How to Be a Good Landlord During a Global Emergency
Florida PMServices • April 13, 2020
At Florida Property Management Services, we know these are unprecedented and unsettling times for our owners, tenants, and professional partners. We hope you and your loved ones are staying well and safe, and we’d like to remind you that we’re here to help and support you and your investment properties throughout this crisis. When you have a question about rent payments, mortgage relief, maintenance, or anything pertaining to your rental home, contact our team and we’ll answer your question or point you in the right solution-driven direction.
Today, we’re talking to our landlords. During a global emergency like the current COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to get lost in the anxiety and uncertainty of whether rent will be coming in and what you’ll do if it doesn’t.
Remember that your tenants are feeling the same anxiety. Today, we’re sharing a few tips on being a good landlord now and during any global emergency. It’s important that you maintain high levels of service and support – your tenants will remember how you performed during this crisis.
Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Communication is always critical, and during a crisis or an emergency, responsiveness is even more important. You need to be available to your tenants and you need to be proactive about communicating with them. Don’t wait for them to call you about not being able to make a rent payment; check in now. Ask how they’re doing. Find out how you can work together to keep everyone in the property.
Talk about realistic plans for rent payments. Discuss whether non-emergency maintenance requests can wait. Provide resources for things like unemployment benefits, food assistance, and other community programs available for people who need help.
Your tenants may be emotional. As a good landlord, it’s your job to keep a clear head and to communicate openly. Respond to phone calls, text messages, and emails.
Be Mindful and Supportive of Tenant Protections
The CARES Act includes a moratorium on evictions for any rental property that has a federally backed mortgage. This lasts for 120 days, and most municipal and county courts in Florida are not hearing evictions, not serving Writs of Possession, and not accepting new filings at least for the rest of the month.
If your tenant is not paying rent, we know it’s frustrating. We know it has the potential to disrupt your own income stream and your long-term ROI.
Remember that this is an unusual circumstance. Your late fees, penalties, and consequences should be consistently enforced during normal business operations. But, during a global crisis, you’ll need to be flexible. You’ll need to do what makes sense. When your tenant informs you that they’ve lost their job and they don’t know when they’ll be able to make a rent payment, talk about what they can do. Some tenants will try to work the system and get away with whatever they can. But we’ve found that most of your good tenants will be willing to meet you halfway and come to some kind of agreement so that you at least get part of your rent coming in on schedule.
Make sure you’re aware of and taking advantage of your own benefits as well. There’s mortgage relief available to many homeowners, and you may be able to negotiate something with your bank or lender.
Focus on Tenant Retention
It’s hard to remember that this crisis is temporary, but at some point things will begin to feel normal again. You’ll want to make sure your tenants have a reason to stay in your property. Evicting your tenants who are behind in rental payments as soon as the moratorium is lifted is one way to get back to business, but think about whether anyone will want to rent from a landlord who does that.
You have a reputation to consider, and the recovery period for any global crisis will likely be long. Make sure your tenants are able to say that you were helpful, compassionate, and easy to work with. Make sure they have a reason to continue renting from you. If the economy gets worse, finding good tenants
to replace those you currently have will be difficult.
These are just a few ways you can set yourself apart from other Florida landlords during a period of national or global crisis. In Florida, we are prepared for disasters because of the constant threat of hurricanes. This one is a little different, but we feel good about our ability to recover.
Contact us
at Florida Property Management Services if you’d like some property management advice
or some help with your unique situation.
