I AIN'T PAY'N!! Ahhh the joys of landlording

[Davon Lowery]

I had the property manager send a friendly reminder, reminding tenants that rent is due on the 1st. Tenant 1, paid no problemo. 

Now on the other hand the other tenant states, "I get a three day grace period by law!!!" Oh really????

So, one of my tenants, who conveniently feels we're all out to get her, when she doesn't get her way, says she is not paying the late fee for paying rent late, clearly it wasn't her fault. She stated, if the 1st falls on a weekend she is not responsible.

Thank goodness, today she pays, less the late fee. We had a conversation this evening ending with her yelling at me telling me, "I ain't pay'n, so now what" (Mr. Big Bad landlord....)

Would you push the issue and take her to small claims for a late fee???

Ahhh the joys of landlording...

[Marcia Maynard]

You need a clause like this in your rental agreement....

"PAYMENTS.  All payments made by Tenant to Landlord after the tenancy commences, no matter how designated by Tenant, will be applied as follows: first, to any outstanding amounts due for damages/repairs, utilities etc.; second, to any outstanding service charges or fees from prior months; third, to any rent outstanding from prior months; fourth, to any service charges or fees due in the current month; and lastly to the current month’s rent."

You have an uncooperative tenant, with attitude, who is proving to be a rule breaker. You need to address this by being swift, firm, fair, and polite. Exercise a little flexibility if the situation warrants. You may be able to turn this around, maybe not. Review the terms of the rental agreement and see if the terms and consequences are clear. If not, edit it. Good luck!