Licensed Florida real estate brokerage
How do I verify the person renting to me actually owns the property?
A straight answer from a licensed Florida real estate brokerage — then what you can check yourself and when to bring in a licensed professional. Free consultation: (888) 440-3766.
Look up the property's owner of record in the county property appraiser's website and the county clerk's official records, then confirm that the name on the lease matches that owner or a person with written authority to act for them. Do this before you pay a deposit or sign anything.
The name on the record does not have to match exactly. Owners often hold title through an LLC, a trust or a family arrangement, and many owners use a property manager. In those cases you are verifying the entity and the signer's authority, not just a personal name.
Why it comes up in Florida
Florida has a large rental market, including seasonal and snowbird rentals with booking inquiries that start in late summer and fall. Renters often choose a place remotely, which makes it easier for a scammer to copy a real listing and pose as the owner. Verification protects your deposit and your move-in date.
Authority matters even when the person is not a scammer. A tenant subletting without permission, or a condo owner who has not received association approval, can leave you without a valid right to occupy. Under Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Chapter 83, Part II), the lease and your landlord's compliance with the law shape your protections, so you want the right party on the lease.
What you can check yourself
Search the county property appraiser
Enter the address or parcel on the property appraiser's website for the county where the home sits. It generally shows the owner of record and mailing address. Records can lag behind a recent sale, so treat a mismatch as a question to ask, not proof of fraud.
Check the deed in the clerk's official records
The county clerk's official records generally hold recorded deeds. Confirm the grantee on the most recent deed matches the owner listed with the appraiser.
Verify an LLC or trust
If the owner is a company, look it up in the state's business entity records and see who is authorized to sign. For a trust, ask for proof of the trustee's authority.
Ask for written authority if it's an agent or manager
Request the management agreement or a signed authorization from the owner. If someone says they are a licensed agent or broker, check their license status on the DBPR website.
Ask the association about condos and HOAs
Associations commonly require tenant approval and an application. The association can usually confirm the owner of record and whether the unit may be leased.
When to bring in a licensed professional
Call us if the records and the person don't line up, if the owner is out of state and can't be reached, or if you are renting a condo or HOA home and want to confirm approval before you commit. Walk away from anyone who refuses a showing, pressures you to pay before you see the home, or asks for payment in a way you can't trace.
If the question is legal, such as whether a sublease is valid or whether a lease binds the real owner, a Florida real-estate attorney is the right resource. We are a brokerage, not a law firm. Call (888) 440-3766 or send the form on this page for a free consultation. Premier Real Estate Group Inc or a licensed agent we refer you to will contact you by phone or email.
Premier Real Estate Group Inc is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage (broker license BK3314523). Verify at Florida DBPR.
What a licensed real-estate professional will do
- Confirm who has authority to leaseWe help you compare the owner of record, the lease signer and any management authorization before you apply.
- Handle showings and applicationsWe arrange showings in person or by video and walk you through the application and screening authorization.
- Coordinate condo and HOA approvalWe help you understand the association's application, approval steps and timelines, which vary by community.
- Review the leaseWe read the lease with you, including deposit terms and hurricane-season responsibilities. The document controls, and we point legal questions to an attorney.
- Document move-in conditionWe help you record the home's condition at move-in, which matters when deposit questions come up later.
Related questions
- What if the listing agent says they represent the owner?
- Ask for their license number and check it on the DBPR website. Florida generally requires a license to find, show or negotiate rentals for others for compensation, with limited exceptions such as certain salaried on-site apartment-complex employees. You can also ask for the owner's written authorization.
- Is a rental application a safe place to share my information?
- Only after you have confirmed who is receiving it. Complete applications and screening authorizations only with a verified owner, manager or licensed professional, and don't send them to someone who has skipped the basic ownership checks.
- Do condo and HOA rentals need extra verification?
- Often yes. Many associations require tenant approval, an application, background screening and a fee, and some set minimum lease terms or leasing caps. Ask the association whether the unit can be leased and what approval takes before you sign.
- Who holds my security deposit, and how do I know it's handled properly?
- Chapter 83, Part II governs how deposits must be held and the written notice and timelines a landlord follows to claim against one after move-out. Your lease states the terms, so confirm them in writing and ask an attorney if something looks off.
Keep reading
Tell us what you need to rent
Move-in date, budget, bedrooms and area. A licensed real-estate professional will contact you.
Licensed brokerage
Premier Real Estate Group Inc
Broker of record Maxim Bohadana, Florida broker license BK3314523
(888) 440-3766