Collecting Rent For Your Investment

Collecting rent is easy if you have the perfect tenant who pays on time! But what if they don't? Having someone in your corner who knows tenant law and the proper notices to send is critical!

If a tenant has gone beyond the grace period of the lease we provide them with a late rent notice, where we collect the appropriate late fees along with the normal rent amount. Worse case, if we have a tenant that does stop paying rent, we will assist in the eviction process and re-renting the property quickly.

We make paying rent easy for tenants with the online tenant portal that can be accessed 24/7. We encourage tenants to pay online, which means we can pay you out faster.

Rent Collection Policy

At First & Main Property Management, timely rent collection is a core part of protecting your investment and maintaining healthy financials for your property. Our rent collection process is structured, consistent, and aligned with California law to ensure fairness for tenants and reliability for owners.

Our Approach

We combine technology, clear communication, and firm enforcement of lease terms to minimize delinquency and streamline the rent collection process.

Rent Due Date

Rent is due on the 1st of each month, as outlined in each tenant's lease agreement. Tenants are provided with a secure online portal where they can view balances, make payments, and set up auto-pay.

Payment Methods

To reduce processing time and increase on-time payments, we accept the following methods:

• Online payment via tenant portal (ACH or credit/debit card)
• Mailed checks (must be received—not postmarked—by the due date)
• In-person drop-off (during business hours only)

We strongly encourage all tenants to utilize our online portal for efficiency, tracking, and convenience.

Delinquency Follow-Up

If a tenant has not paid rent by the 4th, we initiate a clear and documented process:

1. Courtesy Reminder – A written reminder is sent by email and/or text.
2. 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit – If rent is still unpaid by the 6th, we serve a formal notice as required by California Civil Code.
3. Ongoing Communication – We attempt to resolve delinquencies amicably but promptly, always in compliance with California landlord-tenant law.
4. Legal Action if Necessary – If payment is not received within the timeframe required by law, we coordinate with legal counsel to begin formal eviction proceedings (rare, and only when absolutely necessary).

Owner Disbursements

We offer two disbursement options for our property owners: mid-month and end-of-month, depending on the level of management and bill-pay services required.

For properties where we are responsible for paying recurring expenses—such as utilities, maintenance invoices, or vendor contracts—we generally recommend end-of-month disbursements. This allows us to ensure all outstanding bills are paid and enough funds remain in the account before releasing owner proceeds.

For owners who handle their own property-related expenses or prefer to receive income sooner, mid-month disbursements are available by request.

Our goal is to strike a balance between operational efficiency and personalized service. While these disbursement schedules serve as our standard, we're happy to tailor the timing based on your unique needs and financial goals.