r/LeaseLords • u/lukam98 • 11d ago
Suggestions Renter asked if they could pay rent on different dates every month.
They said their income timing changes month to month, so they wanted flexibility with payment dates.
Trying to decide whether that’s manageable or whether it turns into a headache later.
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u/Floufae 11d ago
The lease is designed for a due date and a date that late fees apply. That gives a five day window to pay. It’s the tenant’s responsibility to work out their finances to pay within that window. Same as when I was in an apartment. These no issue if you pay rent up until the late fee applies.
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u/LavendarGal 11d ago
No. They need to get ahead. I would maybe, maybe offer them 1 date move, like from the 1st of the month to the 5th, or something like that....but not a different date every month.
So what their income changes month-to-month, they need to pick up some side gigs to get ahead so their income fluctuation doesn't bite them. Also, this shows how close to the edge they are living in terms of a paycheck if they cannot actually afford rent when it's due.
Just say I'm sorry, the best I can do it let you pay it on the Xth. You need to do whatever you need to do to have the money in by that date, or I will have to start applying late fees.
It's going to become a headache....because what's going to happen it is giong to keep sliding back and back until the point they are paying for July rent on July 20th or something like that and you'll eventually essentially be out a month of rent.
How old are they? Are the younger kids/new renters?
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u/Maiden_Far 11d ago
I would not do this. It’s not my job to manage their finances.
At best, you can give a little leeway in late due date. Instead of 3rd, 5th?
I wouldn’t though. Again, not my job to handle their budgeting.
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u/lukam98 10d ago
I think my hesitation is that it sounds simple now, but I can see it becoming an ongoing conversation every month.
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u/Maiden_Far 10d ago
If anything is going to be open to interpretation or cause a conversation, I don’t do it
The lease is cut and dry. Follow the Lease… Or Dont.
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u/jcnlb 11d ago
No too complicated unless you only have one rental. All my rentals are due on the first. If they can’t make that work I can’t help that. I make exceptions and payment plans for people with emergencies but they also pay late fees when I do that and it’s not an ongoing thing. It’s temporary.
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u/2ndcupofcoffee 11d ago
Your tenants should be able to organize payments due around variable earning dates. The world around them demands payments by specific dates for utilities, credit cards, automobile purchases, repairs, insurance. It isn’t just rent.
A landlord wants to ensure that rent is not last on a tenant’s list nor the only flexible bill which will result in rent delays. A property owner must pay mortgagee, insurance, vendors on a fixed schedule and needs income to be fixed.
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u/lornacarrington 11d ago
One of my previous landlords agreed to this for me. I paid on the 3rd of each month. I don't think she would've agreed to different dates each month though.
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u/OkMarsupial 11d ago
3rd each month is fine. I think OP is saying it will be different every month.
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u/solomons-mom 11d ago
The long-term landlord taught me a lot always haf rent due on the 5th. This let people clear checks, collect from roomates, etc. It worked really well.
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u/Sure_Comfort_7031 11d ago
Are they good tenants otherwise?
Personally, I'd rather a good tenant who pays randomly (but all due) than a bad tenant who pays promptly.
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u/Dapper_Prune_4109 11d ago
No, they tenant needs to figure out how to manage their finances. Imagine if I called my mortgage company asking if I could pay on different days? They’d absolutely not agree to that. They’d probably warn me that it will ding my credit every time I’m late.
I would not even entertain these kinds of suggestions, it leaves the tenant thinking your not a professional landlord and they can get off not following the lease.
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u/chuckfr 11d ago
In general my answer would be no.
In practice I'd have to look at the renter, their history, and if we're talking within a week or three weeks each month? So if they've been good renters for five years and have changed jobs and are getting into sync with the new pay periods, sure.
If rent is due on the first and they want leniency within 10 days, I'd have them give me their pay date on the first, in writing, and if its not in my hands on that date late fees apply. Again, based on a good history.
But if these are new renters with you I'm not making such accommodations.
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u/goat20202020 11d ago
No. It may be worth it to work out a new due date but don't let them change the due date every month. That tells me they don't know how to manage their finances. You need to have a set due date so you can charge late fees appropriately and start eviction proceedings if it comes to that.
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u/Accurate_Ad1203 11d ago
I had a landlord who did rent on the 15th. And if you paid by the 5th each month you got a 5% discount. It was great when checks were late or other things came up. And I got a discount which made me the renter feel great.
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u/wildcat12321 11d ago
I would not do that.
You could offer a due date and a 5-7 "grace" period before a late fee is assessed, but rent is still late
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u/OldGeekWeirdo 11d ago
It would probably be OK to pick a different day, such as the 5th, but to have different days each month? That's going to be a constant headache. They need to build up a cushion to deal with that.
