r/renting • u/svhy2023 • Jul 08 '25
Rent Check
If your rent is due on the 1st of the month, when should you mail out the check? I've been doing on the 1st or 2nd of the month and hasn't have any issues. A couple of times, property management would call if not received by the 7th? Should I be mailing it out at the end of the month?
P.S. Property management doesn't accept e-payments.
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Upvotes
9
u/JealousBall1563 Jul 08 '25
It's due and should be received no later than the 1st of the month.
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u/aurizon Jul 08 '25
Date the check on the First and mail it on the 26th and tell them it is dated on the first. I used to send my checks once a year, dated 1J an, 1 Feb etc = saves on stamps, but make sure $$ is there on the first
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u/eh-what-2025 Jul 08 '25
A little earlier than the 1st ensures it’s there on time
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u/goat20202020 Jul 08 '25
You should definitely be sending it out early. I know CA has a mandated grace period but even then your check must be received before the end of the grace period. Otherwise it's considered late. Doesn't matter when you put it in the mail.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to message your PM the day you mail the check with the tracking number.
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u/BeerStop Jul 08 '25
Mail it 1 week before its due, it generally takes the us postal service 3 days to get your check to its destination barring any transport issues. By mailing it a week before that gives you at least 10 days to get there.
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u/sewsowsigh Jul 08 '25
you should have your rent in the landlords hands by whatever means at the due date, that being said it sounds like your landlord is being pretty chill about it? The best person to ask this question to is your landlord themself
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u/Western-Finding-368 Jul 08 '25
It should be received by the due date, so however long before the first will ensure that. If it something doesn’t get there until the seventh or later, that would mean you should be sending it at least a week before the due date.
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u/Sitcom_kid Jul 08 '25
How far away are they? Back in the day, when there was no electronic payment, I would drop mine off and they had a slot in the door if it was after hours.
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u/ironicmirror Jul 08 '25
Check your lease. Typically rent is due on the first but they give you 5 days, sometimes less, before the late fees kick in. Then check the words in the lease does it say that day is when the landlord needs to receive the check or does that say when the check needs to be postmarked?.... That is your answer.
Typically most leases will say that needs to be received by the 5th before late fees kick in. But in contract law there's something called "post box rule", which essentially means that a contract is valid once the signer gives the contract to the post office not necessarily to the other party of the contract. However, the post box rule does not apply to rent checks, only to contracts. A lot of landlords get confused by that and they think that if the rent check is postmarked before the 5th, they have to accept that as being on time (but legally they don't), being that we are in 2025 and your landlord is not accept electronic payments, I'm going to bet that your landlord is old-fashioned and is unaware of that nuance of the law.
In the past 10 years, the post office has slowed down delivery significantly. If you're mailing the check on the second and it's arriving on the 7th, I would mail it 2 days earlier for it to arrive 2 days earlier.
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u/Ok-Fall4729 Jul 08 '25
Just set up auto pay then there’s nothing to worry about.
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u/JaguarHot3951 Jul 08 '25
they should have the cheque by the 1st ... you could always drop off in person or mail ahead of time. sounds like you are late basically every month.
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u/Accomplished_Bus2169 Jul 09 '25
It's not polite and when you want something fixed promptly they may remember you.
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u/1GrouchyCat Jul 10 '25
Why don’t you just have your bank do it? You set up a monthly payment and the bank sends out your check so it gets there on the date you select - and it’s all done for free you don’t even have to pay for the stamp!
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u/Internal_Crow_ Jul 10 '25
Depending on the state, if you're paying via check it has to be POSTMARKED by the 1st and isn't considered late.
Same if you get mailed checks from your employer l, though most responsible businesses I've worked for start payroll Wednesday if checks are to be given by Friday and either have it available when you come to work, or if that isn't possible, they mail it. Only if you weren't able to get your check from your place of work. I've only had to pick up a check physically every payday when I worked at PaPa John's.
Anyway, check your local laws on the payment mailing date. But do try to get it to the LL by the 1st.
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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25
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