MA Late Rent Fee

[Nancy C.]

I am updating my Addendum and wanted to ask MA landlords about including a late rent fee.

Legally I can't collect it until rent is late by 30 days. If I include "a $50 late rent fee is assessed after the fifth of the month" in the addendum to scare the college kids I rent to into paying on time, does that make my lease unenforceable, and/or cause me more problems?

Telling them that they have 30 days before a late fee is collected I have found doesn't provide enough "incentive" to pay on time. I can start the eviction process if the rent is one day late, but that's a PITA I want to avoid. Or is the threat of starting that process enough of an incentive?

Or do I include an unenforceable "a $50 late fee is assessed after the fifth of the month"?