Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Our Tenants

Before you can view any of our properties, whether occupied or vacant, we will need you to register your driver's license at our office. Any adult wanting to enter any of our available rentals to view in person must register. Our office is located at 4400 Bayou Blvd. #58B, Pensacola, FL 32503. This registration process must be done in person for safety of all current and prospective residents as well as staff members. 

If the property is occupied, we will request a showing only after you have completed the registration process. Please keep in mind that the home is occupied and could take a few business 2-3 business days to get an appointment set.  Showings are set during business hours. While we do accomodate Saturday showings, we do not do showings on Sunday. 

If the property is vacant, you can likely view the property via a coded lockbox during business hours but do verify this information and showing instructions are different for each property and it should not be assumed that any home is vacant. 

Visit our page Moving in a Realty Masters Property for comprehensive information on move in processes. 

As far as fees required to move in, Realty Masters requires:

1. First month's Rent
2. Refundable Security Deposit
3. Administrative Fee of $50
4. Pet fee (If moving in with approved pet).

All move in funds are required in ceritifed check or money order. 

Typically, we can hold the property with your refundable security deposit for up to 2 weeks.  A lease should be signed at the same time the security deposit is paid.  Your first month's rent and pet fee are due in full, in certified funds, at our office by the day your lease beings.

Please review our rental application to view our complete rental procedures and policies.

1. Print the application under Rentals, Application Criteria. Complete this and bring it to our office at 4400 Bayou Blvd Suite 58B, Pensacola, FL 32503 along with your drivers license, one month's income verification, $35 per applicant, and photos of any animals.  We do offer a reduced military application fee of $20. Typically within 24-72 hours, we will have an approval or denial for the application. You can also fill out your application in the office. 
    
2. Visit our Rental Application and Criteria page here.
    
3. You may also complete the online application by going to Rentals & clicking on the property you are interested in renting, and clicking "Apply Online."
   
   You will need to supply additional documentation before we will run your application. We will also need payment of the application fee before processing. You can pay online via our application system or can pay with cash in office. Should you experience problems, please give our office a call.

We use the score that is provided by Experian Credit Bureau through Resolve Credit. This is a hard hit to your credit. Unfortunately, we must pull our own credit report and cannot utilize an existing report you may have.

• Minimum acceptable credit score of 600 is required.
• Upon completion of application, a credit inquiry will be made.
• Credit history must not contain judgments, collections, liens or bankruptcy within the past one year.
• Eviction filing and foreclosures within the last 3 years will be grounds for disqualification.

Utility Information provided by Realty Masters

Check our Pensacola area utility page for more comprehensive information! 

Electricity for all Areas- Please call Gulf Power at (850) 969-3111.

See below for other utilities sorted by area.

Pensacola

• Natural Gas @ City of Pensacola: 850-435-1800
• Water Service @ ECUA: 850-476-0480                  
• Cable @ Cox Communications: 850-478-0200

Gulf Breeze

• Natural Gas @ City of Gulf Breeze: 850-934-5110
• Water @ City of  Gulf Breeze: 850-934-5110
• Some locations- Sewer @ Holley Navarre Water: 850-939-2427 
• Cable Service @ Mediacom: 850-934-2557

Navarre

• Water/Sewer @ Holley Navarre Water  850-939-2427
• Cable Service @ Mediacom  850-934-2557  

Pace

• Water/ Sewer @ Pace Water: 850 623-4545 
• Cable Service @ Mediacom: 850-934-2557

Milton

• Water/ Sewer @ City of Milton: 850-983-5400
• Water/ Sewer @ Point Baker: 850-623-4545     
• Water/ Sewer @ Bagdad/Garcon: 850-623-5808
• Gas Service @ City of Milton: 850-983-5400
• Cable Service @ Mediacom: 850-934-2557

*Milton has several water companies- ask us and we can direct you to the right one*

Fort Walton Beach

• Power Service @ Gulf Power: 850-689-4600
• Water/ Sewer @ Fort Walton Beach: 850-833-9500
• Water/Sewer @ Crestview: 850-682-1258              
• Trash Service @ Crestview: 850-689-8600             
• Gas Service @ Okaloosa Gas: 850-682-3017
• Cable Service @ Cox in FWB: 850-796-1269
• Cable Service @ Cox in Crestview: 850-682-5131

Pets are accepted on case by case basis with owners’ approval and a $250 non-refundable pet fee per pet.

