Changing payment process for inherited tenants

[Susan H.]

I'm closing mid-December on a tenant-occupied SFH. This is the first time I've purchased investment property with tenants in place, so want to be sure I do everything correctly. Their lease runs through July 2018. Current owner lets them mail a check for monthly rent. This has been a problem for her due to delivery delays and mail theft. I've avoided similar problems with my own rentals by requiring tenants to pay online.

My question: can I require the inherited tenants to pay rent online even while they're on their existing lease?

[Jon Holdman]

Depends on what's in the existing lease.  The lease remains in force and if it allows mail payments, you're stuck with them.