So, you’re going to be late paying the rent. Ok. This has happened to virtually everyone at some point in their life. But how do you take care of the situation, and how do you handle it in a way that won’t negatively affect you going forward?
At some point, you are going to have to tell your landlord that you aren’t going to be able to make the full payment this month for whatever reason. That conversation is not going to be easy.
More than likely it is going to be a bit uncomfortable because you know they aren’t going to jump up and down with joy when you tell them this.
What you need to focus on is how to make sure that your late payment isn’t going to be a black mark on your record that is going to follow you around for years to come. Which is exactly what can happen!
You need to be able to talk to your landlord effectively and in a professional manner to help mitigate any negative consequences that could transpire because of your late rent payment.
We are going to look at how to talk to your landlord, what to say, and how to handle the situation of late rent payment upfront with them so it stays an issue between the two of you and doesn’t go any further than that. But first, let’s take a quick look at the negative consequences of not paying your rent.
What Happens When I Don’t Pay My Rent On Time?
Apartment School has an entire article that goes into greater detail about what can happen to you as a tenant if you don’t pay rent. And you can find that article here.
But let’s do a quick review of what can happen to you as a tenant if you keep paying your rent late.
Late Fees
The first thing you are going to be hit with if you pay your rent late is the late fees themselves. Usually, late fees run anywhere between $25-$50 for a pay period but can be more. Some states and cities have restrictions on how much a landlord can charge for late fees but be clear that late fees are something that is completely avoidable if you pay your rent on-time.
Some complexes have different rules on the timing of late fees. For some, the moment the clock strikes midnight and your payment hasn’t been received by the automated system, it automatically charges you the late fees.
If the complex is having tenants deposit rent at the bank or by hand, there is probably going to be a bit more of a grace period. But don’t let a potential grace period keep you from addressing the issue with your landlord!
And while this is not always possible, the steps we have below that guide you through the process of talking to your manager can sometimes eliminate these fees.
Credit Score
If you are paying late, you are going to run the risk of the landlord reporting you to a credit company. This is becoming easier and easier to do as both payment systems and reporting procedures are becoming automated.
The lower the credit score you have the harder it is going to be to rent a new apartment going forward. It is also going to hurt you the next time you try to take out a loan or a new credit card. Paying on time is crucial to prevent long term consequences.
These things can stay on your record for over 7 years and can be tough, if not impossible to remove from your record in that period of time.
Eviction
Yes, a landlord can ask you to leave just because of late payments. The lease agreement is a legally binding contract and paying late means that you are in breach of that contract, giving the landlord the right to ask you to leave.
Most times, late payments aren’t enough for a landlord to evict you, but late payments can absolutely become a problem when your lease is up for renewal at the end of the year.
Trouble Renting A New Apartment
When you are looking for a new apartment, more than likely the landlord of the new complex is going to ask you for the name of the last place you stayed. It is becoming more and more common for landlords to call the manager or landlord of the last place you stayed and ask how you were as a renter.
If you are a chronic late payer, the landlord is going to say so. If you always pay on time, the landlord is going to sing your praises.
What To Do When Your Rent Is Late
Not being able to pay your rent on time doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. But it IS something that you do need to handle in the right way to avoid the consequences we just listed above.
Have Good Communication
First and foremost, you need to make yourself available to your landlord. They are going to want to know why you haven’t paid your rent, the last thing you want to do is not be available to talk to them.
Landlords can’t stand those tenants who don’t pay and then don’t return their phone calls and seem to avoid the complex for fear of running into them.
Remember, you are going to want to keep the landlord or manager on your side. They are the only ones that can give you leniency on this and choose not to report you to the credit agency.
Tell Your Landlord As Soon As You Can
If you know you are going to be late on your rent payment, tell your landlord before it happens. This sends the message to your landlord that you are aware of the situation and respect them enough to tell them the truth.
You don’t want to wait for weeks after your rent was already due and force the landlord to send you a notice in the mail. This costs time and money to the landlord and is just as frustrating to them as it is for you not being able to pay your rent.
The goal here is to convince the landlord to go easy on you. Making their life difficult is not the way to do that. Have good communication and use that communication as early as you can.
Make An Effort To Pay Something
Just making some sort of effort to pay is also going to go along way with the landlord. They are seeing that you are making an effort and not trying to maliciously stiff them while you pay your other bills.
Let the landlord know when you can pay and how much you can pay, even if it isn’t the full amount. They are going to appreciate this and there is a much bigger chance of your landlord waiving any late fees that go along with this if you make this effort.
Do whatever you can to pay at least something and your landlord will see that effort and empathize with you and your situation.
Don’t Makeup Stories
Landlords have heard them all. There is nothing they haven’t heard. Making up excuses is not the way to avoid late fees or stay on the good side of your landlord.
They can quickly tell if the story that is being told to them is legitimate and honest, or if it is a quickly spun excuse as to why you didn’t pay.
If you don’t have the money for the rent this month, just be straight up and honest with your landlord. They will appreciate the honesty and be more willing to cut you some slack if you do.
If you really forgot to just give them the money, tell them that, don’t say that your dog ate it.
Being late on rent is something that happens to almost every apartment dweller at some point in time. If you are going to be late on rent, make sure that you have open and honest communication with your landlord as soon as you know you aren’t going to be able to pay the rent.
Remember, you are trying to avoid late fees and being reported to the credit agencies, so be honest and open with your landlord, don’t make excuses to them, and you will more than likely find that your landlord is more understanding to your situation than you think.