• It is the sole discretion of the owner to approve or deny for any reason a pet request by the tenant. In order for your pet(s) to be considered, you must complete the pet section on the application and supply current photos with this application.

• Unfortunately, certain dogs are not allowed in the underwriting guidelines of landlord insurance policies which means our office policies do not allow certain breeds of animals in our rental properties. Because of this, many large dog owners choose to purchase a home instead of leasing one. Our team is happy to help you find a nice Pensacola area home to buy should your situation allow for it. 

  It is Realty Masters policy not to allow the following animals in our Pensacola area rental properties due to the fact they are assigned as aggressive breed animals by the insurance underwriters. Any mix of the breeds below is also determined to be an aggressive breed dog and not allowed at the property.

Assistance animals are welcome with proper documentation from a medical professional. See our assistance animal policy for questions regarding service animals and emotional support animals.

Unapproved Dog List Due to Aggressive Breed Status

• Akita
• Doberman pinscher
• German shepherd
• Pit Bull
• American Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• English Bull Terrier
• Chow
• Rottweiler
• Siberian Husky
• Alaskan Malamute
• Korean Jindo
• Presa Canario
• Hybrid and Purebred Wolves
• Coyotes and wild dogs

When applicants do not meet the criteria, they are often interested in other options to become qualified.

The acceptance of a co-signer is not normal policy and is subject to individual approval or denial by Owner.

If a guarantor or co-signer is considered, the co-signer/guarantor must also complete and sign an application to be processed just as all lease holders would be. They would also need to sign a guarantee of lease agreement stating they would be responsible to guarantee the lease at the time of lease signing. 

Rather than utilizing co-signers or guarantors, we often utilize an extra security deposit in instances where conditional approval is granted. This practice is solely up to the property owner for consideration and not up to management to decide. 

We must get all pets approved by the owner. Before you adopt or purchase a pet, you MUST get written approval, sign a pet addendum, and pay the $250 nonrefundable pet fee.  If you do NOT get approval and move a pet into the property, you may be evicted.

We strongly suggest that you get renters insurance, which can be found for under $25 a month. You can typically secure renters insurance with the company who has your car insurance policy for a discount. Should you need assistance with this, just let us know.  Please remember, Realty Masters is not liable for your personal property in the event of a disaster.

Renters insurance policies do not protect against floods or rising water. It is important to add flood insurance if you are renting a property in a low lying area or on the water.

If you are military, we suggest checking with USAA first for the best rates. Reach out to us if you are in need of renters insurance companies in the local area. 

Tenants are expected to treat this property as it was their own and to make minor repairs as needed as a result of tenant use. Tenant shall accept dwelling, all of the furnishings, and appliances in “as in” condition unless a written statement of any objections is delivered to Landlord within three days of possession.  Failure to do so shall be conclusive proof that no defect exists. 

Refer to your Tenant Handbook and Lease Agreement for a full listing of maintenance responsbilities.

To report a maintenance issue, please email your property manager or utilize this form here. 

For maintenance trouble shooting and how tos, visit our Maintenance Tips Page. 

The owner is only responsible for repairs on functional equipment such as heating, air-conditioning; major built in appliances, and structural problems.  Washers and dryer and any tenant caused problems such as broken glass, torn screens, and loosened doors are the responsibility of the tenant. The owner is not responsible for damage to screens, doors, locks, or windows caused by forced entry.

