Tenant late with rent

KME91

Our tenants have been in about a year and have so far been fine. They started on a 6 month contract and when that was due to finish they signed a twelve month contract. This month's rent should have been paid to our letting agent on Oct 21st. I've had an email from the la this morning saying that the tenants 'have told them' the rent will be late this month due to one of the couple getting paid late.

I've read through our tenancy agreement and it says that interest at 6% pa will be applied to any late payment, and fees will apply if the la has to write and chase the rent. Obviously we're not too happy about this late payment, but being realistic they have been great tenants up til now, so I don't want to come down too hard on them. I do want to make it clear to them though that this isn't an ideal situation. I'm particularly concerned that one late wage is enough to have such an immediate impact on their ability to past the rent on time. I'm also not sure I appreciate being told the rent will be late, rather than asked if that's OK, and indeed, being told after the rent due date has passed. I don't want to set any precedents though that could give me trouble in the future if we do have to go through s21 proceedings. So any suggestions on what I should do? Should we write to them, or just sit tight for a few more days and see what happens?

I've asked the la for some more info, if I get that I'll update the thread!

19lottie82

Are they in a fixed term contract just now? If so you can't issue a S21, well you can, but you can't apply for possession until the end of the fixed term agreement.

theartfullodger

!!!!!!:

Late just one month after 12 months of perfection and you're not happy & talking about penalties...

Calm down, see what happens about when you are paid this month and next.

If you can't afford a few days late payment (let alone - say - 7 months no rent ) you are in the wrong business.

Have you worked out what the unenforceable 6%pa is for one day late?? No, thought not.. I reckon that's all of about 17p for £1,000 pm..

"If the la has to write & chase rent"?? Sigh!! That's all of 20p to type a quick email...

A good (well, half-good..) tenant is to be cherished, loved & made welcome. What will a month or 2 void & agent fees cost you??

Sigh! (again)

Cheers!

jbainbridge

theartfullodger wrote: »

!!!!!!:

Late just one month after 12 months of perfection and you're not happy & talking about penalties...

Calm down, see what happens about when you are paid this month and next.

If you can't afford a few days late payment (let alone - say - 7 months no rent ) you are in the wrong business.

Have you worked out what the unenforceable 6%pa is for one day late?? No, thought not.. I reckon that's all of about 17p for £1,000 pm..

"If the la has to write & chase rent"?? Sigh!! That's all of 20p to type a quick email...

A good (well, half-good..) tenant is to be cherished, loved & made welcome. What will a month or 2 void & agent fees cost you??

Sigh! (again)

Cheers!

Exactly !!

amiehall

That's a pretty poor attitude to have towards people who seem like good long-term tenants. Just cut them a bit of slack, I'm sure they will pay you as soon as they have the money.

How exactly were you expecting the tenant to "ask" permission to pay late? If they don't have the money, they don't have it... It's disingenuous to ask consent if you're going to be late paying whatever the response is.

kazwookie

At least they have told you what is going on.

Jimby509

As a tenant I make sure that I have rent money ready and waiting each month. However..... if I needed to replace the car or need to use my emergency savings for any other unseen expenditure I could easily end up in the same situation as your tenants. I would hope that the fact I had been a good tenant and had built trust with you would be enough to give me the time to come up with the rent.

They informed you of the issue, they could have just not paid. They have a history of being good tenants.
If you wrote to them what would be the point? They don't have the money but have every intention of paying you just a little later this month. If they don't have the money what is the point of asking your permission? They still can't pay you.

So maybe you are being a little 'trigger happy' on this one. Keep an eye on the situation but life does not run on railway lines for anyone so give your tenants the benefit of the doubt for now. If you started proceedings against them at this point it would say more about your being an unreasonable landlord than them being bad tenants.

Soleil_lune

Agree with everyone here. If you can't cope with the rent being a few days/a week late, then you shouldn't be a landlord. And to take action against them for ONE TIME late is preposterous IMO.

dimbo61

TELL the LA to hold off with any letters or emails for 2/3 weeks.
Many people have little or no savings and you have no idea of the problems YOUR tenants have been suffering over the last couple of weeks/months.
Please do not add to the problems with letters , fines and threats about 6% Interest.

anselld

Jimby509 wrote: »

... if I needed to replace the car or need to use my emergency savings for any other unseen expenditure I could easily end up in the same situation as your tenants.

I would agree with the general views to cut some slack, however it is worth remembering that rent is a priority debt and should come before "replacing the car" and most other "unseen expenditure".

Turnbull2000

Perhaps fire a shot across their bow with a precautionary S.21. Use it as a statement that missing a rental payment is unacceptable and a repeat offence may result in eviction proceedings.