Property Manager failed to pay property owner rental checks

[Emily Chen]

My property manage company started to have late checks, bounced checks, and miss paying checks since 2018. Now I changed property manager. I called and emailed, the owner never reply. The property manager said she collect rent from tenant but she does not issue the check. I have never seen this type of property management before. How do I get the missed payments back (last 3 month rent)? Please advise. Thanks!

[Nathan Gesner]

1. Read your management agreement. It should explain when you can expect to be paid.

2. Contact the PM in writing and demand payment within 14 days. If the PM is working under a Broker/Owner, contact the Broker/Owner directly because they are more likely to understand the threat to their business.

3. If they don't pay, contact their licensing board and file a complaint. The licensing board will typically call and notify them of the issue and try to resolve it. If the PM refuses, persist with the complaint. The board will only censure, punish, or possibly suspend/revoke the license but they won't get your money back so you'll need to hire an attorney for that or sue in Small Claims Court.

I suspect they'll figure it out once you file a complaint with the board.