Tenant with Late Rent Payment Twice within 4 Months!

[Cherilyn Williams]

I just bought my first investment property, a SFH in January. My tenants moved in March 6, 2024. I require that my tenants sign up for automatic rent payment through Rentredi in order to lease from me. It is stated in the lease that rent is due on the 1st and they must agree to automatic payment withdrawals. The next month in April, I saw that the boyfriend disconnected his bank account from the automatic payments from the Rentredi app (He is the primary he has a 700 credit score, girlfriend has a high 500's)

The rent was not paid on April 1st due date. I contacted him and his girlfriend on the 2nd and told them rent is late and it was not automatically deducted from their account per lease agreement.  They stated they were having relationship issues.  I told them they have to turn in the rent that day and if they don’t pay by the grace period of the 5th, there will be a $50 late fee and $5 for each day late.   I received payment later that evening, which was a relief, but definitely rubbed me the wrong way.

May & June paid on time by automatic payment withdrawal.  GREAT!

Here it is July 3rd no payment of rent again on 1st,, and his account once again is disconnected from the app.  I sent out a text to both, no response.  However, whenever any issue came up anbout the home, I addressed it immediately.  Any suggestions on how to move forward?  I thought my tenant screening was air tight, but apparently not.  Beyond frustrated…

[Adam Bartomeo]

To piggyback on what most of the others are saying, stay calm... a tenant being a day or two late when they have a five-day grace period is nothing compared to some of the challenges that you will face. Follow the processes and laws that are in place. We have a tenant that has been late every month for 4 years, no joke. She always gets caught up, is a great tenant in every other way, but has problems managing her finances. If she wants to pay 10% - 15% more every month due to late fees, that is ok with us.