Monthly management fee
Often 8-10% of collected rent
This is the recurring fee for rent collection, owner communication, maintenance coordination, tenant support, reporting, and day-to-day management.
Owner Guide
Property management fees in Tampa Bay: what landlords should compare.
The cheapest monthly percentage is not always the lowest-cost choice. Vacancy, leasing quality, repair controls, renewal judgment, and hidden fees all affect the real cost of management.
Typical Fee Categories
The fee schedule matters more than one headline number.
Tenant placement fee
Often a flat fee or one month of rent
Placement covers pricing, listing, showings, application review, screening, lease preparation, and move-in coordination.
Lease renewal fee
Varies by manager
Renewal work should include market rent review, tenant communication, lease documentation, and retention judgment.
Maintenance coordination
Watch for markups
Some managers add repair markups or coordination fees. Ask whether you pay the vendor invoice directly or an inflated repair cost.
True Cost
A low fee can still cost more if the rental underperforms.
One extra month of vacancy can wipe out the savings from a lower management percentage. Weak screening, slow showings, poor listing presentation, and delayed maintenance decisions usually cost more than a transparent, well-run management plan.
Tampa Bay owners should compare management pricing against net outcome: collected rent, days vacant, tenant quality, repair oversight, renewal retention, and communication quality.
Questions To Ask
Use these questions before signing a management agreement.
- ✓Are fees charged on collected rent or scheduled rent?
- ✓Is tenant placement included, flat, or one full month?
- ✓Are lease renewals charged separately?
- ✓Are maintenance invoices marked up?
- ✓What repair amount requires owner approval?
- ✓Are inspection, cancellation, technology, or onboarding fees added?