mid month move in: prorate rent or change due date?

mid month move in: prorate rent or change due date?

Investor · Broward County, FL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 938 votes

When you have a tenant moving in the middle of the month are you prorating the first month and then collecting the next rents on the 1st, or are you collecting a full month and changing the lease contract to make the monthly due date on the anniversary day of the beginning of the lease?

I can see the following pro for both options:

prorate month:

- lower the total amount of money that the tenant has to give to move in, in addition to the last month and security deposit.

- make all collection date the same for all properties.

change date due:

- give a cash flow spread over the month

I have done both so far, and with only a few properties, it did not create too much havoc in my management.

However I would like to hear your advice and experience on the matter.

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Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
8y

We always collect a full month's rent before move-in if the tenant moves in after the beginning of a rent cycle, he will have paid for the partial month and he will have a credit balance that will be applied to the next month's rent charge.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Durham, NC · Member since 2016 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    8y
    My PM collects, deposit, partial month rent and full first month rent IF the move in is after the 20th. If it’s before that you pro rate rent and then collect full month on the first That’s how they do it anyways, I’d probably follow something like this
  • Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    We always collect a full month's rent before move-in if the tenant moves in after the beginning of a rent cycle, he will have paid for the partial month and he will have a credit balance that will be applied to the next month's rent charge.

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    8y

    Prorate and collect full payment on the 1st. 

    It's not hard to track different payment dates with a few properties, or even a dozen. You'll cry yourself to sleep at night if you try it with 50. It's just not scalable.

    It's true the tenant has to pay less if the first month is prorated. However, if they move in after the 20th, my policy is for them to pay the prorated rent and the first full month of rent before occupancy. This actually makes it harder for them to occupy.

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  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    8y

    There was a thread on this very recently! I do as @Jill F. does, collect the whole 1st month at move in, and prorate the 2nd to get them paying on the 1st.

  • Rental Property Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2011 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    We collect a full month's rent upfront and pro-rate the second month to account for the actual move in dates.

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