Chronically late rent payments

[Keyia Aubrey]

I really need some advice, I am a new landlord and I have been renting my home out since September of last year. My tenant was doing so good up until about 4 months ago now she is constantly late and always has an excuse on why she’s late although she does pay what can I do because I feel she is trying to make this a habit and I no longer want to put up with it!!

[Thomas S.]

@Chris R.

"I explain this right up front when we do showings"

This is the Key to avoiding late payments. You drill this fact into your applicants when screening so that they understand they will receive a pay or quit notice the day they are late with rent. They understand late payment will never be tolerated and will lead to a eviction. 

They may not fully appreciate the reality during screening but very quickly learn when they receive a pay or quit notice and are reminded another late will result in eviction. This is how landlords avoid training their tenants that late payment is acceptable. Repeated late payments are always the landlords fault.