At Elliott & Eijo Group, we believe one of our most important responsibilities is keeping our property owners informed about changes that could affect their investments.

Florida has recently passed an important new law aimed at protecting landlords from one of the fastest-growing problems in the rental housing industry: fraudulent rental applications.

The new law, known as CS/HB 1293 – Fraudulent Entry of Residential Dwellings, strengthens protections for property owners by making it easier to address applicants who intentionally use false information to obtain a rental home. The law takes effect October 1, 2026. (Evict)

Why Was This Law Needed?

Over the past several years, rental application fraud has become much more common across the country.

Unfortunately, some applicants have been submitting:

• Fake pay stubs
• Altered bank statements
• Forged identification documents
• False employment information
• Stolen or synthetic identities

These fraudulent applications can lead to significant financial losses for property owners, lengthy eviction proceedings, and unnecessary stress. Florida lawmakers passed this legislation to give landlords stronger legal tools to combat this growing problem. (Evict)

What Does the New Law Do?

The law creates a new criminal offense called “fraudulent entry of a residential dwelling unit.”

If someone knowingly gains possession of a rental property by using materially false information about their identity or financial qualifications, presenting forged documents, or impersonating another individual, they may now face a third-degree felony in addition to eviction. (Evict)

Faster Action Against Fraud

Another important change is how fraudulent entry is treated under Florida’s landlord-tenant laws.

Fraudulent entry is now considered a non-curable lease violation. This means that if fraud is discovered after move-in, a landlord may serve a 7-day notice to vacate, and the tenant is not entitled to an opportunity to correct the violation before eviction proceedings begin. (Evict)

It’s important to understand that this law does not eliminate the court eviction process. If the tenant does not leave after the notice period, the landlord must still pursue an eviction through the courts. The new law simply provides clearer legal grounds for doing so when the tenancy was obtained through fraud. (The Florida Senate)

What This Means for Elliott & Eijo Clients

One of the best ways to avoid problems is to prevent them before they happen.

At Elliott & Eijo Group, we’ve always taken tenant screening seriously. We verify identity, review income documentation, evaluate rental history, and use professional screening tools to help reduce the risk of fraudulent applications.

This new law reinforces the importance of those practices and provides additional legal protection if someone intentionally attempts to deceive a landlord during the application process.

While no screening process can eliminate every risk, combining thorough screening with stronger Florida laws gives property owners greater confidence that fraudulent applicants can be addressed more effectively.

Our Commitment to Protecting Your Investment

Managing rental property involves much more than collecting rent. It requires staying current on changing laws, adapting screening procedures, and protecting our clients’ investments every step of the way.

As this law takes effect, we’ll continue reviewing our application procedures, identity verification methods, and lease documentation to ensure we’re following current best practices and taking advantage of the protections Florida law now provides. (Evict)

Final Thoughts

Florida continues to be one of the most landlord-friendly states in the country, and this new legislation is another example of lawmakers recognizing the importance of protecting property owners from intentional fraud.

If you have questions about this new law, our tenant screening process, or any aspect of managing your rental property, we’re always here to help.

At Elliott & Eijo Group, protecting your investment isn’t just part of our job — it’s our priority.