Stop Losing Money on Empty Units

The Lilypad Initiative connects Tampa property owners with pre-screened, background-checked women seeking safe, affordable housing.

❋ Qualified tenants (verified income & background checks)

❋ Faster placement (7-14 days avg)

❋ Better retention (compatibility-matched)

❋ One-time fee (no monthly charges)

Why Choose Lily?

Every Day Your Unit Sits Empty Costs You Money

We maintain a vetted waitlist of women actively seeking housing. They've already:

❋ Completed background checks

❋ Verified income and employment

❋ Provided references

❋ Completed compatibility assessments

❋ Demonstrated commitment

When you list with The Lilypad Initiative, we match your property with qualified tenants immediately - no waiting for applications, no screening headaches, no flaky showings.

You get tenants. Fast. Qualified. Ready to move in.

Lily Tenants Are Your Ideal Tenant Profile

Financially Stable

  • Employed professionals (nurses, teachers, office workers)

  • Stable income (verified 3x rent minimum)

  • Good credit (650+ preferred, exceptions considered)

  • First/last/deposit ready

Responsible & Respectful

  • Background-checked (no violent crimes, recent evictions)

  • Reference-verified (previous landlords confirm good tenancy)

  • Seeking long-term housing (12+ month leases preferred)

  • Value safe, well-maintained properties

Diverse Demographics

  • Traveling Nurses

  • Single professionals (25-45)

  • Divorced/separated women rebuilding

  • Single moms with stable employment

HOW IT WORKS

  • Person wearing a mustard yellow sweater, working on a laptop at a wooden table, with a black and gold bracelet on their wrist.

    STEP 1: LIST YOUR PROPERTY


    Fill out our property form and upload 5-10 photos. We review within 24 hours.

  • Four women sitting at a round table in a coffee shop, engaged in conversation. Decor includes exposed brick walls and warm lighting.

    STEP 2: WE FIND YOUR TENANT


    We match your property with qualified tenants.

  • A woman sitting on a black armchair in an office or lobby, looking at her phone with a laptop and notebooks on a white coffee table in front of her, colorful pillows on a sofa behind her, and a decorative sculpture in the background.

    STEP 3: MEET YOUR TENANT (VIDEO OR IN-PERSON)

    We facilitate introduction via video call or property showing. You decide if they're the right fit. No pressure. No obligation.

  • A woman in a white shirt shaking hands with a man in a black shirt at a black table. There is a clipboard with a pen, a laptop, and a small potted plant on the table.

    STEP 4: SIGN LEASE & MOVE IN (YOU HANDLE THIS)



    If you each agree to move forward:

    - You provide lease agreement (we can recommend templates)

    - Tenant signs, pays first/last/deposit directly to you

    - You collect rent directly going forward (we're not involved)

    We collect our one-time placement fee.

    You collect rent. Done.

  • A hand holding keys and a house-shaped keychain in front of a door lock.

    NO ONGOING MANAGEMENT

    Lily is tenant placement, NOT property management.

    After move-in:

    - Tenant pays you directly (we don't touch rent)

    - You handle maintenance, inspections, renewals

    - You maintain landlord-tenant relationship

    ‍ ‍If you need property management, we can refer trusted partners.

    If you self-manage or have existing PM, we work seamlessly with your setup.

Transparent, Competitive Pricing

PLACEMENT FEE:

50% of First Month's Rent

(Industry standard - competitive with traditional placement services)


WHAT'S INCLUDED:

✓ Tenant sourcing from our vetted waitlist

✓ Background and credit checks (already completed)

✓ Income verification and reference checks

✓ Compatibility matching for better retention

✓ Tenant introduction and showing coordination

✓ Lease signing facilitation


WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

✗ Monthly management fees (we charge ZERO ongoing fees)

✗ Rent collection (tenant pays you directly)

✗ Maintenance coordination (you handle or hire PM)

✗ Lease renewal fees (no charge if tenant renews)


PAYMENT TERMS:

- No upfront costs to list

- No fees if we don't find a tenant

- Fee only due when tenant signs lease and moves in

- Paid directly by landlord (not deducted from tenant deposit)


A wooden table with laptops, a smartphone, a coffee cup on a saucer, glasses, and various small objects in a cozy workspace setting.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

  • Row of modern suburban houses with tiled roofs, lush landscaping, and palm trees under a blue sky.

