Top 25 Excuses for Late Rent

In a recent post, I mentioned that bad tenants are really good at coming up with creative excuses for why their rent is late or not being paid in full. Seriously, it’s a genuine talent that some of them have, and I’ve often wondered if they are professional storytellers in their spare time. While none of them were (at least not to my knowledge), they did inspire me tap into my own creativity and do a post on some of the best excuses I’ve heard over the years. So without further ado, here are my favorite gems:

1. My car broke down so I paid for it to be fixed instead.
2. My car broke down so I couldn’t bring it to you. (Even though I provide the ability for them to pay online).
3. I ran out of stamps so I couldn’t mail it. (Again...rent can be paid online. Sigh.)
4. I promise I sent it! It must have gotten lost in the mail!
5. My internet got turned off, so I couldn’t pay it. (This coming from the same person who told me they were mailing it.)
6. I didn’t know it was due. (It’s due the same day every month.)
7. The check bounced? I swear the money was in there when I wrote it!
8. The bank took money out of my account without telling me, so I can’t afford it.
9. My dog got sick and I had to take him to the vet, so I can’t afford it. (Guess what? I don’t allow pets.)
10. My ex never mailed the child support check, so I can’t afford it.
11. I had to do back to school shopping, so I can’t afford it.
12. I have to buy Christmas gifts, so I can’t afford it.
13. I spent too much on Christmas gifts, so I can’t afford it.
14. But the 1st was over the weekend, so that’s not fair.
15. My boss cut my hours so my check was short.
16. I had to use the money to pay other bills - they were going to shut off my water/electricity/gas/cable/internet!
17. I was feeling lucky so I went gambling over the weekend, but I lost because the dealer cheated, I swear.
18. I tried to get the cash out of the ATM, but I accidentally put in the wrong PIN number, and the machine ate my card.
19. It was raining so I didn’t want to get out. (Seriously. This is what windshield wipers are for….or, you know, they could pay online from the comfort of home.)
20. My husband/wife/mother/father/sister/brother said they dropped it off for me. Didn’t you get it?
21. I’m really, really sorry it’s late; I promise to pay two month’s rent next month.
22. I’ll get my tax refund soon, so I’ll pay for it (and all the other months I missed) then.
23. I was in the hospital with bacterial meningitis.
24. X,Y,Z is wrong with the rental, so you need to fix those before I will pay you.
25. I’m moving anyway. (So I guess this serves as notice - good!)

While this post was written primarily to entertain, I hope that it serves to educate as well. People will say whatever they think will convince you to keep them on as tenants, whether it’s the truth or not. Just remember, every month you go with a partial or late rent is a month that you’re losing money. Tenant screening will go a long way in helping ensure that late/partial payments aren’t something you’ll deal with, but sometimes it just happens. Decide ahead of time how you will handle these situations, make sure your tenants are well aware of your policies, and stick to them.