We've all heard the excuses: • My grandma died and I had to fly to (name the state) for her funeral • I had to go back to (name the state) for my best friend's wedding • Someone stole my identity and emptied my bank account • I'm waiting on a settlement for the car accident What is the most common excuse you've heard for rent being late?

My most common is bank has freeze on my account because someone tried to steal my identity I have now got my standard response down pat Sir I know that can’t be true for two reasons 1: you are broke and never have money 2; your a loser with money or credit and no one would even want your identity

@Nathan G. I've now rented to about 1,500 college students and had probably ~200 broken window panes. I can only recall 4 having admitting that they had something to do with it. It's always "I have no idea how that happened!". It's so rare that I always fix it for free if they tell me the truth.

A relative died......Based on how many times I have heard this, it is hard for me to understand how our population keeps growing

@Nathan G. I recently had a tenant who's ACH payment bounced. I always collect money orders or cashier's checks once an ACH bounced, and when I asked the tenant if he had dropped the payment at the rent collection box he ended up telling me someone had broken into his car and stolen the money order. I then told him to take the money order receipt back to the place to get a new one. He told me he didn't know there was a receipt and they had stolen that. Somehow he was able to come up with the rent the next Friday which was pay day.

"It's cleaner than when I moved in!" I hear this at least once a month and it's a clear indication that it is not cleaner and - in most cases - hasn't been cleaned at all. In most of these instances, the tenant didn't submit a move-in checklist or otherwise document any problems with the rental when they first moved in. Now that they're moving out, they claim the place was a disaster. How convenient.

The most common excuse I have heard over the years, not related to rent is, "It was like that when we moved in." That is the catch all excuse for any damage or uncleaned item at move out. As far as rent excuses, "I changed bank accounts" is pretty common. It is usually true, but they were probably forced to change accounts after the bank closed it. My favorite rent excuse was, "I don't know how rent can be late, I mailed it on the 4th." Our policy is rent is due on the 1st with a grace period on late fee until the 5th. This case it arrived on the 6th and was post marked on the 5th. I also love when you call a tenant to ask why rent is late and the response is "XYZ is broken and needs to be fixed". How is the fact that something broke at all related to them not paying rent on time? I don't take much rent by mail anymore, but when I did, it was always funny how the same tenant would blame the mail over and over. I once told someone, why is it that out of a hundred rent checks I get in the mail, only yours is mishandled by the post office? Seems like you have really bad luck, haha.

I can't tell you how many times Tenants claim to have been robbed. We live in one of the safest communities in the country where half the people never, ever lock the doors on their cars or houses. Yet Tenants constantly claim someone stole money from their purse, stole their debit card, etc. The most interesting part: it's always the low-income tenants that live in cheap apartments, drive clunker cars, and live paycheck-to-paycheck that are always robbed. Why doesn't anyone break into the nice cars or steal from the rich people?

If anyone beats this one. I will be impressed. Sorry we are going to be late with the rent because the car we are working on was towed. It was towed because the cops found a dead body in the back seat and needed to continue the investigation. Mind blown.

@Nathan G. I’m waiting on a car accident settlement is the one I hear the most. Then I also hear my car broke and I needed to take it to the repair shop and it cost this. I didn’t expect my utilities to be this much blah blah. I make them put down a good security deposit my state allows me twice the monthly rent.

What is the most common excuse you hear as a Landlord?

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What is the most common excuse you hear as a Landlord?

Nathan GesnerBusiness Member

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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes

We've all heard the excuses:

My grandma died and I had to fly to (name the state) for her funeral
I had to go back to (name the state) for my best friend's wedding
Someone stole my identity and emptied my bank account
I'm waiting on a settlement for the car accident

What is the most common excuse you've heard for rent being late?

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Christine Kankowski

Real Estate Broker · Temecula, CA · Member since 2014 · 994 posts · 783 votes

These aren't my dogs/ . I'm just watching them for my mom, sister, aunt, etc.

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
6y
"It's cleaner than when I moved in!"
I hear this at least once a month and it's a clear indication that it is not cleaner and - in most cases - hasn't been cleaned at all. In most of these instances, the tenant didn't submit a move-in checklist or otherwise document any problems with the rental when they first moved in. Now that they're moving out, they claim the place was a disaster.
How convenient.
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Patrick Nickerson
Investor · Greensboro, NC · Member since 2019 · 33 posts · 10 votes
6y
From the old days of SFRs - I think the one that got me the most and gave me a good laugh is when they’re already late and call you and tell you to stop by for rent. You tell them you’ll stop by tomorrow and then tomorrow they don’t have it because they spent it on medicine, groceries, or gas for car. I learned real fast if they call you to pick up when they’re late - you better go get it!!
The other one I got every so often (not even in the same property) was “utility payments were high”..And when you maintain a good standard of living for your tenants and they start complaining about efficiency, quality of property, etc it’s usually a tell tale sign you’ll be in eviction court soon!

