FAQ for Tampa Bay Landlords

Pets – Are tenants allowed to have pets in my rental property?

The bottom line is you get to decide about pets.  There is a strong business argument to be made for allowing animals in your rental home.  Tampa Bay is a very pet-friendly area.  To many people, pets are often considered members of the family.  As landlords, we would prefer to not accept pets but also recognize disallowing dogs and cats can significantly increase vacancy times (this is especially true in single-family homes).  As the owner, you choose whether or not pets are welcome in your rental home.  Read more about our pet policy restrictions and recommendations [coming soon].

Pets are members of the family – Should you allow them in your rental home?

Did we answer your question?  Need more information?  Contact us today for a prompt response.

What are your Security Deposit Requirements?

We typically require a security deposit that is equal to one month’s rent.  This amount can vary depending on customary security deposits being charged on the open market for specific areas or communities in the Tampa Bay area.  Some applicants will be required to pay a higher security deposit based upon their specific credit background.  Coming Soon:  A detailed breakdown of our Applicant Selection Criteria.

Absolutely not.  Smoking is not permitted in any of our rental homes.  The no smoking policy is written into our lease agreement and it is an actionable violation of the terms of the Rental Home Lease Agreement.  Costs to repair smoking-related damage can be thousands of dollars.  If any smoking is detected in the home, we will take immediate action to correct any damage and preserve the property. This includes e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’. Read more about our policy on e-cigarettes

Yes, they do. In our view, smoking is smoking. Whether it is a traditional tobacco cigarette or an E-Cigarette, both emit pollutants that create not only a foul smell but also toxic substances. E-cigs typically leave deposits that include Formaldehyde, Benzene and a host of other potentially hazardous substances. While they do not leave the tar residue of a tobacco cigarette, the pollutants left by an e-cigarette are dangerous enough that we have opted to not permit them to be smoked inside any residence managed by Home Locators Property Management.  The no smoking policy is written into our lease agreement and it is an actionable violation of the terms of the Rental Home Lease Agreement.  Costs to repair smoking-related damage can cost thousands of dollars.  If any smoking is detected in the home, we will take immediate action to correct any damage and preserve the property.
Do you have any other smoking or property damage questions?

We have simple criteria:  All prospective tenants must provide VERIFIABLE proof of home ownership or rental history for a minimum of two years.  We also evaluate credit, judgments, civil and criminal history.  Verifiable income must be at least three times the amount of the monthly rent.  In some cases, Home Locators will ask for a co-signer.  Our resident selection process is far more extensive than the items listed above.  Read more about how we evaluate prospective tenants

How do you retain good tenants in my rental property?

Our Tenant Retention Program is a thoughtful approach to maintaining the best residents through consistent contact through email, phone and personal visits throughout the year.  We strive to build positive relationships with our residents, ensuring they are happy in their homes and with the services we provide.  This is a concerted effort designed to minimize vacancy losses and maintenance expenses.  It is about protecting the landlord’s interests while seeing to the needs of the resident.  This is truly a win/win scenario.   When we renew a tenant’s lease, you have zero vacancy loss.  Nobody wants to make a mortgage payment on a vacant home!  You also have no leasing fee to pay when a tenant has been retained.