They can sign it electronically but in FL the landlord has to sign the lease and have it witnessed by two people if the lease is for more than one year.

I read it in a newsletter and checked online; proposed water rate increase starting 7/1/2016 of 11%, about $8 per month.

My one idea was to implement electronic payment, although they were not comfortable with it, and preferred the check payment method.

Just a suggestion for future rents: have you considered electronic payments?

You can apply, complete a lease, sign the lease and pay the deposit all electronically.  

They shouldn't have an NSF Fee for electronic payments as worst case it would be a credit then debit from their account as it shouldn't be treated as a returned check by their bank.  

I guess I plan to require a single check or electronic payment from the group, and I plan to have pretty strict late dates and fees. 

They are paying the security deposit by electronic transfer. 

I prefer tenants use electronic payment, so a bank account is needed for that too.I get your point that some people do not have bank accounts, but that is more common on C or D properties with lower rent/income situations.

The owner was old school, so I'd print stuff out for him.A lot of my contracts were just done electronically with techies or students in Silicon Valley.