To think that giving letting agents advance notice of a short rent delay is pointless and that some actually behave worse when you try to communicate properly?

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I recently told my letting agent ahead of time that my rent would be a few days late due to an admin issue with incoming funds. I thought being transparent would help.

Instead, the reactions were:
-multiple pushy emails
-incorrect legal claims
-pressure to sign a contract instantly
-a surprise phone call despite my request to communicate in writing
-insistence that it was “unacceptable” not to speak on the phone
-the manager insisting on attending an inspection for no real reason

It’s left me feeling that some agents simply weaponise communication rather than appreciate it. Had I said nothing, it would’ve been a straightforward email from them saying “your rent is late”’and I would’ve replied “rent will be paid when funds clear” and done.

AIBU to think it’s actually less stressful to wait until they ask, instead of giving them advanced warning that they then use to behave unprofessionally?

How often is your rent late? Because if this isn't the first time then I can see why they'll be getting pissed off with you

Why would it be ok to just pay your rent late?
Letting them know ... Surely it should be asking for permission of the landlord?
Many LL aren't wealthy individuals and often have mortgages on their property.

When you say ‘a few days late’, how many days do you mean?

Relax. It was my first time and I’ve lived here for two years.

Your admin is up to you to sort out, you don’t have any particular right to pay your rent late.
You seem to think you’ve been very reasonable because you told them.

I never said it was okay. I said it was a short delay due to an admin issue and I let them know in advance. That’s very different from thinking late rent is fine.

And no, in many rentals you communicate with the letting agents, not the landlord directly. Not sure why you’re bringing the landlord’s salary into it.

3 days and I notified them ahead of time, which is what makes their reaction feel so over the top.

Oh FFS, sometimes things don't work out as planned. OP was trying to do the right thing.

You should have been asking, not telling.

I never said I had a right to pay late. I said it was a short delay due to an admin issue and I let them know in advance. Their disproportionate reaction is what my post is about.

What would be the point in asking? If the funds are not available, they're not available.

My tenant has paid rent 2-3 days late on several occasions over the 4 years he has rented from me. It is really not a big issue.

Sounds harsh but I have to agree. If I paid my mortgage late, there would be all sorts of consequences. Not sure I'd get away with sending a message and thinking that would be the end of it.

You were very naive to contact them and inform them in advance, would you go to police and tell them you are going to drive through a red light before you did it? It's the same point. You've breached your contract and it is never going to be received well telling them of that in advance, when at that point you should be taking all steps to ensure you don't breach. You wasted their time and went on to then breach your contract, this is on you entirely.

I am sadly not surprised by the response that you received. Another argument for proper licensing and regulation of letting and estate agents.

Not that two wrongs make a right.

I am bringing the landlords salary into it as a mortgage has to be paid (if of course the property is mortgaged) you may pay your rent on 28th and they pay the mortgage 29th if the funds aren't there they can't pay the mortgage/struggle with their own bills.

Really living somewhere two years and not being late on your rent isn't much of a flex.

You may deal with a lettings agency but they don't actually own the property/pay the mortgage so the landlord is definitely involved.

Yabu. Admin issues you need to sort. You ask not tell. Rent you pay or time like you would with a mortgage.

I think comparing a 2-3 day rent delay with committing a criminal offence is a bit much. Plenty of tenants and agents communicate timing issues sensibly. The issue here is the disproportionate response from the agent, not the fact I was transparent.

Agreed. I wasn’t excusing being a few days late but the reaction from the agent felt way out of proportion. Proper regulation would make a big difference.

What difference, exactly?

If you have financial issues when the rent is paid two days later once, you can't afford to be a landlord.

It’s unfortunate but I do know what you mean. You’ve tried to do the right thing but in reality, if you hadn’t told them then it probably would have taken more than the three days for them to realise it was late and catch up with you, by which time it would have been paid. Unlikely those three days have affected anything for the landlord as imagine they would be wise to leave sufficient time in between receiving rent and making any mortgage payments if applicable to deal with things like this and as you say, you don’t make a habit of this behaviour.

I do think that lots of letting agents see tenants as the ‘scum of the earth’. My best friend went to view a rental house recently, and I went with her. The agent was a complete arse, turning up 25 minutes late and speaking to her like dirt when we looked round.

YABVU! You could be costing the landlord and the agency additional charges. I find the fact that you don’t think it’s a big deal shocking to be honest!

I hope you didn’t tell the agent to relax. Would you have been this casual if it was a mortgage?

I've rented for ten years and never been late once. If you pulled that with me if I was a landlord I would come down just as hard. Get it together.