At one time or another, you will have a tenant that doesn’t pay rent. This can be a serious problem, especially if the tenant has a pattern of skipping payments. So, here are some steps you can take if one of your tenants misses a payment:
Double-check the lease agreement and payment records
Before taking any action, make sure that your tenant is actually breaking your agreement. Check the lease and see if there’s a grace period allowed for paying rent. Additionally, check the tenant’s payment records. It’s possible the tenant paid their rent, and you simply forgot. Their payment records will also show whether or not this behavior has become a pattern. If it’s their first offense, you can be more lenient in your response.
Contact the tenant
Once you’ve confirmed that the tenant has missed their payment, check in on them. Find out why they missed their payment and see if you two can come to an amicable solution. This conversation is best in person or on the phone, but if you can’t reach the tenant, an email or letter will do.
Send a pay or quit notice to start the eviction process
If the conversation has gone nowhere, then it’s time to take the first step in the eviction process. A pay or quit notice shows your intent to evict and notifies the tenant that they have a certain number of days (typically seven) to pay their rent. If the seven days have passed and the tenant still has not paid, then it’s time to contact your attorney. Send them the appropriate documents (such as the lease agreement and ledger) to start the process.
If you have a tenant who has not paid their rent, then contact Aaron Cox Law today.