Tenant not paying: what to do step by step

Non-payment is every landlord's biggest fear. Acting early and methodically makes the difference between resolving it in weeks or in many months.

1. Spot it as early as possible

Track payments by contract and month. The sooner you detect an unpaid receipt, the sooner you can react. A delay of a few days is not the same as two months piled up.

2. Friendly contact

Often it is an oversight or a one-off problem. A courteous message reminding about the payment resolves a good share of cases at no cost or conflict.

3. Formal written demand

If the non-payment continues, send a written, certified demand (with proof of sending and receipt) claiming the debt and giving a deadline. This step matters for a possible legal claim.

4. The judicial route

As a last resort, there is the eviction-for-non-payment procedure with a claim for the amounts owed. Here it is key to have the contract, the proof of non-payment and the prior demand well documented.

Prevention is cheaper than the cure

• Check solvency before signing.
• Consider rent-default insurance and/or additional guarantees.
• Keep the payment record up to date so you can react in the first month.

Keeping each contract, its payments and its history centralized lets you prove non-payment in a couple of clicks and act in time.

This guide is informational and does not replace legal advice.