Bi-Weekly Rent Payments.

[Kevin Weigold]

Hi, I’ve been following bigger pockets for several years now as I am interested in all aspects of real estate.   I am currently having an issue with my landlord, and when I searched for the answer the bigger pockets forum was the first to show up so I am posting my question from the perspective of the tentant, but also so when I do buy my first rental I have a better understanding of things.

With that being said,

I live in an SRO. My rent is $740 a month, which I had set up on auto pay monthly. I lost my job last October but had enough money to cover rent until January. I started my new job towards the end of December.  My new job paid biweekly and I needed to take the remainder of the money I set aside for my January payment to cover my daily expenses until I received my first paycheck. Once I began paying I had overpaid until I thought I was caught up, and then began paying $370 (half of $740) because I assumed I had covered the $740 that I was behind for January. I did miss the payment from my last paycheck (I have it, but wasn’t able to get to the bank to get a bank check) so I was going to pay it this pay period along with another $370 (total of $740).  My landlord sent me a paper saying I’m behind $1,110 and a text threatening me eviction if I didn’t pay it in full.  I acknowledge the fact that I owe $740 and feel bad that I didn’t pay the $370 last pay period. The difference between what they are saying that I owe and what I believe I owe is $370 which would be two weeks worth of rent.  The payments which I’ve made since January are $400, $400, $800, and $370 and the payment I will be making today is $740. Prior to this I’ve lived here around 6 years and always paid my rent on time faithfully and plan on setting up auto-pay to avoid any discrepancies in the future but I honestly can’t afford to just give away an extra $370 if I don’t owe it.

Any insight into the discrepancy would be greatly appreciated.  I’m sorry I know that this forum isn’t typically for tenants, someday I’m going to be a landlord so I do appreciate all the information available here.  Thanks.