Home > Research Legal Advice > Landlord / Tenant > Is there a law protecting SSDI recipients from rent late fees if SSDI pa...
Asked 6 months ago - Herriman, UT
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I spoke to the Social Security Administration to see if I could change the date I receive benefits to the 5th of the month or before. They said they couldn't but to check with a lawyer to see if there is a law protecting tenants from late fees based on this situation.
Currently I get paid by or before the 2nd Wed of every month.
I also spoke to the apartment manager and they said they can't change anything because their computers are set to charge the fees when late. It costs $50 for first day and $5 per day after until paid. I have had to pay about $80 in late fee totals and that is a lot for someone living on SSDI, I could pay 2-3 other bills with that. It's mainly hard because I have no other way around it.
Social Security Disability is not an area I am particularly familiar with. As to rent and late fees, there is no Utah law which would prohibit late fees of this sort. Quite simply, if you agree on a due date and do not pay on time, Utah law permits late fees and the landlord is entitled to demand them.
You have various options which do not really involve the application of the law. I understand that your finances are very tight. Do not misunderstand or feel that I do not sympathize--I am just trying to suggest possible ways of dealing with the situation.
1. You could rearrange your finances so that you have enough money available when the rent is due. If you are a member of any local religion which engages in charitable activities, they might pay your rent for one month to permit you to achieve this goal. Perhaps a family member would be willing to make a gift to you to help you in this regard.
2. If your lease is nearly over and you are willing to move, you could consider seeking another place to rent which will permit you to pay rent on a more convenient date.
3. I suspect that in reality the apartment manager probably could modify your rent due date if he wanted--perhaps you could offer to pay another ten days rent in advance in exchange for having the due date modified.
Along with what Mr. Koyle stated, you may also find that if you contact the owner of the property, that he or she may be willing to adjust the payment dates so that no late fees are incurred. I represent various landlords that are happy to make adjustments for good tenants. It has been my experience that property owners (not necessarily the manager) want the income stream and in this economy good tenants are hard to come by. The owner probably doesn't want you to leave. They would then have to spend the time and money to fix up the property and try to find a new tenant.
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