Despite an increase in inventory, snagging an apartment in Tampa was no easy task this year.
For the first time, an annual report has ranked Tampa among the top 30 toughest rental markets in the nation for renters and the fourth hottest market in Florida — just behind Miami, Broward County and Orlando, respectively.
According to data collected in RentCafe’s Rental Competitiveness report, Tampa’s rental market grew more competitive in 2025 than previous years, even as developers continued to build at a steady pace, adding 4.11% more apartments last year compared to 3.36% in 2024. Yet Tampa tenants are staying in their apartments longer, the report finds, and the number of potential renters looking to move to the area continues to outpace growth…