Thirty years ago rental property owners, including me at the time, never paid much attention to tenant background screening or background checks. In fact most of us used a short rform of lease or rental selection at a local stationary store that basically only required a few bits of personal information with a signature at the bottom of the one page. Oh, boy, have things changed. In today’s leasing market property owners are suspicious of humans, or should be. Now it’s trust but verify, phone calls on tenant history, and a current credit report from all three reporting agencies. Next thing you know, property owners will be required of new tenants to cut a deck of cards and give a blood sample.

Of course there are some landlords and property owners with investments in the lower income parts of major cities who participate a nihilistic approach and could care less about a tenant home check or tenant verification of any type and any upfront rental deposit is ignored as well. Just rent it and forget it, baby. These landlords rent on a month-to-month basis and if the rent is not paid and a tenant eviction looms on the horizon, a 30 day notice to vacate is presented to the tenant to pay or quit. Some property owners have been known to simply use an acrimonious tone to the tenant inserting the word police or sheriff which makes the tenant think twice about damaging the rental unit.

One exception to property owners and landlords having to get a migraine over chasing tenant evictions, tenant leasing, background screening, tenant checks, tenant history, tenant verification of employment or a 10 year tenant background check is receiving the Federal Government concerned via the Section 8 rental program. Section 8 is low income housing using a voucher system to income-qualified rental units. Section 8, in advance, pretty much has all the tenant personal information on hand before contacting landlords or property owners on vacant units that may be available to rent. The government also shares in part paying a portion of the rent on behalf of the tenant. One of the drawbacks on this program is the amount of allowable rent charged to the tenant by the owner.

In any tenant screening process a landlord or owner is NOT required to rent to any one person or family. However, discrimination is profligate and not tolerated. There are generally two forms used when renting or leasing an income unit: a month-to-month rental agreement and landlord and tenant agreement to lease. When either form is completed by a tenant a landlord or owner should have in hand every possible thing to know about the future tenant including, but not limited to, picture drivers license, DOB, employment in the past and present, banking information, financial obligations, personal references, and much more.

Florida’s climate is fairly mild throughout every season of the year. There are many destinations that can be enjoyed at any time. Whether you are looking for a fun time on the coast or looking for a family vacation near the central theme parks, there are always options for everyone.

Humidity in the summer is much more noticeable than other seasons. Rain is also much more intense during the summer. The coastal areas will always be more extreme in heat. Florida’s sometimes devastating hurricane season goes from June to November. Unless you enjoy running and hiding from dangerous whether, this may be something important to consider.

If you are looking for less crowded theme parks, January and February are key off peak months. This is an ideal time to travel due to small to non-existent lines. Also the weather is not so ridiculously hot that you will pass out from dehydration. It is actually warm and pleasant. Another benefit is this time is a pleasant way to escape the horrid winter conditions in many northern home lands.

Another benefit from traveling during the off peak season is that this is the time when vacation rental homes tend to be at their lowest cost. You are paying a lot less money to get the same luxury as you would in other seasons. Sounds like a vacation rental that simply cannot be beat.