Knowing what to do when a tenant won’t pay rent is key to being a successful and fair landlord. The laws can differ from state to state, and the COVID-19 modifications, created in 2020 for tenants struggling to make payments, have arguably made the situation a little more complicated. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you know what to do if your renters are struggling to pay rent.
Communication is Key
The first step is to communicate with your tenant. Sometimes people forget a payment now and then, and they could have a good reason for being late, such as illness, vacation or job loss. You should also double check the rent period; not all contracts are the same, and it’s possible that their rent may not be overdue yet. In most late payment cases, it’s an honest mistake. A revised payment structure or a change to the rent due date might work at this point.
How to Communicate
Communicating with your tenant to remind them of a late payment isn’t required, but most people appreciate it. It can be a phone call, email, a letter, or anything else that is most convenient for both parties. It’s also important to keep a copy of any communication in case it’s needed in the future. Any letter, email, text, etc. should clearly indicate the due date, the amount of the missing payment, and any applicable late fees. Make sure your tenant knows how to contact you with questions or concerns, and of course knows where to mail their rent check.
If the Problem Persists
Unfortunately, if your tenant continues to get behind with payments, you might have to issue a letter of demand, of which you can find sample letters online. Again, keep copies or records of all communication, or lack of, on your tenant’s part. If they still refuse to pay or are simply unable to, regardless of the reason, you are within your rights to start the process of eviction, although you’ll have to first give your tenant generally a 3 days’ notice to vacate the property. You’ll need to send them a written notice of this before you can approach the court to ask to evict your tenant. Sometimes the process of getting a renter evicted in Texas can take up to 10 weeks, longer if the tenant appeals the decision.
Collections are never fun, but it is something that has to be done at one point or another as a property owner or property manager. At Specialized Property Management Dallas, we handle this difficult task effectively and professionally. We help our clients with:
- Online rent payment options
- Easy ACH/direct deposit for owners
- Tenant incentives for on-time rent
- Professional collections
- In-house legal counsel and risk mitigation policies
- Eviction & writ of possession services
- Impeccable ethics & integrity
- … much more.
Specialized Property Management brings peace of mind and tremendous value to managing my investment homes, which included a townhome and a single-family home. I’ve used them for over 7 years and left them to manage my property while living out of state. Their level of professionalism, web tool, and dependable customer care makes things easy on both me as the homeowner and tenants. The management team also delivers the highest quality of seamless care and responsiveness for maintenance and leasing needs. They also bring quality tenants that stay for years! Thank you for your exceptional support, Specialized Property Management!
L.P. – Property Owner
Our team is trained and highly professional when dealing with rent collections and all other aspects of property management in Dallas – so let us help you! We’ve got your back!
