Hurricane preparation for Tampa rentals

Versaggi Management, a Tampa manager, advises tenants and owners before a storm and drives by every client property afterwards to assess damage, and you should ask any company for its storm procedure in writing.

Ask who photographs the home before a storm, who tells the tenant what to do, who inspects the home afterwards and who reports to your insurer. At Versaggi Management we advise tenants and owners to take precautions depending on the storm forecast, and we drive by all client properties to assess damage after hurricane activity. Most repair requests are handled by our own skilled staff around the clock, and Russ will walk you through how we prepare a house when you request a proposal.

Type the address into the county's lookup tool at HCFL.gov/HEAT.

Hillsborough County places each address in Zone A, B, C, D or E, and Zone A is the first to evacuate. All manufactured and mobile homes are always in Zone A. The county changed its zones for the 2026 season, so check again even if you looked up the address before. Sign up at HCFL.gov/Alert to receive evacuation orders for the property.

Most standard homeowners policies do not, so flood cover is a separate policy.

FEMA notes that a flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program typically takes 30 days to go into effect, so it has to be bought well before a storm is forecast. Ask your insurance agent which policy covers the building, which covers wind and which covers flood, and what each deductible is. Keep the policy documents where a manager can reach them.

Yes, if damage the tenant did not cause substantially impairs the tenant's enjoyment of the home.

Section 83.63 of the Florida Statutes lets the tenant end the rental agreement and leave right away, or leave only the part that cannot be used, in which case the rent drops by the fair rental value of that part. The tenant must get a chance to collect belongings when it is safe, or a notice of the date to do so, and the landlord must follow the deposit rules in section 83.49(3). A Florida attorney can advise on a specific case.