 Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Oct 10, 2016 2:27 PM
 Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Oct 10, 2016 9:43 PM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by S i d [MO]) Oct 11, 2016 5:30 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by cjl [NY]) Oct 11, 2016 5:49 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by plenty [MO]) Oct 11, 2016 6:01 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Oct 11, 2016 6:19 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by S i d [MO]) Oct 11, 2016 7:37 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Oct 11, 2016 8:01 AM
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2016 2:27 PM
Message:
State Specific Question About: CONNECTICUT (CT)
Under Connecticut law, landlords may not charge a late fee until 9 dates after rent is due. As my lease states the rent is due on the first, am I correct that I may charge a late fee on the 10th? My sneaky tenant tried to coerce me into signing a note dated 2 days ago on the 8th that I acknowledged receipt of the rent prior to the 10th. I refused. I signed a note stating that I received the payment today (10th) which we both signed. This tenant had always paid on the first until the tenant decided to move out after the lease had ended without the prior notification specified in the hold over clause. The tenant did the same thing - back date the letter which the tenant left in the mailbox. Thanks --50.138.xxx.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2016 9:43 PM
Message:
Adam,
I think I understand your res has moved out and paid you the required rent.
What's your late fee?
How much is your time worth? My fee is $5/day so I would not invest ANY time chasing down $5 from a former res.
BUT...I WOULD deduct it from his deposit along with cleaning and repair costs.
I'm hoping you are allowed to charge $45 LF on the 10th. ($5 x the 9 days you waited.)
BRAD --73.146.xxx.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 5:30 AM
Message:
Your question is can you charge a late fee on the 10th. According to your rendition of CT law, the answer is yes. The fact that you're not sure bothers me. Have you read your state's land lord / tenant law and do you understand it?
What's with all this signing notices of receiving payments? Tenant takes the payment to my bank and the bank gives him a receipt. Whatever the date on the receipt is means rent was paid on THAT date. Time to update rent collection procedures.
As far as his "notice" goes....I'd shred it. Back-dated notices aren't valid. He owes you a new notice with the correct dates on it, and rent is owed until notice is properly given. --173.19.xx.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by cjl [NY]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 5:49 AM
Message:
You need to take control going forward. No more "here's a note indicating that I paid you ... sign here" from the tenant.
If they want a receipt it comes FROM YOU not FROM THEM. --70.184.xx.xx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 6:01 AM
Message:
what CJL wrote... you will call them and tell them no more notes, they will pay the rent, it's their responsibilities to get it to YOU on or BEFORE the due date. On the 10th it is late, and you will sent notice of late rent and amount outstanding, or you could start invoicing them, so that is your note and dated by you on the 30th of each month... and from now on if they hand your the rent you are hand writting a receipt. Get one of those little booklets for receipts at the office supply store. I have one in my car, used it often. --184.206.x.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 6:19 AM
Message:
Sid, Connecticut Rules on Late Fees state that if the rent is due on the first of the month, then a Landlord may not charge a late fee until nine days after the rent is due. When I googled for more specifics all I could find is rent is due by the 10th of the month. Before charging the $50 late fee I wished to be sure that by the 10th means if a tenant pays on the 10th, that the tenant is indeed late. Wanted to be sure that my understanding of the verbiage was indeed correct. This particular tenant has been underhanded numerous times and is thankfully leaving. The check which I have made a copy of has October 10th as the date.
CJl and by plenty: Connecticut rules state that if a tenant hands you the payment and requests a receipt, then you must provide one. As this rental unit is behind my house, my tenants have always hand delivered the rent. Since I have already signed a new lease with my next tenant, I can't specify rent payment delivery options until the next lease. --50.138.xxx.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 7:37 AM
Message:
Adam, I don't know CT law and apparently you do. However, you still get to set the terms of payments, and until you end up in front of a judge who tells your you cannot do what I'm about to suggest, I encourage you to make this part of your business work in your favor rather than allowing sneaky tenants to play games.
You said, "If a tenant hands you rent and requests a receipt, you must provide one." So stop accepting hand-delivered rents. I get it: they live right behind you and so they think it is convenient to pay the way they want to, which also leads to shenanigans like the one you experienced. For your next tenant, tell them to pay at your bank into a special account you have set up there (Adam's Rental Business Checking) and that you do not accept hand-delivered rents. Stick your hands in your pockets, if all else fails. Or use auto-draft.
Rent collection is a process many land lords struggle with. My system makes it easy-cheesy. Tenants can choose auto-draft or pay in person at my bank. My bank hands them a receipt. I see the money in my account immediately with a date and time stamp on it showing who paid what and when. Doesn't get any more fun than that! --173.19.xx.xxx |
Sneaky Tenant: Late Fees (by Adam [CT]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2016 8:01 AM
Message:
Sid, once again your advice is spot-on. This is my first time in 16 years that I have not been paid on the first of the month (4 tenants in that time period). I can inform my new tenant that I do not accept hand delivered payment, and that the rent is either mailed to me or set up the auto-draft payment system. Appreciate all your insight. --50.138.xxx.xxx |
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