Relief or ‘poor tax’? Companies offer an alternative to apartment security deposits for Florida renters

Renters face thousands of dollars of upfront costs in a market that has already reached unheard-of heights. The average apartment in the Orlando metro area is renting for $1,650 a month, according to CoStar, a commercial real estate information company. Landlords can ask for application fees, a security deposit and first and last month’s rent at the beginning of the lease.