6th day and Tenant hasn't paid yet !?!

[Shar Day]

Today is the 6th day of the month, and I have a renter that haven't paid yet. New tenant (Jan 2015). For the last few months the rent has been deposited into a bank account.

I texted and emailed a notice last night, informing them that rent is late and any rent paid after yesterday will incur a late fee. I was expecting to hear back from them yesterday. NO CALL, NO TEXT, NO EMAIL, that they would be late.

This morning, I called trying to get hold of the tenant but got the voicemail; and I left the same message. Right after I hung up I called the other occupant and I was told Person A might be getting ready for work. I said OK, tell Person A to give me a call.

30 mins later Person A sent a text apologizing  and promised it would be deposited on the 9th along with the late fee.

My text response was " I do not like the rent late, but if you know you won't be able to make it on the 1st, please call me".

Now the question is what else should I be doing. I feel I need to start some sort of paperwork if they do not pay on the 9th, and I do not want to be 10 days late into filling notices. Property is in MD.

[Ken P.]

In Michigan I would have a 7 day notice in the mail the day after the rent is late. That starts the eviction clock running, and is a warning shot across the tenants' bow. Late rent problems need to be nipped in the bud - they usually don't get better on their own