I manage rental properties.

One of my long time clients just gave an earful.

For charging a late fee when is bill was late.

He told me he was done doing business with me, the free market trumps everything, and his decade of patronage means nothing to me.

Personally I don't give a hoot because there are always plenty of customers but what baffles me is that this guy is in his late 50s, he always boasts about how he is a grown responsible man not some young kid and he can afford his rent but if he gets fined for being late he throws a fit about his track record or threatens to leave. We'll see if he actually does but I personally hope so, I can charge 40% more for his space to a new client.

Rant over.

Kick him out and find a new tenant, he�ll rethink that earful he gave you.

Be careful what you wish for. You could have worse tenants than one that has only been late once in a decade.

What part of "late fee" does he not understand?

His pride is hurt. He's a failure at life and you just proved it to him one more time.

Looks like both of you may learn a lesson.

Let's see, in no particular order:

Yes, the free market trumps everything. That includes your freedom to charge late fees in accordance with the written lease.

When tenants ask to have a late fee waived, I'm much more inclined to do so than when they pitch a fit. I've always felt that giving someone what they want when they're behaving badly will only encourage more of the same behavior the next time.

If he's getting rent at 40% below market rates, it'd be foolish of him to leave.

If you really can get 40% more for the space without excessive finish-out costs, it might be worth having an early lease termination.

Heard it said once,,,


If he's getting rent at 40% below market rates, it'd be foolish of him to leave.

If you really can get 40% more for the space without excessive finish-out costs, It would be foolish to let him stay!

If he pays it, get him a Christmas card saying $50 (or whatever the amount of the fee was ) was donated to a charity in his name. Maybe "The Human Fund."

He�s pissed at himself for being late, took it out on you instead.

No Christmas spirit in this thread.

Does he realize the fact that he is 40% under market? Rental market is booming right now.

No there is not.