I’m a landlord in Oregon, and I’m curious if anyone else provides courtesy reminders for rent due dates. I currently have a tenant who is 3 days late on their rent. According to our rental agreement, if the rent isn’t paid by the 5th, it’s considered late, and fees will be imposed.
This tenant has been in the unit since we purchased the property in 2021, and I’ve had to remind them twice this year (in April and July) about the same situation, and they paid immediately both times after the reminders.
I want to know if others have a system in place for sending rent reminders. Do you find it helps maintain good relationships with tenants? Any suggestions on how to handle this without undermining lease terms?
Yeah, I send a friendly text asking about rent payments too. Knock on wood, our tenants usually pay on time without any issues through the Zillow portal. This weekend, one tenant who usually pays a day or two in advance didn’t pay. On the 3rd, I sent a text checking in to see if everything was okay since we hadn’t seen their payment, which was unusual for them. They replied right away, saying it was a busy holiday weekend and it slipped their mind, and then made the payment. I usually waive the first late fee because, you know, life happens.
Landlords who are quick to crack down and collect fees often don’t understand when they should work with their tenants. If you’ve tried to negotiate or work things out before, they might be hesitant to cooperate. As long as you’re getting your rent, it’s important to learn to look the other way sometimes. Flexibility can go a long way in maintaining a good relationship…
My stepdaughter’s apartment complex sends out reminders about late rent, but they always mix it in with helpful seasonal tips, like preparing for winter or hurricane season. This way, it doesn’t come off as super strict. I get that some people might forget, but seriously, who doesn’t know when a chunk of their income is going to their rent?
Your lease states that rent must be paid by the 5th to avoid late fees. If your tenant usually pays on the 3rd, they likely aren’t forgetting; they might be timing their payment with when they get paid, like their paycheck or Social Security.
No unless it’s an automated system - because then “I didn’t pay because I didn’t get a reminder”. Before the 5th is what it is; after the 5th there’s a late fee. Simple
My complex sends out a reminder that rent is due and another notice when the grace period is about to end. They send it to everyone, which helps keep things on track.