Do I have a problem tenant or am I just being paranoid?

Do I have a problem tenant or am I just being paranoid?

Rental Property Investor · Jersey Shore, NJ · Member since 2014 · 5 posts · 1 vote

Hi All! I'm new to being a landlord.  Used a realtor friend of my husbands and picked a tenant that came recommended by the realtor.  He did fill out an application provide all of the necessary paperwork and reference.  He was really quick to secure the rental since there was a lot of competition and gave us the deposit and first months rent in November.  My husband and I talked to him in Dec about ACH payments and that we wanted rent electronically, he said he would look into in on his side with his bank.  I heard from him twice regarding that, he initiated the communication, but it was like, I forgot and I didn't have a chance to do this yet.  He moved in Feb 1.  By mid Feb I decided to use Cozy and communicated this to him, although he was very rushed/busy.  I invited him and he responded via email that he would set it up.  He still has not set it up.  I send a new invitation every 3 days.  Are these signs of problems to come or am I just being paranoid?  What are my options if I don't receive the rent?  It is written in the contract that there will be a late fee after the 5th, however I don't want to deal with him every month trying to mail a check or telling me he has some problem.  Any tips or advice in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated!

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Russell BrazilBusiness Member
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Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
7y

As a business owner, you want to make it easy for your tenants to pay you rent how they want to pay.  You need to accept as many forms of payment as possible. Check, venmo, paypal, cozy, google pay etc.  If you try to force a particular form of payment on a tenant, you will just set yourself up for failure or frustration.  

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  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey Shore, NJ · Member since 2014 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    @Joe Splitrock thanks for all this info on cozy!

  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey Shore, NJ · Member since 2014 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    @Christopher Lombardi what do you charge for the daily late fee?

  • Central, MN · Member since 2015 · 148 posts · 184 votes
    7y

    The bottom line is, it is your business and you get to decide.  For the folks that take many forms, that works for them.  For the folks that require one specific way, that works for them, etc.  You need to run your business how it works for you.  I think the key to the electronic version is folks being comfortable with it.  That may mean you have to help them set it up or whatever, it just depends.  Never be afraid to set it up like you want it set up, just be aware that may not be preferred for your tenants so you will have to "train" them like @Thomas S. indicates or adapt to find your sweet spot.  I think class of tenant has a lot to do with how/what systems are in place.

  • Developer · Point Pleasant Beach, NJ · Member since 2015 · 303 posts · 216 votes
    7y

    @Suzanne O'Brien depends on the rent but for units under 3k a month usually 10-$15 and for units above that usually $25

  • Rental Property Investor · Central, FL · Member since 2016 · 950 posts · 821 votes
    7y

    I just dealt with this exact same issue. Even the fact I use cozy.  

    In the end it wasn’t specifically in my lease and it had the options of money order or cashiers check also. So I accept those three types. Cozy, money order or cashiers check.  Going forward I’m going to possibly raise rents for non-cozy payment methods or give a discount for electronic payment methods. However it gets worded.  So if they pay via money order or cashiers check I am compensated for the hassle.  

  • Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    @Suzanne O'Brien just wait till it’s late if you can, then tell him in order to proceed with living there he will have to meet with you to sign up electronic deposits.

  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    Try Zelle.

    Many good tenants have their way of paying. Each person is different.  I talked to a property manager she told me the owner llc prefers electronic sending. This is Silicon Valley. Only 35% will participate. The balance prefer to send checks or pay in cash at their place.


  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    Try Zelle. Apple Pay, Wechat pay, Square, Alipay, Dyno, Paypal, Google Wallet etc are all good source.

    Many good tenants have their way of paying. Each person is different. I talked to a property manager she told me the owner, a llc prefers electronic sending. This is in Silicon Valley supposedly high tech savvy city of America. Only 35% will participate. The balance prefer to send checks or pay in cash at their place.

    If you impose fines because you prefer a different paying method and he pays on time, I believe he can take landlord to court. Honestly, Cozy is not one of these popular service provider that major US bank participates. 

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    7y

    If you do not receive the rent by midnight it's time to issue the pay or quit notice first thing in the morning. That is the only contact you need to make with him. No reason to remind him of the late fee, he already knows.

    Do it in the morning and you will resolve all your future payment problems. If he gets to the point of owing a late fee you have lost control of your business. He will need to go.

  • Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 89 posts · 27 votes
    7y

    I wouldn't circle the wagons at this point.  He's been responsive, just not with setting up the electronic payment.  And a lot of people still aren't very comfortable/familiar with setting up those types of accounts.

    @Russell Brazil makes a good point regarding making it easy for the tenant to pay you rent in a a manner that's easiest for them.

    Good luck!

    Aaron

  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y

    @Rich S. it is not completely up to the owner.  There are state laws on how many payment options you need to offer.  For example in NYS we can NOT only offer electronic payments legally.

    That is why we lay out the options as per NYS law, and do our best to highlight what works best for us internally.

    Irish Jones Realty4.947 Reviews
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