3 Reply
Jhon Restrepo
Member since 2019 · 56 posts · 22 votes
6y
Due to holiday ,money was not deposited in account by his (her) company, then comes weekend, no answer and you get one week o month past due, and they get behind more and more, and at end of contract, they ask : why are you charging me these extra weeks ( months) lol. very common.
3 Reply
John Warren
Real Estate Broker · 3412 S. Harlem Avenue Riverside, IL 60546 · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
@Nathan Gesner I recently had a tenant who's ACH payment bounced. I always collect money orders or cashier's checks once an ACH bounced, and when I asked the tenant if he had dropped the payment at the rent collection box he ended up telling me someone had broken into his car and stolen the money order. I then told him to take the money order receipt back to the place to get a new one. He told me he didn't know there was a receipt and they had stolen that. Somehow he was able to come up with the rent the next Friday which was pay day.
6 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @John Warren:
@Nathan Gesner I recently had a tenant who's ACH payment bounced. I always collect money orders or cashier's checks once an ACH bounced, and when I asked the tenant if he had dropped the payment at the rent collection box he ended up telling me someone had broken into his car and stolen the money order. I then told him to take the money order receipt back to the place to get a new one. He told me he didn't know there was a receipt and they had stolen that. Somehow he was able to come up with the rent the next Friday which was pay day.

I can't tell you how many times Tenants claim to have been robbed. We live in one of the safest communities in the country where half the people never, ever lock the doors on their cars or houses. Yet Tenants constantly claim someone stole money from their purse, stole their debit card, etc. The most interesting part: it's always the low-income tenants that live in cheap apartments, drive clunker cars, and live paycheck-to-paycheck that are always robbed. Why doesn't anyone break into the nice cars or steal from the rich people?

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John Chapman
Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2009 · 718 posts · 913 votes
6y
@Nathan Gesner, I love the identity theft one. An insanely disproportionate share of my tenants are always having their identities stolen and then the bank "freezes" their accounts resulting in a bounced ACH payment. Of course, the ACH payment always comes back with a notice of insufficient funds, not some other indication of problem. It's amazing how people living on the edge are the targets of these sophisticated scammers and thieves, you would think the thieves would target richer sources.
3 Reply
Sherif Lyons
Property Manager · seattle · Member since 2018 · 27 posts · 42 votes
6y
Originally posted by @John Chapman:
@Nathan Gesner, I love the identity theft one. An insanely disproportionate share of my tenants are always having their identities stolen and then the bank "freezes" their accounts resulting in a bounced ACH payment. Of course, the ACH payment always comes back with a notice of insufficient funds, not some other indication of problem. It's amazing how people living on the edge are the targets of these sophisticated scammers and thieves, you would think the thieves would target richer sources.

I do find myself sympathetic to this one as ive had my identity stolen a number of times while i was active duty. However if they havent filed police reports or frozen credit... well....

3 Reply
Christine Kankowski
Real Estate Broker · Temecula, CA · Member since 2014 · 994 posts · 783 votes
6y
These aren't my dogs/ . I'm just watching them for my mom, sister, aunt, etc.
11 Reply
Greg H.Pro Member
Moderator
Broker/Flipper · Austin, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
6y
A relative died......Based on how many times I have heard this, it is hard for me to understand how our population keeps growing
6 Reply
Joe SplitrockPro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
6y
The most common excuse I have heard over the years, not related to rent is, "It was like that when we moved in." That is the catch all excuse for any damage or uncleaned item at move out.
As far as rent excuses, "I changed bank accounts" is pretty common. It is usually true, but they were probably forced to change accounts after the bank closed it.
My favorite rent excuse was, "I don't know how rent can be late, I mailed it on the 4th." Our policy is rent is due on the 1st with a grace period on late fee until the 5th. This case it arrived on the 6th and was post marked on the 5th.
I also love when you call a tenant to ask why rent is late and the response is "XYZ is broken and needs to be fixed". How is the fact that something broke at all related to them not paying rent on time?
I don't take much rent by mail anymore, but when I did, it was always funny how the same tenant would blame the mail over and over. I once told someone, why is it that out of a hundred rent checks I get in the mail, only yours is mishandled by the post office? Seems like you have really bad luck, haha.
4 Reply
Michael Chiafulio
Investor · Las Vegas · Member since 2019 · 15 posts · 9 votes
6y
The excuse I have received the most is when the rent is not paid on time "My employer messed up my paycheck"
2 Reply
Joe SplitrockPro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Nathan Gesner:
Originally posted by @John Warren:
@Nathan Gesner I recently had a tenant who's ACH payment bounced. I always collect money orders or cashier's checks once an ACH bounced, and when I asked the tenant if he had dropped the payment at the rent collection box he ended up telling me someone had broken into his car and stolen the money order. I then told him to take the money order receipt back to the place to get a new one. He told me he didn't know there was a receipt and they had stolen that. Somehow he was able to come up with the rent the next Friday which was pay day.

