[Landlord -USA -FL] HOA tenant approval taking up to 30 days — how do landlords handle lease signing and quick move-ins?
Hello everyone,
I’m a fairly new landlord with about a year of experience. Our HOA requires tenant approval before anyone can move in, which includes a $150 application fee.
Here’s my current process:
• I fully vet the prospective tenant first (background check, credit score, income, references, etc.).
• Once they pass my screening, I submit the HOA application.
The problem is that HOA approval can take up to 30 days. Many good tenants are ready to move in within a couple of weeks and don’t want to wait. I don’t want to keep a qualified applicant on the fence or risk losing them, but I also want to get the lease signed and secure the rental.
How do other landlords handle this timing conflict?
Do you typically:
• Sign the full lease before HOA approval (with a contingency clause)?
• Have the tenant submit and pay the HOA application earlier in the process?
• Build extra buffer time into your screening timeline?
Any experiences, tips, or sample lease language would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!