If your Florida home is sitting between winter visits, it is worth asking whether the current rental arrangement still suits you. For some Canadian owners, a long-term tenant offers a simpler way to hold the property. For others, keeping the home available for their own winter stay matters more. Start with that decision—not a promise that one rental model always earns more.
McCormack Realty & Renters Choice Homes helps Canadian owners compare those options for homes in Kissimmee, Davenport and surrounding Central Florida communities. We manage unfurnished long-term rentals locally and can help you plan the practical change from a furnished vacation home.
Your winter plans come first
A long-term tenancy is not a way to fill only the gaps between your own visits. The tenant has possession under the lease, so you cannot assume the home will be available next winter. Tell us your intended personal-use dates and whether that flexibility is essential. If you want to keep using the home seasonally, changing to our long-term program may not be the right fit.
Preparing a furnished vacation home
Our program is unfurnished. Decide which belongings you want to keep, remove, store or sell before the property is marketed. We can discuss the preparation work and local coordination required, but furniture sale proceeds and storage costs should not be assumed in advance. Existing bookings, notice obligations and HOA rental rules also need to be checked before you commit to a change.
Stay informed from Canada
Use the owner portal to follow statements, invoices and property records remotely. Agree your preferred contact method and a suitable time to speak, taking your Canadian time zone into account. Your Florida rental income and expenses are in US dollars; keep those records separate from your personal currency-conversion decisions. Ask your own qualified Canadian and US advisers about tax and reporting obligations.
Look at the annual picture
Compare actual booking income after operating costs with a realistic long-term rental estimate. Include leasing and management charges, vacancy, repairs, property taxes, insurance and HOA costs in the long-term budget. Utilities normally move to the tenant under the lease, but that does not mean every owner expense disappears. Our vacation-rental costs guide explains why booking revenue alone can be misleading.
Questions owners ask before making the change
Can a Canadian owner convert a Florida vacation home to a long-term rental?
Yes, where the property’s rules and existing commitments permit it. We review the address, bookings, management agreement, preparation needs and your personal-use plans before discussing a long-term tenancy.
Who pays utilities in a Florida long-term rental?
Tenants usually pay electricity, water and internet under the lease. Responsibility for pool care, lawn care and other costs must be checked for the specific home and agreement. Owners still need a budget for their own ongoing costs and periods without rent.
What happens to the furniture?
Our management program is unfurnished. You will need a plan to remove, sell or store your furnishings before the tenant moves in. Talk to us about the property’s preparation needs before making arrangements.
Can I rent my Florida home long-term until I am ready to sell?
That can be a practical option if a long-term tenancy fits your plans. McCormack Realty can also help with the later sale. The lease, tenant rights and notice requirements still matter, so discuss the intended timing rather than assuming you can sell with vacant possession whenever you choose.
How are repairs handled when I am in Canada?
Our published management FAQ explains that repairs below the property’s reserve amount are handled promptly, with notification afterwards. When a repair exceeds the reserve limit, we contact the owner by phone or email for approval and request funds if needed. Agree your reserve and emergency arrangements in the management agreement; living overseas does not mean choosing an arbitrary repair limit from a website.
Ready to discuss your property? Call our US office at 407-933-2367. We also have a UK number, 0161-300-9595; it is not a Canadian local number. You can use the contact form whenever a call is inconvenient.
Is your Florida vacation home still working for you?
If your Central Florida vacation rental is producing unpredictable returns, we can compare its current operating costs with a realistic long-term rental estimate. Call 407-933-2367 in the US or 0161-300-9595 in the UK, or request a Vacation Rental Stability Review.
Living overseas? Read our practical guides for UK vacation-home owners and Canadian vacation-home owners. We also help out-of-state US owners make the same decision.