What should happen when a tenant consistently pays rent late is the question for veteran property manager and real estate investor Hank Rossi.

Dear Landlord Hank:

I have a tenant that has failed to make his rent on time for 16 of the last 18 months incurring a $100 penalty. He eventually pays when his social security is due on the 21st. My question is should I keep assessing the fee? I was thinking I’d apply the fees collected as an additional security deposit. He is a good tenant aside from this issue. His lease is up for renewal in a few months and we could settle on a new rent payment date but I don’t want to do a mid-month lease start date.

– Landlord Larry

Dear Landlord Larry,

I would not assess late fees any longer if you know his rent is being paid from social security and that check doesn’t come until the 21st.

If he has been a good tenant for 18 months, if he renews again, I would change the rent due date to the 21st.

I know that is not convenient and I like to have all my rents come on the 1st but…….I’m willing to make exceptions for great tenants, at times.

Sincerely,

Hank Rossi

Ask Landlord Hank A Question Below

Other recent Dear Landlord Hank posts you may have missed:

If A Good Tenant Loses A Job How Long Before You Evict Them?

How Do You Raise Rent For A Long-Time Tenant?

 How Do You Know When To Change Property Managers?

If A Rental Has Been Burglarized Do We Have To Put Up Security Cameras?

 Where Do You Draw The Line On Normal Wear And Tear?

Dear Landlord Hank: Do You Conduct Rental Inspections? How Often?

Dear Landlord Hank: How Do I Motivate My Tenants To Conserve Water?

Is An Old Drug Conviction A Big Deal?

Dear Landlord Hank: Should I Give A Tenant More Time To Pay?

Dear Landlord Hank: Tenant’s Sewer Line Clogged With Tree Roots

Do You Call A Prospective Tenant’s Employer For Verification?

Dear Landlord Hank: Service Dog Ruined Backyard In My Rental Now What?

Dear Landlord Hank: Our Tenant Cannot Pay Rent Due To Government Shutdown Now What?

Dear Landlord Hank: How Do You Decide How Much To Raise Rent?

Landlord Hank at work on one of his properties.