Thinking about renting out your Pinellas house?

Updated November 4, 2026

Rent or sell: the questions to answer first

Many Pinellas homeowners end up renting without planning to. A job move, a military order, a house left to you by a parent, or a market that does not feel right for selling can all lead there. The people in that spot are often called accidental landlords.

Before you list the house, it helps to write down a few answers:

• How long do you expect to be away, and could you come back or sell later?
• Can you cover the mortgage, taxes and repairs for a month or two if the house sits empty?
• Would you rather be hands-on, or hand day-to-day work to a professional?
• Do you know how renting changes your homestead exemption, your insurance and your taxes? (More on each below.)

There is no single right answer. Our guide on renting versus selling walks through the trade-offs.

If you are leaning toward renting, the next steps are usually the same: learn the rules, line up insurance, plan for taxes, and decide whether to manage it yourself or hire help.

Florida landlord-tenant basics

Residential leases in Florida are covered by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which is Chapter 83, Part II of the Florida Statutes. It sets duties for both sides. A few examples from the statutes:

• Security deposits: the law lists the ways a landlord may hold a deposit, and sets a 15-day window to return it and a 30-day window to send a written claim. See our security deposit guide.
• Entry: for repairs, the statute defines reasonable notice as at least 24 hours, with entry between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Emergencies are treated differently.
• Disclosures: the landlord, or someone authorized for the landlord, must give the tenant the name and address of the person who receives notices and demands.
• Notices: a notice for unpaid rent gives the tenant 3 days to pay, not counting weekends and legal holidays. Other notices have their own rules.

Notices must be done exactly right or a later eviction case can be delayed. This site gives general information only and is not legal advice. For a specific problem, talk to a Florida attorney.

Who is allowed to manage your rental

In Florida, a person who rents or offers to rent property for someone else, for pay, generally needs a real estate license. Chapter 475 of the Florida Statutes defines the licensed broker role this way, and the state licenses brokers and sales associates through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

The statutes also exempt an owner who leases their own property. That means you can manage your own house, but if you pay someone to find tenants or run the rental, ask to see their Florida license and check it on the DBPR website.

Our guide on choosing a property manager has questions to ask and what to look for in a management agreement.

Short-term rentals are a different rulebook

Renting for a week or a month is not the same as a one-year lease. Pinellas cities, especially beach communities, can have their own rules, and Florida law limits what many local governments can do. State law says local rules adopted after June 1, 2011 generally cannot prohibit vacation rentals or regulate how long or how often they are rented. Older local rules can still apply.

In practice, that means the answer depends on your city. Check with your city's code or planning office before you list. See our short-term versus long-term guide.

If you rent for six months or less, the Pinellas County Tax Collector says you may need to register for tourist development tax, and a platform may not collect it on your behalf for every booking.

Homestead, taxes and insurance all change

Three things catch new landlords off guard:

• Homestead: The Pinellas County Property Appraiser says you no longer qualify for the exemption if the property is rented, and you need to notify that office. See the homestead and taxes guide.
• Taxes: The IRS treats rent you receive as taxable rental income, and certain expenses can be deducted. Talk with a tax professional about your situation.
• Insurance: A policy written for an owner-occupied home may not fit a rental. Ask your insurance agent what you need before a tenant moves in. See the rental home insurance guide.

Screening tenants the right way

A careful screening process protects you and treats applicants fairly. Two sets of federal rules matter.

The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when renting a home. The protected classes are race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. Florida and local laws may add more protections.

If you use a tenant screening report, the Federal Trade Commission says you must tell an applicant if the report played a part in a denial, a higher deposit or rent, or a co-signer requirement. The FTC also warns that a blanket policy, such as refusing anyone with any criminal record, may violate the Fair Housing Act.

Using the same written criteria for every applicant is the simplest habit that keeps you on solid ground.

What a property manager typically does

Services vary by company and by agreement, so read the contract. Property managers commonly handle some or all of these:

• Marketing the home and showing it to applicants
• Screening applicants and preparing the lease
• Collecting rent and handling the tenant's deposit
• Coordinating maintenance and repairs
• Sending required notices and handling move-out
• Providing owner statements

Fees and what is included differ from one company to another. We do not quote prices here. Get written quotes from more than one manager and compare exactly what each covers.

Ready to talk to someone? TheBayPros offers a free matching form that connects Pinellas homeowners with local property management pros. It takes a couple of minutes, and you decide whether to move forward.

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