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Welcome to this month’s Investor Newsletter. With market conditions varying widely from one metro to the next, staying informed has never been more important. This edition dives into the shift away from a one-size-fits-all housing market, highlights the hidden value of assumable mortgages, and covers the SFR headlines worth watching this month. Let’s dive in! The Death of the “National Housing Market”: Why Local Knowledge Is the New Investor Edge For years, real estate investors could rely on a familiar narrative: the housing market is hot or the market is cooling. But in 2026, that headline is becoming less and less applicable as there is no longer just one housing market. Instead, there are thousands of local markets moving at different speeds. At the national level, housing appears more balanced than it has in years. According to Realtor.com’s Housing Market Report , April contract signings rose 4.5% year over year, while new listings reached their highest level since 2022. On paper, that suggests momentum is returning, but beneath the surface, the story can change by region, metro, and even ZIP code. Realtor.com found that performance across the top 50 U.S. metros varies widely, buyer activity is picking up in some areas, while others remain slow. In fact, many of the strongest-performing housing markets in early 2026 have been concentrated in the Midwest rather than the typically strongest Sun Belt region. A recent Fortune analysis noted that affordability and home pricing are helping Midwest markets outperform many southern metros in which are now facing softer demand and rising inventory. Rental performance is becoming just as localized too. The latest SFR Index found rent growth slowing significantly compared to prior years, with standalone SFR rents increasing just 0.8% year over year nationally in February. Meanwhile, some markets continue to stabilize while others face more pressure from new supply and affordability challenges. 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What exactly is an assumable mortgage? Instead of getting a brand-new loan, the buyer takes over (or “assumes”) the seller’s existing mortgage, including the current interest rate, remaining balance, and loan terms. Not all loans qualify, but many FHA, VA, and USDA loans do, while most conventional loans do not. Who can use this? Real estate investors, homebuyers, and sellers can all benefit. For investors, assumable loans can be attractive when today’s interest rates are much higher than the seller’s existing loan rate. On the other side, it can also be used as a major selling point. Where can investors find this? Assumable mortgages can be found nationwide, but availability depends on the financing already attached to the property. Most conventional bank loans have a "due-on-sale" clause, which means they cannot be assumed. When is the best time to use this? These loans become especially valuable when current mortgage rates are much higher than rates from previous years. Assuming a mortgage at 3% instead of getting a new loan at 7% could dramatically reduce monthly payments for investors. Why does this matter? As a buyer, an assumable mortgage can help improve cash flow, lower financing costs, and make a property more attractive to future buyers. As a seller, it acts as a massive marketing tool. Offering a built-in low interest rate allows your property to stand out. Investor Takeaway: A low-rate assumable mortgage can be a valuable opportunity when buying AND a strong selling feature when it’s time to exit an investment. SFR Trending Headlines Stay Up to Date on the Hottest SFR News & Stories Are Single-Family Rentals Climbing While Apartments Slump? The Summer Pause : Why Zillow Says the Housing Recovery Just Hit a Wall Lizzo Offloads Her Beverly Hills Compound at a Massive $4M Discount Wall Street Is Betting $15 Billion on a Brand-New Wave of Housing Supply Why Ellen DeGeneres Just Listed Her $30M Eco-Farmhouse and Left for the UK Rate Update: We've Partnered with LendingOne to Bring You The Best DSCR Rates & Terms! DSCR Loan Advantages: Rates Often Lower Than Banks No Personal Income Requirement No Tax Returns Needed Not Reported on Credit Faster Closing Times Specialized Loans for Investors Only! To Inquire about Single Family Investor loans by email us at office@properties.rent Until Next Month! The Florida Property Management Services Team
Florida HB 803 is a new law that exempts certain residential construction work valued under $7,500 from building permit requirements, effective July 1, 2026. This law aims to simplify the permitting process and reduce delays for small home improvement projects. Resources: Florida House Adam & Reese Attorneys Overview of Florida HB 803 Florida HB 803 is a new law that significantly changes the building permit requirements for residential construction in Florida. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Key Provisions Permit Exemption: Residential construction work valued under $7,500 is exempt from building permit requirements. Local Government Limitations: Local officials are restricted from inspecting exempted work. Temporary Structures: The law allows for certain temporary hurricane or flood protection walls to be built without a permit. Additional Changes Private Provider Authority: Expands the role of private providers in the permitting process, reducing local oversight. Homeowners' Associations: Prohibits HOAs from requiring permits for architectural reviews of proposed improvements. Permit Review Deadlines: Introduces mandatory deadlines for permit reviews, aiming to speed up the process. Important Considerations Written Request: Homeowners or contractors must submit a written request for exemption to the local enforcement agency. Prohibition on Project Splitting: Projects cannot be divided into smaller components to evade the $7,500 threshold. Exclusions: The exemption does not apply to electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work. This law aims to streamline the permitting process, reduce costs, and encourage home improvement projects across Florida. Very Important to remember: Under Florida HB 803, residential construction work valued under $7,500 is exempt from building permits, except for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or structural work, which still require permits regardless of cost. The exemption also does not apply to properties in flood hazard areas