    LOCATION:

    ✓ Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview

    ✓ Safe neighborhoods (low crime rates)

    ✓ Near public transit or highways (for commuters)

    ✓ Walkable areas (grocery, pharmacy, parks nearby)


  • Architectural floor plans and elevations of a historic Dutch building, showing front and side views from 1918 and details of interior layouts and renovations.

    PROPERTY TYPES:

    ✓ 1-bedroom apartments ($900-1,400/month)

    ✓ 2-bedroom apartments ($1,200-3,800/month)

    ✓ Private room in shared house (see "For Hosts" page)

    ✓ Condos, townhomes, single-family rentals

  • A glass bowl filled with assorted coins, with a small green plant sprouting from the coins, placed on a white surface in front of a window.

    RENT RANGE:

    ✓ $800-1,800/month (our tenants' typical budget)

    ✓ Competitively priced for area

    ✓ Utilities included or separate (we match either way)


  • Laundry room with white washing machine and dryer, utility sink, small window, wooden floor, and a white vase with flowers.

    AMMENITIES THAT HELP:

    ✓ Parking (on-site or street)

    ✓ Laundry (in-unit or on-site)

    ✓ Pet-friendly (many of our tenants have small pets)

    ✓ Safe entry (gated, security, well-lit)


  • Rooftop swimming pool at sunset with lounge chair, palm trees, and city skyline in the background

    NOT A GREAT FIT:

    ✗ Luxury high-rises ($4,000+/month)

    ✗ Student housing (we serve working professionals)

    ✗ Short-term rentals (we strive to place 12+ month leases)

    ✗ Properties in disrepair or unsafe areas


Better tenants mean better returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. We're a tenant placement service. We find you qualified tenants and facilitate the match. After move-in, the tenant pays you directly and you handle all landlord responsibilities (or hire your own property manager). We don't touch rent, we don't manage properties, we don't charge monthly fees.

  • 50% of first month's rent, paid when tenant signs lease and moves in. This is competitive with industry standard (50-100% first month). No upfront costs, no monthly fees, no hidden charges.

  • Average placement time is 7-14 days from listing to lease signing. This depends on your rent price, location, and availability. Properties in high-demand areas (South Tampa, St. Pete, near hospitals/universities) place fastest.

  • We thoroughly vet all tenants, but we're not fortune tellers. If a tenant breaks the lease or is evicted within the first 90 days due to their fault (non-payment, lease violation), we'll replace them at no additional placement fee. Standard landlord-tenant law applies - you handle eviction process if needed.

  • Absolutely! We work with your existing property management company. We find the tenant, your PM handles day-to-day management. We're happy to coordinate with your PM throughout the process.

  • Yes, Lilypad serves women seeking safe, affordable housing in Tampa Bay. This is our niche and our mission. All our tenants are female.

  • Under Fair Housing Act, we cannot discriminate in housing availability based on sex. However, we're a referral service, not the property owner. You (the landlord) make the final decision on tenant selection based on standard criteria: income, credit, background, references. We simply introduce you to qualified female applicants. You're free to accept or decline based on standard tenant qualifications. We recommend consulting your attorney on Fair Housing compliance.

  • Currently Tampa Bay: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, and surrounding areas. We're expanding to Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami in 2027.

  •  Great! We offer volume discounts for landlords with 3+ units. Contact us directly to discuss pricing for multiple placements.

  • What types of properties do you NOT work with?

    A: We don't place tenants in: luxury high-rises ($4,200+/month), student housing, short-term rentals (under 12 months), or properties in unsafe areas. We focus on affordable, safe, long-term housing.