Paying rent has changed a lot in the past few years. Today, most Tampa apartments offer more options in regards to paying your rent. Each option has its pros and cons, and not every apartment will offer each option. Most offer two or three payment options – some have more, some less. Asking your specific Tampa apartment before you sign your lease is a good idea. This is also the best time to ask about fees for different payment methods. It's best to have a plan before the end of the month, and avoid scrambling to pay on time and steer clear of late fees.
Cash payment is rare, but not unheard of. If your landlord does accept cash, there are a few things that you should do to protect yourself should you choose to pay in cash. First, never send cash in the mail. This is an easy way to have your rent money stolen. Second, always get a receipt when you pay your rent. Keep these receipts! Finally, make sure the receipt is signed by someone that you know is authorized to accept rent payments, such as your landlord or property manager.
Paying by check is a common way to pay rent. This requires you to either visit the leasing office in person, or plan ahead and send the check early enough to arrive on time.
An increasing trend among Tampa apartments is to offer an online payment option. Almost everyone has internet access in some way or another, and being able to pay your rent without going into the leasing office saves you a lot of time. There are many different ways to pay rent online, most of which will be discussed.
Payment by credit or debit card is often done online. Sometimes this can be done over the phone as well. Either way, this option often comes with some sort of a “convenience fee” to cover your landlord's costs. Online payment by paypal is also an option.
Another easy way to pay your rent is by setting up an automatic monthly payment from your bank account. This ensures that you won't ever be late on your payment, but it also requires that you always have enough money to cover your rent in your account. You can also do this monthly, without setting up an automatic withdrawal.
However you decide to pay rent, make sure that you pay it on time! Some Tampa apartments give you a longer grace period than others – so find out what this period is ahead of time. A grace period can range from five days to three days to no grace period at all. Don't assume that you will have until the fifth or the third to pay your rent – ask. This should also be stated in your lease.