| The most efficient and perhaps the best possible | | | | few things which the landlord cannot do in the event |
| way to prevent delays in receipt of monthly rental | | | | of delayed rent receipts. The landlord cannot lockout |
| amount from your tenant is to cover delays in rent | | | | his tenant, or he cannot disconnect the various utility |
| receipt under the scope of the rental agreement and | | | | services to the house. Nor can he throw any of the |
| state the penalties to be charged towards delayed | | | | personal belongings of tenant out of the house. |
| rent receipt. The rent agreement should include the | | | | Apart from charging the tenant with a late payment |
| definition of late payment, how it is to be dealt with | | | | fee irrespective of whether he has outlined the same |
| and the exact amount that the tenant shall have to | | | | in the agreement or not, the landlord has an option |
| pay as a punitive measure to curb future late | | | | to evict the tenant by way of a written notice or |
| payments. | | | | proper legal proceedings in case of non payment of |
| Each City or State in the United States has its own | | | | rent. This process of eviction by way of legal |
| rental laws and provisions for dealing with the subject | | | | proceeding for non payment of rent is clearly spelt |
| of late rentals. It is best in the interest of the landlord | | | | out in the law. The landlord should send a written |
| to have fully read and understood these laws to | | | | notice to the tenant in cases of repeated instances |
| protect his interests by way of incorporating the | | | | of delay in payment of monthly rentals. The notice |
| provisions in the rental agreement. These local | | | | would give a certain no. of days to correct the |
| regulations also indicate the maximum amount which | | | | violation. In cases where the tenant does not take |
| can be charged towards late payment for delay in | | | | corrective action to comply with the rent agreement, |
| rent by the tenant. The landlord should not allow for | | | | the landlord can evict the tenant by way of legal |
| any excuses or genuine difficulties of the tenant in | | | | proceedings. |
| case of delayed rent receipts and should act in | | | | Legal recourse is the last resort that should be used |
| accordance with the terms of the agreement. A | | | | by the landlord for settling any grievance with the |
| strict enforcement of the provisions of the rental | | | | tenant. It is always better to talk it over and settle |
| agreement with respect to delayed rent receipts shall | | | | the matter amicably rather than wait for things to |
| go a long way in preventive any delay in future. | | | | take an ugly turn. However, inspite of your best |
| There are few options available to the landlord in | | | | efforts, if you find little change in the tenant’s |
| case of repeated instances of delay in rent payment | | | | habit of giving you late rentals just go ahead and file |
| by the tenant. Before we discuss these options | | | | for eviction. |
| available to the landlord, it is important to list down a | | | | |