Tenant taking their time to pay rent.

[Chris Kimsey]

Hello,

Wanted to get the opinion of some of the more experience landlords.

I have a couple that just recently moved into one of my properties here in Texas. Their income is 5x the rent. Credit scores and background checks are great. They paid the deposit and a pro rated amount for moving in early no problem.

I have an account set up on apartments.com (previously cozy) that all my tenants pay me on.

When it came to paying first months rent these tenants drug their feet until the 9th of the month saying they had issues with their bank linking to apartments.com. This is after numerous times recommending them to set up their account well before the 1st of the month.

I did mess up and waited to send the pay or vacate on the 5th at the end of the grace period. I was literally filling out the eviction paperwork on the 9th when they texted me and said they wanted to bring me a money order for rent. Which they did bring me with all late fees included.

The problem is this. It's about to be the first again and they STILL have not set up their account on apartments.com. I sent them a text and reminded them that our lease states they need to pay on apartments.com and I will not be accepting payments any other way this time.

I have decided to leave it alone and just send out a pay or vacate paper on the 2nd this time. And I guess I will get the eviction paperwork going earlier.

They also keeping telling me they will get the online payments set up no problem.

But seriously this is only the second month at the property and they are both very nice. And I know for a they both have jobs.

I am I doing everything right? An eviction at this point seems crazy. How would you handle this situation?

Thanks,

Chris

[Joe Splitrock]

I had a tenant that drug his heels for two years on setting up with Cozy. He told me multiple times he would do it. I finally started charging him a $5 check processing fee and he paid it. Setting up on Apartments.com takes a day two at the most. It is extremely easy. When he finally set it up, he told me how he loves it, lol.

Notify them that failure to pay electronically will result in an added monthly fee of $5 or $10. Also explain to them that rent is due on the 1st and considered late on the 2nd. The 5 day grace period is on late fees. This grace period is meant to cover unexpected situations like your internet being down when you go to pay or other unexpected situations that happen at the end of the month. That gives you a couple extra days to recover and not pay late fees. Unfortunately some people just see it as "rent is due on the 5th". 

I would not send a pay or quit notice on the 2nd only because your lease has a grace period to the 5th. 

Some people who slow pay have money, they just aren't organized. I had a great tenant for years who would pay rent every month on the 5th. Some people are just not organized.