If there are problems with water or power, tenant shall turn it off immediately and report it to the Landlord. If the tenant fails to do so and further damage is caused, the tenant shall be liable for damage caused by failure to act.

• Tenant agrees to change the A/C filter every month and to check Smoke Detector Batteries & Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries monthly.
• Tenant agrees a maximum of two pictures per wall, and to patch holes upon move out.
• Tenant agrees to maintain the yard mowing, edging, trimming, trash removal, and watering. No cars shall be parked on the yard, or anything that causes degradation to the property. Tenant agrees that any vehicle left on unpaved areas, or any vehicle that is inoperable and/or has no tag may be towed at tenants expense[in accordance with Florida Statute x83.51(2)]
• Tenant agrees to make minor plumbing repairs needed as a result of tenant use, such as broken toilet seats, clogged drains, dripping faucets, and running toilets.
• Tenant agrees to safe guard the property during winter months by leaving a faucet dropping in freezing temperature. They will also safe guard in hurricane season by properly securing.
• Tenant agrees to responsibility for replacing blown fuses and resetting tripped circuit breakers, damage or loss caused by this will be the tenants.
• Tenant agrees to properly care for the carpet by vacuuming and cleaning up spills. The tenant must have it professionally cleaned prior to move out and provide a receipt to the Landlord.
• Tenant agrees that the pet fee does not cover damages by pet.
• Tenant agrees that if they can/do not make repairs, that are their responsibility, and a vendor is sent out by the Landlord, then the tenant will be billed. 

The Landlord or owner shall not reimburse tenant or accept rent in lieu of any repairs made or ordered by the tenant, unless prior written approval is obtained.

Before doing any painting or any other cosmetic work at the house, please contact your property manager for approval. We will need to contact the owner to get his/her approval and will need to know specifics, such as color choice and brand.  If you paint something or change something without our approval, you may be charged to restore the house to it’s original condition!

You have three options for payment of your rent.  

You can pay rent in the office during business hours, through the dropbox upstairs at the main entrance after business hours, and online anytime before rent is considered late. 

Rent is due on the 1st and late as of the 4th, so you must have your rent in our office by the night of the 3rd. Cash payments are never accepted, and if your rent is late, you MUST pay in a certified check or money order. Please remember, invoices for rent are not sent and rent is due on the 1st day of every month. 

You can read more on how to make your rental payment here: Making a Rental Payment

You are required to notify us if your rent will not be on time!  

Rent is due on the 1st and late after the 3rd. By the 4th, a late fee is assessed and rental payments must be made in certified funds payable to "Realty Masters." 

We will need to know a date you expect to pay, as well as the total amount you will pay. Please refer to your lease in regards to your late fee, which will need to be paid with your rental check.  

It is our policy to hand deliver a 3 day notice by the 5th of each month if rent is not paid on time. Please be advised this notice will be posted on your door and hand delivered if rent is not collected by the 3rd of the month. 

Personal checks are not accepted for late rents - so you must pay with money order or certified check. We send money to the owners on the 10th of each month, so if your rent is not in by the 8th, we will not able to get it to the owner to pay the house payment on time! 

You must contact our office if any one moves in or out of your property.  

Per the lease agreement, we must have all roommates approved PRIOR to move in.  If you are on a lease with a roommate, and your roommate leaves, you are still responsible for paying the full rent.

You will be able to get another roommate to take over the lease with you, but you must contact our office to get the appropriate forms filled out in order to do this and get it approved PRIOR to someone moving in or moving out. We will need all roommates signatures on the form to remove or add a roommate.

We must have a 30 day written notice in order to process your move out.  Move –out notices must be given at the 1st of the month and must be for the last day of the month.  If you would like to move out in the middle of the month, you may do so but you are still responsible for rent until the end of the month. We will need the following information on your move out notice:

1. Dated move out notice stating last day in the property
2. Forwarding address and forwarding phone number
3. Address of rental property

You may also submit the electronic move out notice on our website. You can fax the letter to (850) 473 3975 or email to your property manager as well.

