What can a landlord do if a tenant is late on rent payments?

If a tenant in Montana is late on rent payments, there are a few things that the landlord can do. First, the tenant must be given a written notice informing them that the rent is past due. This notice must be in accordance with the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which outlines the process for such notices. If the tenant fails to pay the rent within the specified amount of time, the landlord may be able to begin the eviction process. This process can take a few weeks and begins with the landlord issuing a notice to vacate the premises. If the tenant still does not pay the rent, the landlord may file an eviction suit, which can speed up the process. Second, the landlord may have the right to charge a late fee if the tenant is late on their rent payments. This fee would be outlined in the rental agreement and must be reasonable and fair. Additionally, the landlord would need to give the tenant written notification of the late fee. Finally, the landlord could also end the rental agreement if the tenant is more than 10 days late in paying their rent. Under Montana law, the landlord must give the tenant a 10-day notice of termination, which must include the landlord’s right to do so. If the tenant does not pay the rent within the 10-day period, the landlord can then terminate the rental agreement.

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