Do I need to see the home before I apply?

Not always, but an owner is more comfortable with an applicant who has toured, in person or by live video, and you are more comfortable signing for a home you have seen. For a seasonal home booked from out of state, a BreakThru agent tours it for you and sends the walk-through.

Can I apply for more than one rental at a time?

Yes, though each application carries its own fee and an association application cannot usually be refunded. Apply to the home you want most first; apply to a second only when the first is uncertain.

What if I am moving from another country?

Owners can usually work with a passport, proof of funds or income from abroad, and a larger deposit or prepaid rent in place of a US credit history; which of those an owner accepts is the owner's decision. A BreakThru agent sets it out before you apply so nothing surprises either side.

What Do You Need to Rent a Home in South Florida?

Reviewed by Tyson E. Sam, Founder and Broker of Record, BreakThru Realty, Florida License 3565210

Published October 21, 2026

The Short Answer

Most South Florida owners ask for a government photo ID, proof of income (recent pay stubs, an offer letter or two years of tax returns if you are self-employed), a credit report, rental history with a landlord reference, and an application fee. Many ask for verified income of about three times the monthly rent. In a condo or a gated community the association runs its own application on top of the owner's, so start thirty to forty-five days before you want to move in.

The Owner's Application

The owner, or the owner's agent, screens every applicant against written criteria: income, credit, rental history and sometimes a background check. The criteria are the owner's and they apply to everyone the same way. Have your ID, your last two or three pay stubs or an offer letter, your last two bank statements and a landlord reference ready before you tour, because in a busy month the first complete application often wins the home.

Income and Credit

An income of roughly three times the rent is a common screen, verified from pay stubs, a signed offer letter or, for the self-employed, tax returns and bank statements. Credit is read for how you have paid rent and debts, not for a single score, and a thin file is not the same as a bad one. If your income or credit falls short, a larger deposit, prepaid rent where the owner accepts it, or a co-signer can carry an application; which of those an owner will take is the owner's decision.

The Association, When There Is One

A condominium, a townhome community and most gated neighbourhoods have an association that approves tenants separately from the owner. That means a second application, its own fee, often an interview or an orientation, and a wait that can run from a week to a month or more. The association's approval is the step that decides your move-in date, so a BreakThru agent starts it the day the owner accepts you.

What You Pay Before You Move In

Expect the first month's rent, a security deposit (commonly one month, sometimes two on a furnished home or a thin file), and in many cases the last month's rent. Add the application fees, the association's fee where there is one, and a pet deposit or fee when a pet is allowed. The move-in costs guide walks through each of these.

Timing

Annual rentals usually list about a month before they are available, and owners prefer a tenant who can start when the home is empty. Start looking thirty to forty-five days ahead for an annual lease, and months ahead for a furnished seasonal home, which books the winter early. Tour in person or by video, apply the same day when the home fits, and have the deposit ready to hold it.

How a BreakThru Agent Helps

A BreakThru rental agent builds the shortlist from the live MLS, schedules the tours, tells you what the owner and the association will ask for, submits a complete file and follows the association approval to the day you move in. In most South Florida rentals the owner pays the agent's commission, so the help costs a renter nothing; if a particular listing works differently, we tell you before you tour it.

Let a Rental Agent Do the Legwork

Tell us your budget, move-in date and must-haves. A BreakThru rental agent builds the shortlist, schedules the tours and helps you apply with a complete file. In most South Florida rentals the owner pays the agent, so our help costs a renter nothing. Tell us what you want · Search homes for rent