Tenant paying rent using someone else's check - should I accept it?

I have a stabilized low-rent tenant who is sending me a rent check written by this friend of his from the friend’s checking account. It’s the second consecutive time this is happening. The same friend. The tenant is claiming a “bank problem” which prevents him from using his own checking account. This “bank problem” started a few months ago. I told him to pay by money order but he says that this will cause a significant delay in paying now because it will take time to come up with the money. He’s already two months behind. He says the next time he will use his own check or be ready wuth a money order. I recently heard a lawyer say not to accept from someone’s account other than the tenant’s because the person paying the rent could be establishing tenancy and later claim a right to the apartment. I’m wonedring if it’s ok to let it go if it’s just once or twice. My tenant has offered to write a letter accomanying his friend’s check which states that the check represents a rent payment from him (my tenant). Any with experience or enough legal knowledge to offer advice?

starfish11040

in Landlord 13 years and 2 months ago

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pmhcuuxmobsohz | 11 years and 8 months ago

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kxz196 | 13 years and 2 months ago

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You have a stabalized low rent tenant who is two months behind? Praise the gods! File a holdover and evict the bum!  You will get a 20% vacancy increase plus 1/40 of the reno you do.  Never accept payment from anyone other than the legal tenant, ever.  Get going with a good L&T lawyer and improve your rent roll!

bkmatthew | 13 years and 2 months ago

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I would only accept the tenant’s check, a cashier’s check or money order with tenant as purchaser of check/money order. The friend can go with tenant to the post office/Western Union and pay for the order, but still have the tenant’s name as  purchaser. I would do follow your lawyer’s advice to the letter and would be seeking to evict, without harassing the tenant.

callalily | 13 years and 2 months ago

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Sounds like he is trying to establish this other person as a tenant.

slopegirl | 13 years and 2 months ago

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have you asked a lawyer about this? If you’ve already been to housing court, seems like legal opinion is in order. be curious to know what they advise

thatwasmyidea | 13 years and 2 months ago

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sounds fishy. have seen something where a person not on the lease started to pay rent to try and claim residency in the apt. be careful. those rent stabilized guys are almost impossible to get out. if they are already two months behind, why not start the eviction?

Putnamdenizen | 13 years and 2 months ago

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Have his friend buy him a money order.

Bklnite | 13 years and 2 months ago

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I don’t have enough legal knowledge to be sure… others can comment. What if you accepted a check from the “friend” which he endorsed with pay to the order of: your name, and you double endorse it to deposit? It does sound fishy and having already accepted a previous check might be a basis for the friend to make a claim of tenancy.

huesos | 13 years and 2 months ago

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Write “accepted w/o prejudice” above your endorsement.

mysteriousbrunette | 13 years and 2 months ago

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Accept the letter with the rent.