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⚡ Effective October 1 — Major Florida Legislative Update
Florida Fraudulent Entry Act
A critical new Florida law empowering landlords and property managers against fraudulent rental applications, fake pay stubs, and stolen identities. Implement our recommended 3-part applicant warning system to protect your properties.
⚖️ §817.537, Fla. Stat. (3rd Degree Felony)
🚪 §83.56, Fla. Stat. (Immediate Termination Without Cure)
🛡️ 3-Part Defense System Ready to Deploy
🚨
Third-Degree Felony Criminal Penalties
Under newly enacted §817.537, Florida Statutes, knowingly using false identity information, forged bank statements, fictitious pay stubs, or counterfeit IDs to fraudulently obtain possession of a residential rental home is now a Third-Degree Felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and substantial fines.
Criminal Enforcement (§817.537)
⚡
Immediate Non-Curable Lease Termination
Under amended §83.56, Florida Statutes, fraudulent entry in violation of §817.537 constitutes statutory grounds for immediate termination of the rental agreement without an opportunity to cure. Landlords are not required to give the tenant a chance to rectify fraudulent onboarding.
Civil Remedy (§83.56)
📑
Broad Scope of Covered Documents
The statute strictly covers all application materials, including but not limited to: driver licenses, government ID cards, bank account statements, pay stubs, employment verifications, and credit reports. Submitting altered or impersonated records triggers immediate statutory liability.
Complete Application Coverage
Standard Operating Procedure
The 3-Part Recommended Warning System
To deter fraudulent applicants and put prospective tenants on clear notice of Florida's new law, we crafted these three recommended warning notices for property managers to integrate across all leasing touchpoints starting October 1.
1

Sign / Portal Warning

📍 Leasing Office Sign, Front Desk, Kiosk & Online Application Portal
Where to Place: Display as a framed placard in your leasing lobby, print on front desk clipboards, and position prominently at the top of your online application portal before applicants begin filling out fields.
WARNING
ALL APPLICATIONS ARE VERIFIED.
Knowingly using false identity information, forged, fictitious, or counterfeit documents, or another person's identity to fraudulently obtain possession of a rental home may constitute a third-degree felony under §817.537, Florida Statutes.
Florida Statutes §817.537
2

Application Notice

📍 Application Cover Sheet, Page 1 Preamble & Online Form Header
Where to Place: Insert directly onto the cover page or introductory section of your rental application, as well as the opening disclosure screen of any online tenant application workflow.
NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS

We want your application to succeed, and we verify the information and documents submitted with every application. Please make sure everything you provide is accurate, authentic, and submitted by or with the authorization of the person identified in the application.

Under §817.537, Florida Statutes, a person who knowingly and willfully obtains possession of a residential dwelling by making a materially false written statement concerning the person's identity, presenting forged, fictitious, or counterfeit documents, or impersonating another person commits a felony of the third degree. Covered documents include, but are not limited to, driver licenses, identification cards, bank statements, and pay stubs.

Under §83.56, Florida Statutes, fraudulent entry in violation of §817.537 is grounds for termination of the rental agreement without an opportunity to cure.

If anything in your application needs to be corrected, please correct it before submitting the application. Honest applications are always welcome.

3

Applicant Acknowledgment & Signature Block

📍 End of Application / Pre-Signature Disclosure
Where to Place: Position immediately above the final signature and date lines on your rental application form, and require a mandatory click-to-agree checkbox on digital/portal applications.
APPLICANT CERTIFICATION & ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I certify that the identity information I have provided is true and accurate and that the documents submitted with this application are authentic and have not been forged, fabricated, or counterfeited. I understand that fraudulent entry into a residential dwelling may constitute a third-degree felony under §817.537, Florida Statutes, and may result in termination of the rental agreement under §83.56, Florida Statutes.

Applicant Signature: ___________________________ Date: ______________
🛡️ Property Manager Action Plan for October 1

🖨️ 1. Update Physical & Digital Forms

Ensure paper application packets, PDF download links, and third-party application portals (AppFolio, Buildium, Yardi, RealPage, etc.) are updated with all 3 notice blocks.

🔍 2. Tighten Document Verification

Implement secondary verification protocols for pay stubs and bank statements (e.g. cross-referencing bank routing numbers, metadata checks, employer direct confirmations).

⚖️ 3. Immediate Action on Discovery

If fraudulent entry is discovered after move-in, consult legal counsel immediately to execute statutory termination under §83.56 without cure.

⚠️ Strategic Legal Impact

Historically, landlords had to navigate lengthy, contentious eviction battles when fraud was discovered after occupancy. With §817.537 establishing criminal felony liability and §83.56 eliminating the requirement to provide an opportunity to cure, Florida landlords now possess swift legal leverage to terminate fraudulent tenancies and seek criminal accountability.

Questions on Implementing the Fraudulent Entry Act?

Our legal team at Heist, Weisse & Wolk, P.L.L.C. exclusively represents Florida property managers and landlords. We can review your application forms, leasing disclosures, and termination procedures.