Tenant late payment

[Crislie P.]

Need advise... I have a tenant who has been good at paying rent for 1 year or so and he is now beginning to pay late. I waved the late payment fee on his first late payment and he was late again 3 months later. I think he lost his job. He apologized for being late this month and said he will pay the following week, then the following late comes and he only gave half of the rent due. He said he will pay the rest the following week but still no payment.

Wanted to see your thoughts on what you would do? I am usually very understanding on these things but wanted to see what others think

[Patricia Steiner]

"Not good..."  You're running a business.  The worse thing you can do is not operate like one.  It's time to bring the late payments to an end.  Send him a Notice To Quit for Non-Payment of Rent.  It's time to either get payments back on track with no delinquency or it is time for him to leave.  The situation will not get better by waiving late fees and accepting partial payments.  It's not personal, it's all business.  It's not unkind, it's factual.  There's nothing to be gained from getting into his personal life or finances.  If he can no longer afford to pay the rent, wish him well elsewhere and get a tenant who can and will pay you on time.  You'll be doing both of you a favor.