Documents required for a rental offer to be successful! 

Due to the high demand and rapid rental property turnover, we kindly request that you prepare all necessary documents before scheduling any showings. The rental market is highly competitive, and having these documents ready will expedite the process and increase your chances of securing a rental successfully.

When renting a property, landlords typically require a variety of documents to verify your identity, financial stability, and rental history. Here’s a list of common documents you may need to provide:

1. Identification Documents

  • Photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID) to verify your identity.

2. Proof of Income

This helps demonstrate your ability to pay rent consistently. Common options include:

  • Recent pay stubs (usually the last 2-3 months)
  • Bank statements (to show income and financial stability)
  • Employment verification letter from your employer
  • Tax returns or W-2/1099 forms (especially if you're self-employed)
  • Proof of other income, such as social security benefits, alimony, or rental income

3. Credit Report

  • Some landlords will require you to provide a credit report, or they may do it themselves as part of the application process. This helps them assess your creditworthiness.

4. Rental History

  • Previous landlord references or contact details for previous landlords (typically 2-3 landlords)
  • Proof of timely rent payments (optional, but could help support your application)
  • Lease agreements (if you have them)

5. Employment Information

  • Employer name, address, and contact details
  • Job title and length of employment

6. Personal References

  • Some landlords may ask for personal references (non-family members) to vouch for your character or reliability.

7. Application Form

  • Many landlords will have an application form that you’ll need to fill out with details such as your employment history, rental history, and background info.

8. Background Check Consent

  • Some landlords may request your permission to conduct a criminal background check and a tenant screening.

9. Security Deposit & First Month’s Rent

  • Be prepared to provide a security deposit (often one month’s rent) and/or the first month’s rent upfront when signing the lease.

Optional Documents:

  • Guarantor or Co-Signer Agreement (if you don’t meet certain financial requirements)
  • Renter’s insurance (in some cases, landlords require you to have renter’s insurance for liability and personal property coverage)

What Is a Contract to Lease (Making an Offer)  in Florida?

The Contract to Lease in Florida is essentially a contractually binding offer form used for rental transactions. The tenant agrees on general lease terms with the landlord, often puts up a deposit (i.e. 1 month’s rent), and signs a binding contract to essentially reserve the apartment in advance of completing the lease, condo application and any other paperwork.

The reason this can work in Florida is because lease agreements tend to be standard contracts adopted by local Realtor and BAR associations that are “fill-in-the-blank” and easy to use. As a result, lawyers are typically not utilized, and the Realtors will guide their clients through the lease agreement and related forms.