How to Write a Late Rent Notice (with Sample) Use this sample late rent notice as a template for your successful late rent notice letter. Last updated on September 3rd, 2019
Being a landlord can be great when you have a good tenant. However; not all tenants are good and sooner or later there will come a time when you have to evict someone. Eviction is a process that starts with a late rent notice. This notice serves as an official warning that you intend to take further action to protect you investment, but it also shows the court your collection efforts.
This is the first letter in the collection process and will ultimately lead to eviction. When dealing with a rent payment that is overdue, as a landlord you should always take a firm stance. Some landlords like to be lenient when it comes to a good tenant, but even good tenants fall on hard times.
Even Good People Fall on Hard Times
Sometimes even good people fall on hard times, but you need the paper trail behind you should this end up in court. Once the rent has been late for more than two days, you have the right to send a letter. If you develop a routine for sending late rent notices when the tenants are a couple days late, they will know what you expect and many will want to avoid the unwanted letter. The goal of these letters is to not have to mess with late rent payments every month. Let your tenants know up front what you expect and this will mean less chasing rent checks all the time. It is always strongly recommended to add a late fee to rents that are past due. Not only will this be an incentive to pay on time, but it will also pay for your efforts in writing a late notice.
Start by simply saying the date and the tenants name and address. Make sure all the data is accurate, as this can serve as a written notice should you go to court. The letter should inform the tenant that they are late on the rent and by how many days. It should also state the date that the rent was due.
Mention Terms of Rental Agreement
Clearly express the rent is covering a specific period of time, like from June 1st to June 30th. The most important thing to mention is the terms of the rental agreement. Mention the section of the lease and if applicable the number or section that talks about late payments.
Make sure to let the client know how much they owe with the late fees included in the total. The total amount due should be clear to the tenant. Reiterate where they need to send the payment too. Also make sure to have contact information should the tenant need to get a hold of you.
While these letters may seem like a pain to write, they are essential and can help keep tenants paying on time and can also bring in a little extra revenue when they are late. Always keep good records and while this letter is not required to be sent certified mail, it still counts as starting the eviction process. Below is a sample of a rent notice letter that you can use or modify for your use.
Sample Late Rent Notice Letter September 3rd, 2019
David and Jennifer Stanley 3278 Stanhope Lane Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Dear David and Jennifer,
This letter is to inform you that as of the date of this notice, I have not received your rental payment that was due on July 1, 2013. Because rent is due on the first of the month and will cover the rental unit for the dates of July 1st through July 31st, 2013, you are living in a unit you have not paid for. According to the terms of your rental agreement, found in section 2 of the lease, you can see that any rent payment not made within 5 days will accrue a late payment charge of $50.
The rent for the Stanhope Lane property is due and payable immediately. You can mail the payment to 708 Charles Lane, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601. If you have any questions about this matter or have a special circumstance that I need to be made aware of, please contact me at 740-709-9709. I look forward to hearing from you and resolving this matter.