A tenant in our investment property is slow to pay her rent. What steps do I take as Landlord?

Question

This nice young lady is the single mom for two school-age kids. Her very first rent check bounced, the second was sent along short by $200, now we're two weeks into this month and NO PAYMENT'S been made. She hints she's had trouble with her job. What do I do?

Answer 1

times are hard...work with her. Do you have anyone else you could rent the place to if you were to evict her?

Answer 2

Its sad shes having troubles at her job with two small children but business is business I suggest you send her a formal warning in writing giving her a certain time limit to get the outstanding rent paid

And if that falls through, then start eviction proceedings... I know that sounds harsh but it is what it is?!  

Answer 3

What a bunch of hogwash!  These are not your kids, nor is any of her financial problems your problems.  With her bad short payment history with you, experience tells me that it is going to be a struggle every month to get that rent.  I am guessing that you didn't run a credit report on her, because I am guessing she has poor credit.  I don't care how nice she is, those are not YOUR school age kids, and she is not a relative of yours.  You have no obligation to financially support her.  I don't know about anyone else, but I am in business to earn income.  If someone doesn't pay me, suddenly I have to scratch my butt, and try to figure out how to pay MY bills.  We are very successful in our business, due to the fact that we take no excuses.  You do not run a charity, give her an eviction!

Answer 4

Give her time to pay the rent

Answer 5

As a landlord myself, I've heard this story myself. You can not afford to let her live there for free and if you continue to let her pay late without a late fee you are she will have no reason to try and pay on time. She should have child support coming in as well as her own job. If she can't make it on that there are agencies that will help her. If she has only been there a few months I'd talk to her and let her know that rent must be paid on time, no bounced checks and the full amount is due.If she can't do that then you will be forced to evict. Another option is if your property would qualify for Section 8, she can apply for that and you would get most of your rent from them and she would only have to pay a small amount.

Answer 6

I deal with this pretty often.  If she's really trying, I'd try talking to her before taking legal action.  Find out what her situation is.  Sounds like she intends to pay but is having difficultly.  In that case, I'd probably give her some extra time before booting her.  If she has no intentions on paying, then I'd give her a date to be out by.

Answer 7

You have the legal right to begin the eviction process now.

You have her served with the proper Notice to (Pay) or Quit for your state. Do not include late fees, but do include all past due rent. If she owes $200.00 from last month, include it in the notice.

Depending on your state's laws, she will have X number of days in which to pay all rent owed or vacate.

If she pays all rent owed within the X days (highly unlikely) the process stops - in most states.

If after X days, she does not pay up or move out, you begin the actual eviction process by having her served with the summons & complaint, unlawful detainer, whatever it is called in your state.

If she was a decent person, she would do more than hint about trouble with her job. She would have come to you to see if you would work with her. She did not, she is stringing you along. The longer you let this drag on, the longer she'll take advantage of you.

Being a single mother with school age kids does not give her any kind  of a free pass.

Her payment history, a whole two months, is horrible.

Answer 8

This goes to your basic personality.  And to your approach to the business of being a landlord.  YOu are being nice to her and that approach is not successful (it's successful for her because she is living free for the last 2 weeks).  

YOu can "get tough" and send her the eviction notice every time the check bounces or she is late.  That is the smart thing to do.  But you don't seem mentally ready to do that.  So just float along for a while. Maybe she will get it together. /

Answer 9

It depends how lenient you want to be with her. You could ask her if she wants to pay weekly from now on, this might make it easier for her. If not you could maybe reduce the rent very slightly for her. If you want to take a more harsh approach then you can tell her you want this much rent by a certain date and then if she doesn't have it, you can give her a months notice to leave. You must make sure you give her a months notice, otherwise the state can get involved. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Well Depends if you want to be nice or get money.

If you wanted to be nice just let her be as she is.

If you wanted to get money for sure Warn her that she will be kicked out if you don't get the payment or Kick her and her 2 poor kids out  

Answer 11

If you want to be considered the last one on her list to be paid, feel free. But...

For someone who is late with their rent it is best to get ahead of the problem immediately. You can always back off later, but you have to show strength from the start. The day after your grace period (if you have one) you should issue A Three Day Notice to Pay or Quit.

After 3 days you issue a Thirty Day Notice to Vacate and go to the coutrhouse to find out how to take the tenant to court and file the paperwork as soon as allowed. At any time during this process you can rescind the case if the tenant catches-up, including the court costs.

I have found that many tenants are so shocked that you'd actually do this that many are never late again.