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Can't pay rent on time: what to say

Tell your landlord before the rent is due, in writing, with a real plan: what you can pay now and when the rest will come. Then call 211 for rent help the same day, because help can take weeks.

Moderate30 min to doFreeChecked October 3, 2026

You'll need

  • Your lease (for the due date, grace period and late fee)
  • A rough budget: what you can pay and when
  • Proof of what happened, like a pay cut or a medical bill, if you have it

Do it like this

  1. Do the math first. Figure out exactly what you can pay now and when you can pay the rest. A specific plan is easier to say yes to than "I'll try."
  2. Tell your landlord before the due date, and do it in writing (email or text), even if you also call. Explain why you want to work things out. Source: CFPB1
  3. Ask for something specific. The CFPB lists the common options: a repayment plan that spreads the missed rent over the next few months, or waiving the late fee as long as some payment is made. Source: CFPB1
  4. Call 211 the same day. It can point you to local rent and utility help. Source: CFPB2 After you apply, it can take several weeks for rental assistance to arrive, so don't wait. Source: CFPB2
  5. Free up money for rent. The LIHEAP program helps with utility bills year-round: (866) 674-6327. Source: CFPB2 Pause anything you can, and see Your first budget in 20 minutes.
  6. Get any deal in writing. Reply to confirm it: the amounts, the dates and whether the late fee is waived. Pay on those dates and keep receipts.
  7. If you get a notice to pay or move out, act that day. See An eviction notice on your door.
Watch out Late fees have limits in some places. In New York, the most a landlord can charge is $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less. Source: NY AG4 In California, a three-day notice that demands late fees on top of rent isn't legally effective. Source: California DRE5 Rules here vary by state, and some cities add their own. The examples come from the official tenant guides for California, New York and Texas. Find yours in the list of state guides below, or call legal aid.

A text you can copy

Hi [name], this is [your name] in [unit #]. I want to give you a heads-up before the 1st: [reason in one line, like my hours got cut]. I can pay $[amount] on [date] and the remaining $[amount] by [date]. Can we put that in writing? I've also applied for rent help through 211.

An email you can copy

Subject: Rent for [month], [address, unit #]

Hi [name],

I'm writing before the due date because [reason, one or two sentences]. I want to keep paying in full and stay current.

Here's what I can do: $[amount] on [date], and the remaining $[amount] by [date]. Would you waive the late fee if I pay on that schedule?

I've applied for rental assistance through 211 and will tell you if it comes through. Please reply to confirm this plan.

Thank you,
[your name] · [phone]

Saying it on the phone

Keep it short and calm: "I'm calling before the due date because I'll be short this month. I can pay [amount] on [date] and the rest by [date]. Can we agree on that? I'll send it in an email too."

See it done

Video by 10 Tampa Bay News Local TV news

Talking to your landlord if you can't pay rent

Watch on YouTube: Talking to your landlord if you can't pay rent

2020 · Checked October 3, 2026

Heads up: it's from 2020, when pandemic eviction protections were ending. The advice still holds: talk early, be honest, and only promise what you can pay.

Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.

If it doesn't work

  • Landlord won't talk? Keep writing, politely, and keep copies. Then call legal aid or a housing counselor. Source: CFPB3
  • In the military? Talk to your base Legal Assistance Office. Servicemembers have extra eviction protections. Source: CFPB3
  • Short again next month? Tell the landlord early again. Breaking a deal without warning burns trust fast.

Good to know

The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.

Where 211 fits

211 is free, and you can call from a cell phone or a landline. A local specialist can help you find rent and utility programs near you. Source: CFPB2

Take it with you

Printable cardDownload card (PDF)

Sources

  1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Start a conversation about rent repayment
  2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Get help paying rent and bills
  3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau What to do if you're facing eviction
  4. New York State Attorney General Residential Tenants' Rights Guide
  5. California Department of Real Estate California Tenants guide: When can a landlord terminate a tenancy?

Lesson H2.1 · Last checked October 3, 2026 against the sources listed.

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