This just happened.
Property manager informed me late by a week.
I asked why. Told the story.
It is an older daughter that doesn’t live in the house.
Torn how to feel. Worried on a personal level for them. Business worried about how it will effect everything going forward.
Your thoughts…
It’s ok to feel for them…to pray for their family. I’d expect they’ll be off work for a couple weeks. They have to still realize they can’t stay in your place for free. I would just see how it goes next month. You have this month’s rent.
i wouldnt bring it up to them. like justin said, see what happens. i would be happy if i were you it was only one week late.
What a nice group. I’d want to see the obituary. Grandma died is a favorite excuse. Some grandmas die 20-30 times during their grandchild’s lifetime.
If you were paid a week late, I’d let it slide. If it’s a week late and still not been paid yet, serve the pay or quit notice.
I’d sent a condolences card.
In the past 20 years, I’ve had hundreds of tenants and tenant/buyers who have come up with excuses that a relative has died. Most of those times, there was no evidence of a death with a published obituary! I would not even believe a published obituary in that many of the tenants will use this excuse with the name of an already published obit that is not their family member. Grieving is not an excuse to withhold a rent check. If they are still paying their light bill and car payments, the death excuse is a load of B.S.! Don’t buy into a tenant’s story. Demand payments, file dispo or default notices. The death excuse is typically the beginning of the end of your landlord/tenant relationship.
Speaking from experience,
Rob in Atlanta
If you’ve already proven that it’s not just an excuse to be late in paying the rent, I suggest giving them some time to grieve. I generally allow 2 weeks, especially if they are the ones who will be spending for the funeral expenses.
After the burial, it gets easier to go back to daily life and asking for the rent money won’t be embarrassing anymore.