I can't tell you how many times Tenants claim to have been robbed. We live in one of the safest communities in the country where half the people never, ever lock the doors on their cars or houses. Yet Tenants constantly claim someone stole money from their purse, stole their debit card, etc. The most interesting part: it's always the low-income tenants that live in cheap apartments, drive clunker cars, and live paycheck-to-paycheck that are always robbed. Why doesn't anyone break into the nice cars or steal from the rich people?

I have only had this excuse one time many years ago. I asked the tenant where the money was when it was stolen and she said, "under my mattress". I actually think she was telling the truth. What a clever hiding place she had.
The problem is some low income tenants associate with people who steal from them. Sadly it is friends and relatives most the time.
2 Reply
Ray Reed
Investor · Linden, NJ · Member since 2016 · 190 posts · 116 votes
6y
@Michael Chiafulio not only ' they messed up my check', when you address them about it not being the first time they are late, they try to explain to you how they don't get paid on the 1st.
1 Reply
Will GastonPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Columbia, SC · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
@Nathan Gesner I've now rented to about 1,500 college students and had probably ~200 broken window panes. I can only recall 4 having admitting that they had something to do with it. It's always "I have no idea how that happened!".
It's so rare that I always fix it for free if they tell me the truth.
6 Reply
Dylan Earl
Thorold, Ontario · Member since 2016 · 62 posts · 58 votes
6y
Our tenants pay for utilities. They said they couldn't pay the rent because they were trying to keep up with utilities which were "out of control". I arranged to meet them at the house to see if there were any electrical issues, window gaps etc but instead I found x6 LARGE aquariums full of salt water fish.
So because of their pets/acquariums, they cannot afford rent. I told them to get rid of the fish and they said they are their pets and they are family.
Yikes-a-roni!
1 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
OP
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Dylan Earl:
Our tenants pay for utilities. They said they couldn't pay the rent because they were trying to keep up with utilities which were "out of control". I arranged to meet them at the house to see if there were any electrical issues, window gaps etc but instead I found x6 LARGE aquariums full of salt water fish.
So because of their pets/acquariums, they cannot afford rent. I told them to get rid of the fish and they said they are their pets and they are family.
Yikes-a-roni!
Tell them they can get rid of the fish and pay the rent or get rid of the rent and live with the fish!

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3 Reply
Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
6y
My most common is bank has freeze on my account because someone tried to steal my identity
I have now got my standard response down pat
Sir I know that can’t be true for two reasons
1: you are broke and never have money
2; your a loser with money or credit and no one would even want your identity
8 Reply
Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
6y
@Dennis M.
NO *money or credit
0 Reply
Kenny Dahill
Investor · Tempe, AZ · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 731 votes
6y
"In good faith, we left the place in same condition we moved in". - Law student.
Apparently 'in good faith' means clearly taking what you wanted to keep but leaving your trash and unwanted items. Including the front radiator of a car!
However, when I found their bong and smoking gear I asked if they wanted it back. First text: Let me ask my roommates. Immediately sent second text: Actually that is not ours. Sure...
3 Reply
Austin Roberts
Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 2 votes
6y
@Christine Kankowski
“And I have to watch them until...*wait when is my lease up again?* my lease is close to being up”
1 Reply
Austin Roberts
Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 2 votes
6y
@Kenny Dahill
The bong was probably attached to the radiator as the overflow reservoir for the coolant....
1 Reply
Anthony Wick
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
“I had to work late and couldn’t get to bank on time.” Now, what this has to do with sending rent via electronic payment, I have no idea.
1 Reply
Robert M.
Investor · Dundee, OR · Member since 2016 · 104 posts · 162 votes
6y
Tenant,''Pots legal now dude."

Landlord,"So, you're telling me you forgot to pay your rent?"

Tenant, "exactly landlord dude."

Some people just need a reminder from time to time.

1 Reply
Dennis M.
Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
6y
My paycheck fell on a really weird date this month because of my employer screwing this up ,I’ll pay you on the 6 or 11th or the 15th okay ?
The transmission/engine/radiator /clutch went out in my car and I needed that fixed to get to work “
We had a personal medical emergency and had to use the rent to cover medical expenses I’ll have the money next pay I promise
The bank froze my account. Someone tried to hack it to steal my identity but I’ll get this all figured out I promise I’ll pay you next pay
I was super sick I had the flu last week and didn’t work so my check is only half which makes me unable to pay but I promise I’ll pay you next pay
0 Reply
Jim S.
Sterman, MI · Member since 2017 · 378 posts · 306 votes
6y
I sent the money order on Friday. I don't know why it takes soon long for you to get it. A week later when I get it the date of purchase was on the following Tues.
1 Reply

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