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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect the tenant to pay the rent on the same date each month?

39 replies

whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:12

I am a new landlord (through circumstances not choice) and I pay a lettings agent to look after the property.

This is the 6th month that the tenant has been in the property and each month so far they have paid the rent on a different date throughout the month. For example the first months rent was paid on 1st, second months rent was 3 weeks late as they had forgotten Hmm. I chased this up with the agent and asked when they would have noticed the lack of payment to be told 'after a few weeks'.

From there the rent was paid roughly during the first two weeks of the month and I appreciate that the money has to go to the agent first then once they have deducted their fee etc they will pay it to me so I have always allowed a bit of extra time.

However I have just checked my bank account and have not received January's rent which I will now have to chase up on Monday.

When I rented my first home I set up a standing order so the money was taken on the same day each month and I didn't have to worry about it. So aibu in thinking this isn't on?

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/01/2013 20:13

Agent should have asked for direct debit.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/01/2013 20:14

Did the agent get references checked for these tenants before signing them up?

SparkleSoiree · 19/01/2013 20:16

YANBU to expect the tenant to pay the rent on time each month. I would love to try those excuses out with my mortgage company!

MammytoM · 19/01/2013 20:16

YANBU, they should pay whenever it was agreed that they should. Do they have a tenancy agreement including payment date? I'm not defending them at all but maybe they get paid four weekly as opposed to same date each month - this may explain it but if this is the case it should have been discussed from the start. Hope it gets sorted soon!

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/01/2013 20:16

Is it the tenant or actually your tenant that's the problem I wonder. You pay an agent as middleman to reduce your stress and you shouldn't have to be the one chasing up.

FredFredGeorge · 19/01/2013 20:17

If you're bothering to pay an agent a fee, why are you getting such a lousy deal from them?

If they don't even ensure the rent is paid - what exactly are you paying for?

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 19/01/2013 20:18

Oh sorry that s/b Is it the tenant or actually your agent etc.

LineRunner · 19/01/2013 20:18

I think your agent is the problem.

FredFredGeorge · 19/01/2013 20:18

(Sorry that is YABU 'cos you're complaining about the tennant when neither you or the agent appears do have done your parts right so why should you expect them to - if they are indeed doing anything but paying on time.)

Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:19

I was told that they could only get a reference from their employer due to the nature of their job which without going into detail was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

LIZS I thought that they would have had to sort out a direct debt at the beginning but when I chased them the first time I was told that they had been encouraged to set up a standing order.

I really dislike having to deal with this as like I said it wasn't my choice to be a landlord and I don't know enough about the whole process to feel comfortable with it hence paying an agent.

OP posts:
wizardofearthsea · 19/01/2013 20:22

Are you sure it's the tennant at fault? Perhaps the agent has a cashflow problem, maybe they get the rent on time but are behind on their bills and so are keeping hold of it until you chase it up.

Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:23

FredFredGeorge that is why I am asking if iabu because I thought paying an agent, whose job I was led to believe, was to collect the rent and be the first port of call for any problems.

OP posts:
LineRunner · 19/01/2013 20:23

Your contract with your agent should state that they will will pay you each month, on a set date (eg first Friday or 2nd working day, that kind of thing).

queenofthepirates · 19/01/2013 20:24

YANBU, I suggest you serve notice on the tenants now with the proviso that should they miss another payment, it becomes 'live'. It should give them the kick up the bottom to get the standing order sorted out.

It's also not acceptable for the agents to not notice for a few weeks. They should be checking their accounts weekly and notifying you of problems. I assume you're paying them a 10% commission give or take? Swap to another agent and make it clear why. It's not okay to treat you like this!

sooperdooper · 19/01/2013 20:24

I would complain to the agent you're paying your fee too - they need to agree they will pay the rent to you each month by a set date, this is one of the things you're paying them for!!

It's their responsibility to chase the tennant, get something in writing from them confirming which date it will be paid from now on and tell both the agent if they can't stick to it you'll go with another agent & ask them to find a new tennant

Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:25

Hadn't thought of that Wizard I have to admit that I've just assumed that it's the tenant as I was told they had forgotten to pay the second months rent.

Any ideas on what I should say to the agent on Monday which would be constructive?

OP posts:
TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 19/01/2013 20:25

If it's a standing order, it usually does go out on the same day or date each month.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 19/01/2013 20:26

You could ask the agent to confirm the dates that rent was received by them each month?

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 19/01/2013 20:27

Are there any complications like foreign bank accounts, do you know?

Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:27

Thank you that is what I thought I was paying them for but I just wanted to check that I don't have unrealistic expectations.

OP posts:
Shenanagins · 19/01/2013 20:28

I am having the same problem at the mo. i also have an agent who doesn't let me know that the paymet will be late which caused me a lot of problems recently. i have found out that the tenant has a contract to pay the agents on a certain date. i now get in touch with them a couple of days after this date to find out if it has been paid and if not to chase up.

i have also instructed them to warn the tenant that late payment is not acceptable . they are a new tenant so not prepared to be lenient than if they had been a long standing one with a good payment record who had fallen into some difficulty.

you may wish to check how long their contract is for as if its 6 months you can advise you don't want them to renew.

Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:28

I'm not aware of foreign bank accounts - am I allowed to ask something like this?

OP posts:
Original poster
whoopwhoopbib · 19/01/2013 20:31

Shenanagins it is a 6 month contract ending 31st Jan, is Monday too late to now tell them I don't want to renew?

I must admit I have been burying my head in the sand a bit and taking no news from the agent regarding anything as good news.

OP posts:
Toddle · 19/01/2013 20:31

I've not read all the thread as currently trying to get ds to bed. We let through a letting agency If our rent isn't paid on the date it should be (we had a problem with the bank) they won't tell us for 15 days because if the rent is over 2 weeks late they then charge us a additional 15 or 25 pounds I can't remember which. Maybe this could explain why some rents are three weeks late?

sooperdooper · 19/01/2013 20:32

I would say to the agent that as they are being paid a fee you consider them responsible for ensuring that rent is paid on time, chasing up late payments, and ensuring you get your payment on time

Do you have a contract with them that states what their fee covers? If so have a read through that now and if there's anything that relates to this in the contract you can bring it up specifically

I would then say that if they don't get it back on track from next month and then ongoing you will move to a different agent & that you want them to tell the tennant (if it is the tennant who is making late payments) that if they are late again they will be given notice to leave as they're in breach of contract

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