Changing Due Date for Tenant

[Colton W.]

I have a tenant that constantly pays late. They used to pay their rent on time, but now they say they can't pay until the 15th of the month because that is when they get paid. I have let them pay late the past couple of months but I tack on a late fee. However, they still don't pay on the 15th and they wait until I post a Pay or Quit Notice on the door.  It doesn't help the previous landlord let one of the other tenants move their due date back to the 15th.

Should I be a good guy and extend the due date to the 15th for them like they ask, or should I leave it the 1st. They are threatening to move out if they have to pay $650 a month (includes $100 late fee) but if they can't pay their rent on time, I doubt they can afford to move to another building and pay a security deposit plus 1st months rent. My gut tells me not to change the due date.

[Thomas S.]

Sounds like a tenant that has trained their landlord. I would have retrained this tenant to pay on time months ago or gotten rid of them. Landlords time is too important to be chasing any tenant for late rent.

You problem is not the tenant managing their money it is your problem in mismanaging your tenant. You have the simple choice of allow your tenant to make the rules or you make the rules, but if you make rules you must inforce them.