So the tenant that sent out her rent payment this month on Friday late afternoon via USPS (the 3rd) expecting me to get it the next day aka before Sunday the 5th (it didn't) responded.

Basically that it's not her fault that the post office didn't get it to me the next day. Seriously?? This woman will be 48 yrs old in a couple of months!!! I was a renter from age 18 to age 30 when I purchased my first house and would never DREAM of relying on the post office or having my rent received AFTER the 5th of the month. NEVER!

She went on to say that she gets paid ever 2nd Friday so I take it she has just enough in her account to squeak out the rent.

Again I told her how to use Zelle, how to send an ACH payment as another renter does and although it ultimately goes via USPS, it shows up EARLY like on the 20th of the month before.

I guess personal responsibility is a thing of the past!

Thought #1: No more rent is in the mail. I've had letters get lost or delayed by 3-5 WEEKS! There is no reason in this modern age not to collect all rents electronically. ClearNow on this site is fast and easy to sign up! I use a different method through Buildium, but if you don't have that then ClearNow is a widely acclaimed resource by many LLs on this site.

Thought #2: Even if the mail is not delayed, "the check is in the mail" is an old tenant excuse for "I haven't paid."

Thought #3: None of this matters. You said she's barely squeaking by on rent. The next hiccup in her life = game over.

I'd be working with her now to try to find something more affordable so she doesn't get an eviction on her record when (not if) life happens and she's short on the rent. She can't catch up, ever, if she's just barely squeaking by. Furthermore, if there are any damages, you will never get paid. No need to fight or delay the inevitable. Weather is getting nicer and good tenant with sufficient, stable income who will pay on time, all the time, every time will be ready to move in soon!

I don't know if we can honestly charge a late fee if the rent isn't received on/by the 5th if the 5th day of the month is a holiday or Sunday (ie no mail). I know I was talking to someone else that spoke to one of the Marshal's here and they stated that on the 7th if they didn't receive the rent (by Monday the 6th since they had that entire day to pay it) to come down and file for the pay or quit notice.

Just a thought.

Perhaps you could consider offering them to pay rent every two weeks - to line up with their payday.

Get it before they have all month to spend it on other stuff.

Thank you very much for having reported on your tenant. It's good to hear that the check arrived and did not bounce. I understand too well how you may be feeling.

As S i d noted, late-paying tenants with excuses do not change their behavior for the better (#2, #3). You mentioned the she made excuses about not sending payment online and about other drama. I'm curious if you will renew her lease with better weather approaching soon.

I am very fortunate that all but one of my tenants pays directly into my credit union.

Guys and Gals,

PLEASE get with the times and MANAGE!

No more mail. In eviction court my evictee said “But judge I mailed it”. Judge said “I know the mail can sometimes be slow or lost (it was already 17 days late) so we’ll set this out 30 days for the check to arrive.”

Does anyone here believe she actually mailed ANYTHING??

So she got 30 days free rent

PLUS he gave her 2 more weeks to move out!

No personal checks! The bank can hold them, by law, for 20 days before notifying you it bounced.

Postmark is irrelevant - why should *I* have to wait? Your utility co does not go by the postmark. I’ve had mail show up WEEKS later so a postmark policy would work against me in court.

It’s simple - autodraft. TAKE the money on rent day. Don’t wish and hope they pay. Residents LOVE it.

PS

Zelle and similar services are right back to old school LLing - HOPING they will pay.

MAPLE - put your squeaking to get by person on weekly - for HER convenience and for YOUR peace of mind.