Annual or Seasonal Rental? What Southwest Florida Renters Should Know Before Signing a Lease

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - EntSun -- Snowbird season has started in Southwest Florida. From roughly November through April, winter residents arrive and demand for short-term homes climbs. Cre8ive Realty, a North Fort Myers brokerage that helps people secure annual and seasonal rentals, is sharing what renters should check before they sign.

The first decision is lease length. An annual rental is built for full-time living, usually on a 12-month lease. A seasonal rental covers a few months, most often in winter, and is commonly furnished.

That choice affects the final cost more than many renters expect. Under Florida law, rentals of six months or less are taxed like hotel stays. In Lee County, that means 6 percent state sales tax, a 0.5 percent county surtax, and a 5 percent tourist development tax. That is 11.5 percent on top of the rent. A written lease for continuous residence longer than six months is exempt.

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"A lot of winter visitors budget for the rent and get surprised by the tax," said Angie Cloutier, Realtor and co-owner of Cre8ive Realty. "Ask whether it is included in the quoted price before you commit. And never send money for a home you have not seen or confirmed is real."

Busy seasons are also when renters should watch for scams. The Federal Trade Commission warns renters never to pay a deposit, application fee, or first month's rent by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, and not to pay before seeing the property and signing a lease. Renters can look up who owns a property through the Lee County Property Appraiser and report suspected scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The good news is that renters have more choices than they did a few years ago. RealPage reported that Cape Coral-Fort Myers apartment rents had fallen year over year for 33 straight months as of March 2026. That gives renters room to compare homes and ask questions.

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Cloutier recommends getting four things in writing: that the home is available for the full stay, what is included such as furniture and utilities, whether taxes are in the quoted price, and how renewal or move-out works.

For owners, the choice works in reverse. Annual tenants mean less turnover. Seasonal renters can bring higher income in peak months but require more marketing, more cleaning between stays, and tax collection.

Cre8ive Realty was founded in 2008 and serves renters, buyers, sellers, and investors across Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties. Broker Kevin Cloutier has been a licensed Realtor since 1997. More guidance is available at https://cre8iverealtors.com/annual-and-seasonal-rentals-southwest-florida/

Contact
Kevin & Angie Cloutier
Cre8ive Realty - North Fort Myers
https://cre8iverealtors.com
239-246-6437