Recently moved into a new Bedsit. Rent is due on the 19th of every month and I got a text on Friday morning (18th) about 8am off the landlord demanding (not asking) it be paid into his bank by 1pm that day. Only thing I can think of the 19th was a weekend and he wanted it transferred before then. I paid it and deleted my standing order I had set up (meaning it would have been paid tomorrow, Monday). I understand it’s due by the 19th and TBH didn’t really bother me as long as it was paid, but just wondering if people think it might be considered unreasonable him requesting this?
Remember you don’t yet have a history of paying on time with the LL. There is always some nervousness at start of any business relationship (which is what a tenancy us).
I think it’s reasonable that he requests cleared funds into his account by the date on the contract at the latest and knowing that weekends and bank holidays can hold up.the transfer, either asking for payment in cash by the date due or payment by bank transfer by the end of the last working day before the weekend. By noon that day is fair enough remember it’s their income. If it was your paycheck would you be wanting to be checking it’s been paid at 7pm that evening and chasing your employer?
Could be their mortgage payment date is 20th.
Have a chat with them at 1st inspection visit, agree ways of communicating and say you are happy to make sure it’s always paid with cleared funds in his account by the date on the contract. But that you’d prefer a call or a request not a demand and on your side when or if eg repairs are needed you’ll requesting not demanding- at least in first instance’-because it’s so much pleasanter if people behave kindly and considerately to each other.
Good luck
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So you had in fact set up your standing order to be paid late?
That sounds like the landlord is testing boundaries with you. If he asks in a polite way if this month the rent can be paid to him one day earlier, one might feel inclined to help. However, the contract was set for the rent to be paid at last on a set day (yours is the 19th) and you are not on arrears if you couldn’t pay in any other day than the set day. He can’t argue against that.
Pay attention if he makes the same demand next month, or if he starts making unexpected demands.
Just do it, end of. Dont lose goodwill
@YourIdealTenant well you could equally say tenant was inadvertently testing boundaries by not originally organizing standing order to ensure 1st months rent was actually paid by date due on contract when this is obviously sensitive especially before a history of payments has been established.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Best they speak to each other and discuss instead of us assuming any motivations like 'testing boundaries ’
Best
Your tenancy agreement probably says that the rent should be paid and cleared by the due date. So, if the 19th is a weekend and your standing order wouldn’t clear until Monday, then your rent would be late.
Perhaps this is a standard text message the landlord sends out when the rent due date will fall on a weekend. It may not be a reflection on you, it may be related to a bad experience the landlord had with a previous tenant.
Regarding a 1 pm deadline - I don’t think there’s any requirement for you to pay at any particular time of day.
Maybe if your bank pays standing orders out on the first week day on or after the set date, and you want to make sure it’s always on time, you could set the date 3 days early. Or of course, have a chat with your landlord to see if there is anything specific that he’s worried about.
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