great Tampa Association of Realtors, the Bay Area Apartment Association and the City of Tampa. Unique features of the Ordinance allow for the property owner landlords to inform the City of the contact information for the tenant and what the tenant responsibilities are under the lease agreement.

Recently, 29,000 notices were mailed to property owners advising them of the Rent It Right Tampa Ordinance. The Ordinance requires property owner landlords who offer residential rentals, or who rent 1-4 units to complete a no fee/no cost registration on line at tampagov.net/rentalcert. Annual registration is required and there are sanctions for noncompliance.

Also, within the on line site, property owner landlords are provided with applicable City codes to assist them in ensuring and maintain compliance. For the City ensuring compliance helps to prevent blighted areas and reduce incidence of crime and emergency services call.

For additional information regarding Tampa’s rental registration ordinance, contact their Rental Certificate hotline at 813-274-8766.

• City of Bellair – Requires both Owner and Tenant applications. Call 727-588-3769 or go to http://www.townofbelleair.com/
• City of Clearwater – Requires Owners to purchase an occupancy permit. Call 727-562-4567 or go to www.MyClearwater.com – (Development Services Department
• City of New Port Richey – Residential Rental Property Permit required. Call 727-853-1061 or go to www.CityofNewPortRichey.org
• St Pete rental license– Occupational License required for Rental Properties. Call 727-363-9242 or go to www.StPeteBeach.org

The property you own may be subject to local ordinances that govern how often, and for how long, your property may be rented. For more information on whether your property may be subject to a local ordinance, check this great resource provided by the Suncoast Association of Realtors.

Please note – local ordinances are subject to change at any time and this reference may at times be out of date. For the latest municipal rules on short term rentals, please reach out to their respective contacts.