Rent Arrear Reminder Form
20 Sep 2008errr….
Has your dumbass tenant fallen behind on payments?
Unfortunately, I have one particular tenant that does it all the time. Granted, it’s usually only by a week or so, but still, it’s frustrating. I feel like screaming at her:
What’s the f’ing point of consistantly paying 1 week late? Surely it would make my life easier if you paid on time because it would spear me from chasing you, you idiot!!! I have better things to do than chase you.
Alas, I’m too weak and pathetic to shout at her, consequently I just approach her like a little girl and gently remind her, while feeding her grapes and fanning her with fresh peacock feathers. Well, not quite, but I’m not aggressive enough.
Every month, without fail she feeds me some lame excuse which I couldn’t care less about. It’s usually on the lines of:
Oh, i’m really sorry, i’ve been completely flat out this month, it slipped my mind.
Blah blah blah! How can it slip her mind if I remind her every month? The most annoying factor is that everytime I chase her up on late payments, she ensures me it won’t happen again.
Don’t get me wrong, she’s a nice woman, and overall, besides from her “1 week late” habits, she’s a very decent tenant. She’s never not paid (*touches wood*), so I never get overly concerned.
It’s important to use papper
As a landlord it’s good practise to document every important conversation between you and the tenant. Why? Because physical proof can be the difference between winning and losing a case in court (that’s the worst case scenerio).
In this instance, if you’re reminding your tenant(s) that they have fallen behind on payments, you can send them a rent arrear reminder form. It’s good practise because if your tenant eventually needs evicting rent arrears, you can actually show, in court, the letters you sent.
Moreover, sending a written reminder, as opposed to a verbal, might be the landlord’s optional choice, or perhaps only choice. For example, the tenant might not pick up the phone.
Here is a rent arrear reminder form that you can send your tenant if they fall behind on rent:
If they ignore the first one, you can send this one before taking legal action:
Rent Arrear Reminder Form 2
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Talk / 6 Comments left so far
I think we're on the same wavelength!
I have new tenants moving in next week, and I've made it clear that they need to setup a standing order- even put it in the contract :)
Standing orders are the future!
2
If they then cancel the standing order you can boot them out easier!
It's just a huge thing every month you don't have to worry about.
All the best!
Regards,
Simon
3
thanks for other advice - have put standing order info into contract.
4
The main issues I have are standing orders can be cancelled by the tenant at anytime and if there are insufficient funds in their account the rent will not be paid. The better way would be a direct debit which gives the landlord/management company control over the transaction but unfortunately is only available to larger companies (and at a large cost!).
Finally even if the tenant no longer pays by standing order and it is stipulated in the agreement, you would be hard pushed to have the tenants evicted, if at all, on those grounds (not to mention the time it would take to even get to court).
However, out of the other options, standing order is the best way, but still doesn't help with arrears. There must be a better way! Loving the image of Samuel L Jackson. "Oh I'm sorry did I break your concentration?!"
5
`Hello,
We do consider DSS applicants but a willing and able guarantor must be offered.
The guarantor must be a UK homeowner, be in full time work and be fully aware of the commitment to pay the rent it the money fails to arrive from the local authority for any reason.
The deposit is usually 25 - 30% greater than one months rent of the property applied for.
Hope this assists.`
If a worthy guarantor can be offered, do business with them.
Young people are being laid off, the economy is shrinking, let HMG pay, they got us into this mess.
6
Please leave a comment
I initially started this website because I wanted to document my every step from property idiot to property landlord,
in hope that people would find my site and help me along the way. I literally didn't have a clue about being a landlord
when I started this website.
So.. With when the next one moved in it was standing orders all the way! 1st of the Month now I get my money. I told the person this was part of the deal and said I wouldn't let to them without a standing order setup.
Touch wood she's been in there 5 months now and I haven't had a payment late by 1 day.
Maybe say to your person.. "I'm putting this in place as you always seem to forget. This will take that stress off your hands."
I hate chasing people as well and it's a great feeling knowing the money will just show up.
Also.. I find it's a great test when you're showing people. I just tell them upfront that it HAS to be a standing order.. If they make any kind of moans I show them the door.
All the best!
Simon
1