If you are active duty military and PCS'ing with orders, we will need a copy of your orders or a letter from your Commanding Officer per the terms of the military clause. The 30 day notice does not take effect until one of these documents is provided to the landlord with the move out notice.

You will receive move out guidelines in the mail, but per your lease, you are responsible for Professional Carpet Cleaning and cleaning of the entire home or apartment. Move out guidelines are also uploaded for your convenience under the Move Out Notice tab under rentals.

You may contact our professional Carpet Cleaner David with Kleencare at (850) 748-0682 or you can email him here.

Key Return & Utilities

• Keys must be received on the last day of the month or the last day of the occupancy per the written notice. You could be charged holdover rent, or double rent, for not returning the keys timely. 
• Garage remotes can be on the kitchen counter
• Utilities must be kept on for 3 business days after vacating per the move out guidelines. 

Florida Statutes outlines the return of the security deposit under Florida Landlord Tenant Act.

The following apply to the return of the security deposit:

You must provide a forwarding address.
It cannot be a post office box. The law requires we send a certified letter outlining any charges to your security deposit. If a forwarding address is not given, we will send the security deposit return to the property address as per the law. 

If we do not deduct any charges from your security deposit, the law outlines we must return the deposit within 15 days. We will gladly retund your entire security deposit as soon as possible.

If charges are deducted from your deposit, we must send notification postmarked by the 30th day after the keys were received. If this is the case, we will only send the security deposit notice- not the partial refund.

• If you have a current account balance with past owed rent, late fees, or maintenance charges, these items will be deducted from your security deposit.
• If you agree to the charges on the security deposit, send a notice in writing, and we will refund the remainder immediately. 
• If you dispute the charges, the written dispute must be sent in within 15 days. We understand that owners and tenants don't always agree on move out damage charges or that our office can overlook items present upon move in. This is why we have a security deposit resolution committee. The security deposit resolution committee is comprised of team members, other than the property manager, that provide a 3rd party review based on evidence. Our security deposit resolution committe will request additional information and review your dispute. If you'd like to send a dispute, send it in writing to your property manager or to Celia. 

Visit our lease renewal page for more information! 

We have the articles and videos on our blog to help you better care for your rental property. Check them out and let us know if you have any questions. 

• Preparing for a hard freeze
• Maintenance Do's and Dont's 
• How to protect septic tank and lines
• Shutting off water in an emergency
• 5 easy appliance care tips
• Useful HVAC tips and a video
• How to prevent HVAC leaks
• Fire Prevention Tips

Submit an online maintenance request here.

You can submit a maintenance request to our office in a number of ways:

• Email your request to your property manager or to Info@PensacolaRealtyMasters.com 
• Complete a maintenance request online
• Reach out to your property manager

We do prefer maintenance requests to be in writing, however, if you are having an issue with your heating and air system, plumbing, electrical, appliance, or other similiar item, give us a call at (850) 473-3983.

Hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th in Pensacola.

You can read more on how to prepare for a hurricane here. 

Make sure to stay tuned to weather and news information so you can be alerted of a possible danger.  Refer to your tenant handbook for disaster information, but definitely make sure to bring all outside items inside to prevent them from damaging property.  In addition, if you leave for the storm, we ask that you shut your breakers off and turn your water off at the road.

Please do not tape windows, and do not install wood on the home until you speak with our office. 

If you are interested in purchasing the house you are currently renting, or another house in the Pensacola area, we can definitely help you! Contact your property manager and we will contact the owner. 

Realty Masters is a full service real estate company, who deals in sales, including short sales and foreclosed properties in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. For more information, reach out to our sales team at (850) 453-9220. 

To search the Pensacola MLS (the Pensacola Association of Reatlor's multiple listing service) to view Pensacola area homes for sale, more information on home buying, and more information on local communities, visit our sales website.