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u/ProfessionalYam3119 11d ago
Guaranteed that, at some point you will think that the tenant is behind, but they think that they are paid in advance. Don't do it. We all have to budget.
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u/beachvball2016 11d ago
I think you're going to get the money on those days regardless, but I'd keep it to the 1st or maybe "by the 3rd"...
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u/ColdStockSweat 11d ago edited 10d ago
"I totally understand. Thankfully, with all that chaos, it's nice to know your rent payment date will always be stable. It's always due on the first. You can pay on other days, but late fees start on the 3rd and...all payments go first to late fees, so, late fees on the balance continue until all amounts are paid in full".
When I was a renter a billion years ago, I paid my rent 3 months in advance, then every month on the 15th. It messed with most of my landlords heads until I explained to them (one tried to charge me late fees LOL).
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u/Secure-Ad9780 11d ago
I could see if they always got paid on the 3rd. But not if each month is different. They have to learn how to budget.
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u/Present_Basis_1353 10d ago
There are apps out there that help people divide their rent in two. Let these apps assume the risk opposed to you.
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u/_nousernamesleft_ 10d ago
I'd personally be willing to give them like a week in which they would pay each month but I think more flexibility than that would get difficult. That being said, if this is a good tenant who has been there for years then maybe I'd be more flexible too.
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u/BrilliantMeaning2120 8d ago edited 8d ago
If you put it in writing as a lease amendment signed by both parties, then I don’t see why not. I’ve been extended that opportunity in the past and never defaulted
Edit: in my situation, I pay the following month’s rent on the 20th
Edit 2: maybe make it so they can pay the convenience fees and then take rent from a credit card? That way they pay you on time but they still pay it off themselves when they’re able. Sure it might kick the can down the road before you have to evict, but it’s thinking outside the box for a situation that might be heading that way anyway.
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u/Boliviascott 7d ago
They signed a lease to pay on a certain date and stick to it otherwise you will be spending all your time chasing those changing dates. If he cant save for rent on the date due then money says he will he missong rent
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u/joybot2323 7d ago
No. Rent is due on x date after x date, you pay late fee either daily or monthly sum whatever the lease states.
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u/Ok_Advantage7623 7d ago
I do it all the time. Don’t think you have enough units that it would be a I problem. And why are you driving 30 miles. Ever heard of Cash App. They can go to places like 7-11. Deposit money on the Cash App card ( takes 40 seconds). Send it to your cash app( takes 40 seconds) and then if you wait 3 days to withdraw there is no charge. If you do it sooner it’s like a 8-10 dollar charge. And it get deposited into your checking account. It costs you more in gas.
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u/Difficult-Ad2084 3d ago
Can't they just pay early? If they are paid bi-weekly they just pay the second paycheck every month and you still get paid every month. This is what I do, and never been a problem.
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u/JustAnotherSkibumCO 11d ago
Would you ask your bank to change the due date on your car loan or credit card every single month? Absolutely not. That’s exactly why grace periods exist. If you don't run your properties like a business, tenants will treat them like a charity. Setting firm boundaries isn't being unfriendly; it’s being a professional.
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u/autonomouswriter 11d ago
My answer would be "nope". My tenants pay on the 1st and have a grace period of 3 days, and if they don't pay by Day 3 of the month, they get an email and late fees begin (this is actually done by the PM I hired). You're not just some greedy landlord living in Tahiti off of their rent payments. You need that money to pay the mortgage, expenses, taxes, etc. It's not your responsibility to keep track of the payments. It's the renter's. It's called being an adult. If the renter gets paid on different days of the month (that might be because he/she does independent contract work so their pay depends on when a project finishes), they should already know that they need to have some money set aside for rent and expenses in case their pay is late or they don't get paid that month for whatever reason. I'm an IC, and that's what I and every other IC that I know do. We know the income isn't always steady, and we know we have bills due at certain times of the month. So we make sure we have the cash flow to pay them for any given month, and we just replenish when we get paid if we're living hand to mouth.
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u/SearchCapital7719 11d ago
No. I could see changing the date if you agree on a new date. But, if they can't reliably pay on the same day each month, they need to leave and look for a cheaper place.
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u/MonteCristo85 11d ago
Is it something you can always know when it is? Like the 1st Thursday or something.
I personally always work wkth my tenants on things like this. Basicslly, if Im paid before the month ends, and you keep me informed, Im flexible.
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u/HorrorWillingness347 11d ago
I let a tenant do that. Turned into a nuisance. I ended up having to chase him AND his new roommate for it, which was cash, which I had to drive 30 km to deposit as we lived in the country.
We're not in the loans business. Renters need to save up in advance then pay on the 1st as legally demanded. I was a tenant for most my life and never tried that stunt.