I've never had a tenant tell me that they couldn't pay rent because so-and-so died and they had to pay for a funeral. I HAVE had people say that so-and-so died and they had to GO to a funeral, therefore were out of town and that is why they were late on the rent. Not a heads-up, but a response to "where's the rent?"

Anyway, how many of you HAVE had tenants use paying for a funeral as the reason they don't have rent? Last I checked funerals were not mandatory. People die all the time who are penniless and don't have anyone to cough up. Especially if you have to use your rent money to pay for one. I've had numerous friends and family die. I was never once asked to contribute to the funeral cost.

"don't forget to feed the cats...." HA! Nice one.

I've never had the pay for funeral, but that's up there with all the usual shtick. As you said, no one "has" to have a funeral, and even if the tenant isn't lying (probably is lying) it doesn't matter. You HAVE to have rent paid. End of story.

Evict them. Next month it will be the car broke, the month after that the kids need medicine, the month after that the same relative will die again....because they'll have forgotten which excuses they've already used on you.

I've heard this one NUMEROUS times. I can't count the number of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas that have "died" over the years. There isn't much I take as an excuse. That one is pretty much at the bottom of the list. I just say I'm sorry to hear that, here's your PoQ notice.

In this area, the providers of funeral services require payment up front or suitable finance arrangements. They could otherwise experience collection problems as severe as those of landlords.

When my FIL died, he donated his body to science. Cost to us? $15 to get his ashes mailed back after they were done with them. I paid more to get my DOG cremated.

Based on personal experience with my parent's deaths, for those of you who want the simple cremation, go the pre-paid cremation route. When my mother died in her retirement home, I had to come up with a funeral home quickly, as they had to get her body moved. The only name that came to mind was the expensive, full service, name-brand local funeral home. I spent $4000 for a "simple" cremation. When I picked my mother's ashes up a few days later , her ashes were in an urn, on the floor, at the secretary's feet.

Later, when going through my mother's things, I found that she had clipped ads for discount, pre-paid cremations and tucked them in her wallet.

You no pay, you no stay.

Here, the township trustee will pay for the burial if the deceased meets their financial eligibility requirement.

I too have heard the paying for the funeral excuse from a couple of tenants a good number of times. So frequently from one I finally asked him just how many relatives did he have left and how was their health?

I also asked him if any of those living would give HIM money when he was facing an eviction due to failure to pay his rent.

Crickets.

I think it is a nationwide standard policy that landlords should pay universally for funerals for anyone, living or dead based on the times per year we hear this saga especially around the holidays.

I had tenants renting a house (5 homes on a lot) in a "C" grade area tell me they couldn't pay the rent because they got a call from Mexico that a family member died and they had to pitch in funds for the funeral.

1. They never asked me first if they could use my "rent money" to help their extended family.

2. This family renting a house had all new cars, large screen TV, cable with over 100 channels, nice cloths and the best quality fresh foods. The tenants and their kids all had cell phones.

I on the other hand had to save money for 10 years to afford these 5 homes on a lot. I never purchased for myself a new car (only for the wife and my mother did I buy them a new car). I didn't have a large screen TV or cable. I clipped coupons to buy my groceries and had to live on a budget,

So I told this family they had NO RIGHT to give away my rent money. As far as I'm concerned they can do one of thee following:

a) get a payday loan

b) pawn a could of their big screen tv's

c) get a car title loan

d) withdraw money from their retirement account

e) borrow from a friend

f) Sell one of their 4 kids cars

g) sell blood to a blood bank (husband, wife and 7 kids).

If my rent money isn't paid back to me within 1 week, I will evict them. Tenants for 7 years under rent control paying only $1200 for a 3 bedroom home that the current market rent was over $2,000. They were saving over $800 a month in discounted rent control and spending it on cars, phones, etc....They didn't know the meaning of saving for a rainy day....

The only funeral that I accept as reason to miss the rent is your own.

DonPA,

I like that thought of yours, "your rent should not be your emergency fund."

My tenants know to contact me when something comes up, we quickly agree on a date when rent plus late fee will be paid. They used to be so afraid to tell me about anything, as they thought they were just going to be put out. Nope. I collect a good amount of late fees, and they always get caught up.

There was one tenant who never was getting caught up. I got rid of them, changed my screwing criteria, and moved on. I have since received money from them, months after they moved out. They admitted I was good to them.

No, I don't run a charity. But, as a small time landlord, who never wants more than a few rentals, I like the late fees, the low, low turnover. With a larger operation, one does have to standardize, set more stringent boundaries, so, I can understand larger operations not being able to offer late fees as an option.

Hahaha -dang autocorrect.! Nah, just for hubby.

I was so inspired by Jeffery's list that I created my own list. My last reason on the list of unacceptable answers for not paying rent ...... "I am dead".

Future residents chuckle about it but it sends them a message. We really don't want to hear the excuses because my bank will not budge.