Florida Tenant Screening

How to Screen Florida Tenants…

Screening potential tenants in Florida is simple and efficient with RealSerious.com. Provide your applicant’s name and email, and we’ll obtain their consent to give an official credit report along with a multi-state criminal record check.

No monthly fees – pay as you go.

*DISCLAIMER: No tenant criminal background check is 100% complete. Coverage for our standard tenant screening may vary due to (1) jurisdictions limiting what records are eligible to return and (2) TransUnion and/or its partners limiting records that do not meet their data quality standards. As of November 2024, criminal records are available to return in the following jurisdictions that have a green dot in the “In Network” column below…

Florida Tenant Criminal Record Coverage

This information applies only to our criminal report included in our standard Florida tenant screening service. If a jurisdiction is not “In Network,” then it’s possible that if a criminal conviction occurred there, it may not be reported. Learn more about our tenant criminal record coverage across the rest of the U.S.

Search by county to see if it’s “In Network”

State	County	In Network	Initial Clear Avg Turnaround Time	Potential Hit Avg Turnaround Time
Florida	Alachua		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Bay		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Brevard		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Charlotte		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Citrus		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Collier		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Columbia		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Duval		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Flagler		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Highlands		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Hillsborough		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Indian River		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Lake		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Lee		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Leon		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Manatee		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Marion		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Martin		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Miami-Dade		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Monroe		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Okaloosa		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Orange		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Palm Beach		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Pasco		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Pinellas		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Polk		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Putnam		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Santa Rosa		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Sarasota		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Seminole		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	St. Johns		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	St. Lucie		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Volusia		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Broward		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Clay		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Escambia		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Osceola		< 1 Minute	< 1 Day
Florida	Baker		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Bradford		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Calhoun		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	DeSoto		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Dixie		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Franklin		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Gadsden		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Gilchrist		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Glades		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Gulf		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Hamilton		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Hardee		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Hendry		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Hernando		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Holmes		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Jackson		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Jefferson		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Lafayette		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Levy		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Liberty		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Madison		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Nassau		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Okeechobee		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Sumter		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Suwannee		2 Days	2 Days
Florida	Taylor		2 Days	2 Days
Florida	Union		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Wakulla		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Walton		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day
Florida	Washington		< 1 Hour	< 1 Day

Florida Tenant Screening FAQs

Additional questions? Contact us. Please note: We cannot provide legal advice. For questions specific to Florida landlord-tenant laws, consult a local attorney or legal expert.

Are Florida landlords allowed to charge an application fee?

Yes, an application fee may be collected, and there is no statewide cap. However, it’s advisable to keep fees reasonable and align them with actual screening costs to avoid disputes.

Can criminal background checks be used to review applications?

Yes, criminal background checks are permitted in Florida, but landlords must follow fair housing guidelines to avoid discriminatory practices. It’s critical to use consistent criteria and document screening decisions to remain compliant with federal and state laws.

Is there a security deposit limit in Florida?

No, Florida law does not impose a limit on the amount landlords can charge for a security deposit. However, landlords must comply with specific regulations on holding and returning deposits as outlined in the Florida Landlord-Tenant Act. For more details, refer to the full text of the law here https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2019/0083.49.

Florida Landlord Resources

Essential resources to manage rental properties, resolve tenant disputes, and stay compliant with state regulations:

Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service

https://www.floridabar.org/public/

Find legal professionals specializing in landlord-tenant law.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources

Offers guidance on consumer protection issues, including landlord-tenant disputes.

Florida Landlord-Tenant Act

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes

Provides comprehensive details on landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities in Florida.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

https://www.floridahousing.org

Offers resources for affordable housing and information on tenant and landlord programs.

Florida Division of Administrative Hearings

https://www.doah.state.fl.us

Handles disputes related to housing and tenant issues under administrative law.