Applying and moving in
Income requirements for renting in South Florida, and the 3x rule
Many South Florida landlords want your gross monthly income to be about three times the rent, so a $2,400 apartment means showing about $7,200 a month, or $86,400 a year. Nothing in Florida law sets that number, so it's each landlord's rule, and some use 2.5 or 3.5 instead. HUD never set a screening rule, but its long-standing affordability line of 30% of income works out to nearly the same math.
Updated Last checked 3 min read
Quick answer
- Gross monthly income of about 3 times the rent is the usual bar.
- It's a landlord rule, not a law. Ask what multiple they use.
- Rent of $2,400 means about $7,200 a month, or $86,400 a year.
- Roommates are counted together by some landlords, one by one by others.
- Below 3x: add a guarantor or a roommate, or look one price band down.
On this page
How the rule works
Take the monthly rent and multiply by three. That's the gross monthly income, before taxes, a landlord using the rule wants to see. Three times the rent puts rent at about 33% of gross income, which is close to the 30% HUD has long used as the line for affordable housing. HUD calls households that pay more than 30% cost burdened, and more than 50% severely cost burdened.
| Monthly rent | Monthly income at 3x | Yearly income at 3x |
|---|---|---|
| $1,800 | $5,400 | $64,800 |
| $2,100 | $6,300 | $75,600 |
| $2,400 | $7,200 | $86,400 |
| $2,800 | $8,400 | $100,800 |
| $3,500 | $10,500 | $126,000 |
Some landlords count the rent plus required monthly fees, like an HOA's amenity fee, rather than rent alone. Ask which number they multiply.
What counts as income
- Recent pay stubs, usually the last two or three
- An offer letter on company letterhead, if you are starting a new job
- Bank statements showing regular deposits
- Tax returns or 1099s if you are self-employed, often for two years
- Social Security, pension, disability or child support award letters
If you're moving to Florida for a job, the offer letter carries a lot of weight, especially with a start date and salary in writing. Self-employed renters do best with tax returns plus recent bank statements showing the business is still paying.
Roommates and couples
Landlords split on this. Some add every adult's income together and compare it to 3x the rent. Others want each roommate to earn a share on their own, or every roommate to meet the full bar, which is rare but happens. Ask before you apply, because it decides whether three friends sharing a $3,600 house qualify.
- Combined rule, 3 x $3,600
- $10,800 a month together
- Per-person rule on a $1,200 share
- $3,600 a month each
- They earn $4,200, $3,900 and $3,100
- $11,200 passes the combined rule, but the $3,100 roommate misses the per-person one
If you don't hit 3x
- Add a guarantor who meets the landlord's bar, which is often higher for guarantors. See guarantors and co-signers.
- Add a roommate whose income counts toward the total.
- Show savings. A landlord may accept a strong bank balance in place of part of the income, sometimes with more paid up front.
- Look one price band down. Dropping from $2,400 to $2,100 lowers the bar by $900 a month.
Offering months of rent up front can work. Florida treats rent paid ahead for future months as advance rent, which the landlord has to hold like a deposit under section 83.49, so get the terms in the lease. And passing the landlord's test is one thing. What rent you can afford runs the budget from your side, with the electric bill in August included.
Questions people ask
Is the 3x rent rule a law in Florida?
No. It's a common landlord screening rule. Florida law doesn't set an income requirement, so each landlord picks its own multiple.
Is the 3x rule based on gross or net income?
Gross, before taxes, for almost every landlord that uses it. Ask if you are unsure, especially if you are self-employed.
Can I combine income with my partner or roommates?
Many landlords add up the income of everyone on the lease. Some count each person separately. Ask before you pay application fees.
What if I have savings but no job yet?
Some landlords will take a large bank balance or extra rent up front. Rent paid ahead counts as advance rent under Florida law, so get the terms written into the lease.
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Sources
- HUD PD&R Edge: Rental Burdens, Rethinking Affordability Measureshuduser.gov
- Florida Statutes, section 83.49: Deposit money or advance rent, duty of landlord and tenantleg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes, section 83.43: Definitionsleg.state.fl.us
Checked against these sources on by Rentvana Editorial. If something has changed, email hello@rentvana.com and we'll fix it.
Questions?
Call 888-601-8344 to talk to a licensed agent, or email hello@rentvana.com and one gets back to you within 1 hour, 8am to 9pm. Renters never pay Rentvana.