All Forum Posts by: Sean Kuhn

@Lee Smith 

You're right I'll do that

Thank you everyone for all the input. This is not a current situation but it did come up once. I realized my lease states nothing beyond "due on the 1st, late on the 6th." I will be adding the following to my lease agreements. I like the idea of biweekly as @Lee Smith stated so I added that. What do you guys think? I believe all the waiting period days conform to Illinois Law. And there are some personal preferences in there, like adding 5% for recurring payment dates later than the 1st, because it does slightly upset my business structure.

-Rent is due on the 1st, and if submitted on the 6th or after there will be a 10% late fee. If payment is not received by the 6th a “Pay or Quit” notice will be issued. If payment or vacation has not occurred by the 11th eviction will commence.

-Payment date can be set to a later recurring date but a 5% fee will be added to the rent and the recurring date cannot be later than the 15th.

-Biweekly payments options are available, with a fee of $3 per month.

If I didn't have a landscaping company and trucks and tools I would rent for sure. Probably a little one bedroom apartment for 600 or 700 dollars. I could make more money renting my home out.

So if a brand NEW tenant said they couldn't pay till the 15th what would you tell them?

How do you guys respond when a tenant tells you they can't pay until the 15th or 20th? Or they want to change the payment date to the 5th or 10th? What are your exact words and responses to these situations?

I wouldn't do anything about it. We all know for a fact its just something expanding and contracting. I too live in a ten year old house and as we speak my vents are popping when the heat runs. Also when I first run hot water in my bathroom sink on a cold morning I can hear the line popping down the wall on the sewer pipe. You'd be surprised how hard it will be to pin point the sound. Noise can travel through walls and if its just a nail popping you'll drive yourself crazy tearing out walls looking for it for no reason. All houses expand, contract, settle and rise. Nothing will be perfect and as long as its safe, its fine.

Did you figure out the problem?

I would tell her she can break her lease if she moves out by the end of the week as long as the place is clean and garbage free you'll refund her whole security deposit. Then move on with your life. She's not going to pay rent no matter what you do, and don't threaten to evict her. Get the place cleaned up and nice and rent it out again.

Is there plumbing running near that wall? Could be hot water touching cold pipe and expanding and contracting. Also is this an exterior wall? Bathroom and dryer vent outlets can flap a few times a day outside with a loud smack sound. It could also just be a slightly loose nail warming up or cooling down and popping.

I agree with everyone on ignoring her. That is your best response. Responding will only incite more and really she has no leg to stand on to sue. Don't worry about it! It'll be fine.