How to Successfully Conduct Applicant Credit & Background Checks for Your Boca Raton Rental Property

Florida PMServices • July 17, 2020

In trying times, it’s imperative that you provide a home for people and protect your hard-earned investment. A rental background check is one of the most important steps that will help you do both. Looking into a prospective renter’s credit and background details will give you a good picture as to whether they would be someone you’d like to deal with often. After all, the best tenants are the ones who will stay in the property for a long time, pay their rent promptly every month, and take care of the house as if it were their own.

At Florida Property Management Services, we have a tried and tested three-part tenant screening process: background and credit checks, proof of income research, and character screening. Let me tell you more about the first part: how to successfully conduct background and credit checks:

Tenant Background Check

Before you start renting out your property, you need to write down your personal policy on who you’d accept as a tenant. This does not mean that you’ll discriminate against someone based on their race, country of origin, religion, gender, sexuality, or other characteristics. Rather, you need to determine when you should show compassion and where you draw the line with regards to someone’s criminal history.

Would you accept a tenant who had one minor misdemeanor decades ago? Would you accept someone with more than one mark on their criminal record? Would you accept someone with a more serious offense? By answering these questions and writing them down in a policy, you can be consistent in who you accept as a tenant based on the results of their background check. Be sure to have this policy checked by a lawyer as you wouldn’t want to be charged for discrimination. Plus, there may be some laws, such as the proximity of sex offenders to schools and parks, that may affect your property.

Once you have a prospective tenant, the next property management step is to get their written consent to a background check. At this point, you may ask them questions about their history or ask for references from previous landlords.

Afterward, you can do the tenant background check. You can do it yourself if you have the time and energy to do so. You can start with a simple Google search of the applicant’s name with terms like “arrests” or “mugshot”. This search may reveal some things, but not everything. So, it’s best to check other databases.

You can look for arrests and convictions in Florida’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension database (or its equivalent in a different state, if your applicant is moving from interstate). You can also look at court searches and the sex offender list.

If this sounds time-consuming and confusing, Florida Property Management Service can take the stress away from you. We have a tenant screening service that will thoroughly comb through all the records for you.

Tenant Credit Check

You should also look at your prospective applicant’s credit history before accepting them as a renter. As with the background check, you need to have a policy about credit scores.

At Florida Property Management Services, we consider individuals with scores of 600 and above to be good candidates. This score indicates a minimum of a fair credit rating in both FICO and Vantage systems. They will be more likely to get loans and credit than those with lower scores.

However, you also need to look at the actual history when doing your credit check for renters. Have they had a consistent score or is this a new level for them? What circumstances have affected their credit rating?

As with the background check, you need to know when to show compassion and where to draw the line when doing a credit check for renters. Maybe this person had a bit of bad luck and they’re getting back on their feet again. Maybe they needed a few extensions on their medical bills. Maybe they forgot to pay rent a few times five years ago but they’ve been more consistent since then. A written policy allows you to be consistent with your decisions on who to accept based on their credit history.

Once you have this policy in place and you have written consent from your applicants, you can use a credit checking service. They’ll provide you with a detailed report for you to read. You can then accept or reject the applicant according to your policy.

If you have questions about how to conduct applicant checks or if you need more help, Florida Property Management Services would be happy to serve you. Plus, if your investment is in Boca Raton, Weston, Cape Coral, or nearby; we can help you manage it. Please contact us today.

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May Newsletter

By Florida PMServices • May 12, 2026

Welcome to the May edition of the Investor Newsletter! This month, the rental market is proving that strong returns are no longer just about rent growth. With operating costs taking center stage, investors are sharpening their focus on what really drives long-term returns. Inside, we cover these rising operating costs, take a quick look at ADUs, and round up the latest headlines shaping the market right now. The Quiet Profit Squeeze: Why Operating Costs Now Matter More Than Rent Growth Something is quietly changing inside single-family rental performance, and it is not something you will find in rent growth headlines! Even in markets where rents are holding steady or slowly growing, many portfolios are seeing a different pattern emerge; Net operating income is tightening, and the pressure is coming less from revenue and more from rising operating costs. Insurance has become one of the most unpredictable expenses for property owners. According to a recent article , premiums across commercial real estate are projected to rise another 8-15% annually in 2026. This is predicted to be driven by severe weather, higher rebuilding costs, and tighter underwriting standards. Bloomberg also recently noted that U.S. home insurance costs continue to rise as insurers adjust to growing climate and replacement cost pressures. For SFR investors, insurance is no longer a predictable line item. It is a cost that can impact cash flow from one renewal to the next. Maintenance and repairs are adding pressure as well. What many owners once viewed as routine upkeep has become a form of invisible inflation. According to a recent report , repair and maintenance costs have risen nearly 14% year over year and roughly 50% since 2020 in many locations. Deferred maintenance is also becoming more expensive to delay, often turning into much larger expenses down the road. Property taxes are another growing concern. Unlike insurance, tax increases tend to move more gradually through reassessments and municipal adjustments, making them easier to underestimate during underwriting. A Business Insider article highlights how taxes, insurance, and fees are becoming a larger share of “hidden costs” for property owners. Another article reported that property taxes and insurance now account for more than 21% of monthly housing costs in many markets. The takeaway for investors is that operational execution matters just as much as acquisition strategy. Strong returns depend on how well expenses are managed through proactive insurance reviews, preventative maintenance, tax monitoring, and disciplined renewal management. With rent growth normalizing in many areas, protecting NOI, rather than focusing only on revenue growth, may be becoming an even more important part of long term rental performance. Did You Know: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Everything You Need to Know in 60 Seconds! You might have heard them called "granny flats," "carriage houses," or "casitas," but in the real estate world, they are known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). As housing demand continues to rise nationwide, and many investors are looking for creative ways to maximize returns on existing properties, ADUs are a flexible option that can increase rental income, property value, and long-term investment potential. What is an ADU? An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, secondary living space built on the same property as a primary home. To be a legal ADU, it must have its own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. They can be detached, attached or repurposed from a home. Who uses an ADU? Homeowners and real estate investors often use ADUs to maximize their land and profits. It can provide a secondary housing option for additional tenants, multi-generational families, or short-term guests. For single-family rental investors, ADUs can turn one property into more income. Where are ADUs located? ADUs are appearing in neighborhoods across the country. As housing demand and affordability challenges continue to grow, more local governments are updating zoning rules to allow investors and homeowners to add these secondary living spaces to existing properties. When should an investor consider an ADU? ADUs may make most sense when a property has excess space, rental demand is strong, and local zoning allows secondary units. Many investors use this when they want to increase cash flow without purchasing another property. Why Are ADUs Important? ADUs are becoming a major trend in residential real estate. They can potentially: Increase rental income Help with housing shortages Offer flexible living arrangements Boost overall property value SFR Trending Headlines Stay Up to Date on the Hottest SFR News & Stories Wave of Price Cuts Arrives Before the Summer Heats Up Selena Gomez Eyes $1.6M Profit on Former Tom Petty Home Zillow and Redfin Brace for Major Legal Fight Are Tenants Saving by Not Owning ? Zuckerberg’s $170M Deal Breaks Miami Record 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! Click for Financing Options! Until Next Month! The Florida Property Management Services Team