Free Late Rent Notice

This letter is used by a landlord or manager to remind tenants that a rent payment is past due.

Use the Late Rent Notice document if:

A rental payment has not been paid and you want to demand payment from the tenants.

Related Help Articles	Related Documents	More Information
Legal Tips for First Time Landlords Becoming a first time landlord can be a lot of work, but there's also the promise of a lucrative business (and regular rent checks). When you're first starting out, beyond the basics of getting the property purchased and ready to rent out, remember that setting yourself up for success also means having the proper legal protections -- and being proactive with legal issues could save you from big legal bills and hassles down the road. Read more Rental Agreement Forms Must Comply With Real Estate Laws When you decide to become a landlord, one of the first things you will need to do is get a Rental Lease Agreement form that protects your interests and meets your needs. To make sure that you remain in compliance with fair housing regulations, it is very important that you use a standard Lease Agreement form for every tenant. Read more Steps for Collecting Late Rent Before Issuing an Eviction Notice When tenants fail to pay rent on time, landlords can take certain steps to recover late payments and collect late rent fees. By having a plan in place for collecting past-due rent, landlords will be able to act quickly and come to a resolution with minimal aggravation. Read more
Eviction Notice An Eviction Notice is a notice used by a landlord to notify a tenant that he or she intends to terminate the tenancy and remove the tenant from the property. A landlord is required to give a tenant proper notice before the eviction process can begin. Serving an Eviction Notice is a required first step in order to evict a tenant from the property. Read more Triple Net Lease This agreement between a landlord and a tenant specifies the rights and obligations of each party regarding the rental of commercial property. Read more Retail Space Lease This agreement between a landlord and a tenant specifies the rights and obligations of each party regarding the rental of commercial property, a retail space. Read more
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Late Payments and Defaults Late Rent Notice Signing Instructions Fair Debt Collection Practices Act The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act governs the collection of "consumer debt" (defined to include any personal, family, or household debt) by the following types of "Debt Collectors": Any person in the business of collecting debts. Any creditor who collects debts using a name other than his or her own. Anyone who collects or tries to collect debts for another person. The Act does NOT apply to individuals, banks, or businesses that collect their own debts using their own names. However, if there is any doubt about whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies, consult an attorney. This general overview of the scope of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is only a rough description and is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Collecting Money for Others If this letter is being prepared to collect money owed to someone else, you should consult a lawyer to determine whether or not you qualify for one of the exceptions under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and whether you satisfy your state's requirements for debt collection. Non-Compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act If a Debt Collector does not comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the debtor may sue the Debt Collector within one year after the violation. It may be possible for the debtor to recover actual damages plus additional damages up to $1,000, court costs, and reasonable lawyer's fees. Contacting the Debtor A Debt Collector CANNOT do the following: Contact the debtor before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Contact the debtor at unusual places. Contact the debtor at the place of employment if it is known that the employer prohibits such contact. Harass or abuse the debtor. This includes, but is not limited to: Using or threatening violence or harm to the person, the person's reputation, or property; Using obscene language; Publicizing the debt; Making annoying, repetitive, or anonymous phone calls; Providing false or misleading information as to the collector's identity; Collecting an additional fee not authorized by law or by the terms of the debt agreement; Charging the debtor with collect calls or telegram fees; Communicating by postcard. During a period when the debt is being verified, the collector may not ask for payment. A Debt Collector may not contact a person other than the debtor EXCEPT for the purpose of locating the debtor. In doing so, the Debt Collector must do the following: Identify himself or herself. Not reveal the consumer's debt. Not use a postcard or any other means that might reveal the debt-collection activity. Not contact the person more than once unless absolutely necessary. If the debt collector learns the identity of a lawyer who is representing the debtor, all future contact must be with that lawyer. Following Up with Written Correspondence Within five days after contacting a debtor, the Debt Collector must send a written letter that includes the following information: The amount of the debt. The name of the creditor. Notice that the debt will be assumed to be valid unless disputed within 30 days. Notice that if the debt is disputed, the debt collector will verify the debt and send a copy of supporting documents to the debtor. Late Payments and Defaults Many states have laws limiting the amount of fees that can be charged for late rental payments. For example, California and Oklahoma prohibit pre-set late fees. Massachusetts and Montana disallow late fees unless the rent is at lease 30 days late. Others limit the late fee to a percentage of the rent, for example 4 percent. It is RECOMMENDED that you check with an attorney regarding the limits imposed by your state. Each state has specific requirements that must be followed in order to properly terminate the Lease because of a default by one of the parties. Perhaps the most frequent default is the Tenant's failure to promptly pay the rent. In order to terminate the lease for nonpayment of rent, the Landlord must strictly comply with state-specific procedures, including the content and timing of required notice to the Tenant. Failure to do so may result in a delay in obtaining an eviction, and/or it may jeopardize the Landlord's right to recover rent or reimbursement for damages to the Premises. Landlords must also be careful that their actions in terminating a lease or evicting a Tenant do not constitute retaliatory actions against the Tenant for exercising the Tenant's rights. For example, the Landlord may not evict the Tenant simply because the Tenant called the local housing authority regarding a safety problem on the premises. Most states have specific laws that allow Tenants to obtain money damages from Landlords who engage in retaliatory actions or presume a retaliatory motive for a period of time after the Tenant's act. Late Rent Notice The Late Rent Notice is designed to be used by a landlord/manager of rental units, to prompt a tenant to pay delinquent rent. If the tenant does not pay within the allotted time, the landlord/manager may begin the process of ending the rental agreement and evicting the tenant, using the procedures specified by state and/or local law. The person preparing and signing this letter must be the landlord or be an employee or representative of the landlord. If any other person (for example, the landlord's attorney) signs this notice, you may be required to comply with the stringent requirements of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Furthermore, your state may have its own collection requirements which must be considered. Contact your state's attorney general's office or a lawyer for additional information This is a general letter to demand past due rent. It is not a legal document used in connection with the eviction process. If you have any questions concerning the eviction process, you should carefully review the appropriate statutes or contact an attorney for assistance. Signing Instructions The Late Rent Notice should be signed by the landlord/manager of the rental property. A copy of the letter should be retained for his or her records. The landlord/manager writing this letter should also keep a copy of all other correspondence to and from the tenant(s) and should maintain a written summary of all telephone conversations. It is recommended that the Notice be sent by certified mail so that the landlord/manager obtains proof that the tenant received the Notice.

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Free Late Rent Notice

Legal Tips for First Time Landlords

Rental Agreement Forms Must Comply With Real Estate Laws

Steps for Collecting Late Rent Before Issuing an Eviction Notice

Eviction Notice

Triple Net Lease

Retail Space Lease

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Late Payments and Defaults

Late Rent Notice

Signing Instructions