If you’re renting your home, the end of the month can be stressful. Although you always want to pay rent on time to avoid late fees or other consequences, unforeseen circumstances can sometimes leave you financially unstable and unable to make rent payments. If that happens, here’s what you can do to minimize issues.
Inform Your Landlord
The first thing you need to do is inform your landlord that you might or will be late on the rent for the month. Depending on your lease agreement, your landlord may provide a grace period for you to acquire the necessary funds before issuing late fees.
Explain your predicament and why you can’t pay rent on time. If the situation is beyond your control, your landlord may be understanding and provide you with the assistance you need, such as a payment plan or a partial payment.
Check Your Lease
If you cannot reach your landlord or they refuse to give you allowances for late payments, review your lease agreement. Check the grace period, which is typically between three and five days. Look for payment arrangements that may have been included, as well as late fee policies.
If you feel as though your landlord is being unreasonable by ignoring the terms of your lease, document the breach of agreement and politely ask that they follow it. If they still refuse, you may seek advice from legal professionals for your next steps.
Look for Rental Assistance
Your location is likely covered by the city or state’s rental assistance programs. San Diego, or more broadly, California, offers numerous assistance programs, although you will need to determine whether you are eligible for them.
You can call 211 and be connected to a 24-hour service that provides information and resources, including rental assistance. You can also visit 211SanDiego.org for a more comprehensive database of housing resources and financial assistance programs.
Ask for a Loan
When all else fails, consider asking friends or lenders for financial assistance, provided you can repay them within the agreed-upon timeframe. This can serve as your last resort, as obtaining a loan is often preferable to losing your home. This, of course, is optional and should be approached with a plan in mind to pay it back.
Failed or Late Rent Payment FAQs
What happens if I fail to pay rent after the grace period?
- That will depend on your landlord. They could propose payment arrangements that are more plausible in your situation. The landlord can also send an eviction notice, which starts the eviction process.
Does unpaid rent show up on any records?
- Yes. It can be reflected on your credit score when the landlord reports it to credit bureaus. It will also show up on your rental history, which may make it more difficult for you to rent a new place.
Can my landlord kick me out as soon as they send an eviction notice?
- No. They need to go through the entire eviction process and wait for a court judgment. If they do, you can seek legal aid to learn your rights and take the next steps.
Looking for a New Home?
Evictions or disputes are often caused by a lack of communication between landlords and tenants. Without a tenant portal providing convenient ways to pay rent, send maintenance requests, or contact landlords, it’s much harder to pierce the communication barrier.
With Investment Safe Property Management, you can find rentals that can offer you these tools. We intend to make your stay as comfortable and convenient as we can.
Contact us now, and let’s find the best home for you.