Tenant leased 3 weeks back and paid half rent for first month

[Harita Konjeti]

Tenant has not paid entire rent for first month, do I have any other options other than charging late payment? 

[Mohammed Mahfuz Rahman]

If your tenant hasn’t paid the full first month’s rent, the best thing to do is address it quickly but calmly. Start by having an open conversation with them. Sometimes, it’s just a misunderstanding—maybe they thought the amount was prorated, or they ran into an unexpected issue. Reaching out and asking about it gives them a chance to explain and shows that you’re approachable but serious about rent being paid in full.

After that, check your lease agreement to see what it says about late or partial payments. This gives you a clear roadmap for how to handle the situation while sticking to what you both agreed to. If they’re facing a short-term financial hiccup and you feel they’re otherwise a reliable tenant, you might consider setting up a plan for them to catch up on what they owe. Being flexible in a way that still protects your investment can help build a better relationship.

However, if they’re not responsive or don’t show good faith, you might need to take a more formal step, like issuing a notice to pay or quit. This doesn’t mean you’re rushing into legal action—it’s just about setting clear expectations and boundaries. It’s also important to remember that allowing partial payments without a plan can set a bad precedent, so it’s best to handle this firmly but professionally.

For the future, collecting the first month’s rent in full before move-in can help avoid situations like this. It’s all part of creating a smooth, professional landlord-tenant relationship. At the end of the day, you want to protect your property while also being fair and approachable.

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Harita Konjeti:

Tenant has not paid entire rent for first month, do I have any other options other than charging late payment? 

You should require the first month's rent paid in full before handing them the keys.

Start the eviction process. That will typically spook them into catching up or chase them out.

I recommend you read some books (see my signature?) about managing rentals before you start bleeding cash and ruining your life.