KojewHandling unpaid rent: a step-by-step method
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Late rent is not always a refusal to pay: job loss, a delayed transfer, a simple oversight. Acting early, in writing and methodically recovers most sums without legal action and keeps a good relationship with the tenant.
1. Spot unpaid rent on the due date
Track each due date separately: the month concerned, the expected amount and every payment received. Example: FCFA 60,000 expected for October and FCFA 40,000 received leaves FCFA 20,000 owed for October. Before any reminder, check that a payment was not received through another channel (Mobile Money, bank deposit, a relative of the landlord).
2. Send a friendly reminder quickly
A few days after the due date, send a polite reminder stating the month, the outstanding amount and a deadline. A call or WhatsApp message is often enough. If the tenant faces a temporary difficulty, offer a written, dated payment plan: amounts, dates and what happens if a payment is missed again.
3. Put it in writing with a formal notice
If the arrears continue, send a written formal notice: reference to the lease, list of unpaid due dates, total amount owed and a deadline to pay. Hand it over against a signed acknowledgement or have it served by a bailiff. This dated document will be useful if legal action becomes necessary.
4. Involve a professional
If payment still does not arrive, a bailiff can serve a formal demand for payment. Terminating the lease and evicting a tenant are matters for the court. Never take matters into your own hands: cutting water or electricity, changing the locks or holding the tenant’s belongings may make you liable. Seek advice from a lawyer or bailiff.
5. Prevent future arrears
Arrears are prevented at move-in: a written lease, a separate security deposit, an inspection report, clear due dates and a receipt for every full payment.
- Set a single due date and send a reminder a few days before.
- Accept traceable payment methods such as Orange Money or MTN MoMo.
- Keep the history of payments and reminders in one place.
Tracking arrears in Kojew
Kojew shows the outstanding balance by property and month, accepts partial payments and prepares a WhatsApp or email reminder with the right amount. Paid plans add automatic reminders and the tenant portal, where tenants declare payments; you check them before recording them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I issue a rent receipt for a partial payment?
No: give a payment acknowledgement showing the amount paid and the balance owed. A rent receipt confirms full payment for a period; issue it once the rent is fully paid.
Can I use the security deposit to cover unpaid rent?
The security deposit is normally used when the tenant leaves, after the move-out inspection, to cover justified sums owed. During the lease it does not replace rent payments. Set these rules out in the lease.
Put this guide into practice in Kojew
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Start for freeThese guides are for information only and do not replace advice from a legal professional (lawyer, notary, bailiff). Rules may change: check them before any important decision.