Don't you just love some of the excuses tenants have for not paying rent?

As upsetting as it can be, sometimes we have to stand back and get a perspective. Some of our experiences are even funny afterward.

The LPA selects the most original excuses made by tenants to their landlords. If you have an interesting or funny story about your tenant's excuse for not paying rent, we'd love to hear it!
Submit your Excuse of the Day

Excuse of the Day for 11/19/09:

"My niece had open heart surgery, therefore I can't pay my rent." - A.A, Rio Rancho, NM

Excuse of the Day for 11/18/09:

"You waited too long to cash my check, so I spent the money with my debit card! It's your own fault." I deposited this tenant's rent along with my other rents on the 4th of the month. Doesn't she keep track of the checks she writes before spending what's in her account? How can this be my fault? I have to charge a bounced check fee. Thank you LPA lease. - Gabriella in IL

Excuse of the Day for 11/13/09:

In front of the judge:
"I don’t pay my rent on time because of their outrageous late fees." Here is a thought, if you paid your rent on time you wouldn’t have to worry about late fees. Needless to say he was evicted. - Tricia, Las Vegas, NV

Excuse of the Day for 11/8/09:

You just can't make this stuff up. Holy Smokes!
"I'm taking $100.00 off rent because I fell on your sidewalk and scraped my knee. when this tenant was asked to move out (not this instance, months later for non-payment), he shut off water to toilet tank,took a big bowel movement and placed it in the tank, with a 2 sided razor blade holding up the flapper so i would slice open my hand when i went to get it out. - garfield, new jersey

Excuse of the Day for 11/6/09:

"We don't have the rent because my husband was laid off. You know how the economy is."Yeah. Except, your husband worked with my husband. The business is thriving, your husband was fired for excessive absenteeism. I knew this was coming when my husband came home and told me about it. - K. in Ohio

Excuse of the Day for 11/4/09:

"My husband HAD to miss work because he got the swine flu from the guy upstairs. If you're evicting someone, evict him." Lady, I don't care if the guy upstairs has the plague. He's never been late on his rent, and that's what counts with me. - K. in Ohio

Excuse of the Day for 11/2/09:

"First I'd like you to correct an unmistakable odor coming from the garage. It smells like oil or something." Since the heating system is in the basement and is GAS, it isn't that. Could you be smelling that big black puddle of oil leaking from your car that is staining my garage floor???? - Kevin J., NY

Excuse of the Day for 10/30/09:

"This month I replaced your stove handle, your storm door, your bathroom mirror and I fixed the holes in the sheetrock." None of these damages existed when he moved in. When I asked WHAT holes in the sheetrock? He said his wife did it. I already give this jerk's file to my lawyer for eviction. -Harlan in IL

Excuse of the Day for 10/26/09:

"And now YOU want the rent? Do you know what we're paying in oil?" Theresa L., Wantagh, NY

Excuse of the Day for 10/23/09:

"I ran out of your pre-printed envelopes, so I didn't have your address." This from the woman who is constantly sending me crap from her daughter raising money for girl scouts. - Logan, D., NY

Excuse of the Day for 10/21/09:

"I'm not going to apologize. We are going through tough economic times. It isn't just us. You'll just have to suck it up and deal." I said, Sorry. I'm not sucking anything. If you don't pay, you have to leave. - Walter H, CO

Excuse of the Day for 10/18/09:

"I got mad and spent it. I was just gonna move out but not gone to do u like dat. fri I get paid and two weeks after dat i'll give you another." Text message from a tenant who got mad at me because I told him he needed a pet deposit, insurance and to register his $250 pit bull he bought with the rent money (he left the receipt behind) with the township. Not including the lease calls for no pets! Friday he never paid and another text (too vulgar and racial to print) came with the "N" word pointed at me. He moved out 3 blocks away with his mommy that Sunday leaving me dog Crap and urine all over the kitchen floor and plenty of other clean up....Our civil suit court date is pending at the moment... - Mike from Pennsauken, NJ

Excuse of the Day for 10/17/09:

"We'll be giving our notice to move next month, so we decided to not pay the rent this month and next month so we can be reimbursed for all the improvements we have made on your property. As you know we have bee mowing the lawn and we painted last year among many other things." The paint job is horrible and the lease says they are responsible for the grounds. I have to give a notice to evict. Valerie, NC

Excuse of the Day for 10/13/09:

"Ummm, Helllo. Sorry to bother you, but my rent is going to be late. Yeah, I had bought a money order for my rent and my phone bill. I had 'company' on Friday night. When I woke up Saturday morning, my money orders and my 'company' were gone! Can you work something out with me?" - Stephanie Austin

Excuse of the Day for 10/12/09:

"I don't have rent because the police took it during the drug raid." - John, Raleigh, NC

Excuse of the Day for 10/10/09:

"Willy Nelson was in town for a concert and I used my rent money to buy tickets." This was an excuse from one of my father's tenants a few years back. - Barry B.

Excuse of the Day for 10/05/09:

"I’m in a bit of a jam…my nephews stayed with me for a few weeks and ran my cable bill up ordering movies..needless to say the bill is $378 and it has partially suspended my internet. That’s how I attend school. I planned to pay full rent today but now I have to reduce it by $400 and pay it in two weeks…what are your thoughts?" Are you seriously asking for my thoughts, "PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME!" What happened to priorities, like the roof over your head? (September Rent) - Carla W, MD

Excuse of the Day for 10/04/09:

"I had to pay my (grocery) suppliers in cash because they won't take my personal checks anymore... just like you only cash or money orders, so can you come back next Saturday?" (They gave me two ISF checks). One 3-day notice to quit later, the rent was paid. - E. Ramirez, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Excuse of the Day for 10/01/09:

"Applied for a payday loan this past Friday, the loan won’t be in my account until Wednesday or Thursday of this week, I know this doesn’t help with your deadline…sorry." This excuse was given after already extending an extension on the remaining $400 owed. (September Rent) - Carla W, MD

Excuse of the Day for 9/27/09:

"I have other bills to pay like my phone bill." This is from a tenant who had only to pay $128 a month as ss covered the rest. Like I don't have a phone bill to pay!! - kevin, medford, ny

Excuse of the Day for 9/26/09:

"The bank screwed up and froze my account. But I can't have the rent in cash tomorrow as I am on a cruise in Bermuda and calling from the ship!!" - Dorothy, Patchogue, NY

Excuse of the Day for 9/23/09:

"I’m in Italy BURYING MY FATHER! How dare you leave me messages saying you want your money!" - We sent a written reply in response to the very angry 10 minute voice mail with our condolences for her loss but reiterated the fact that rent is still due on the first. Her boyfriend wrote back stating he had no idea what loss we were referring to or what message they had supposedly left… Tenants, if you’re going to tell lies - make sure ALL signers are in on it!!! – Amanda, CA

Excuse of the Day for 9/22/09:

"All of my money is in a trust fund, and the attorney that sends me my check every month went away on vacation....and he will not be back for 2 weeks. So I can't pay you the rent" - Tim Walls, VA

Excuse of the Day for 9/19/09:

"I don't have the rent because I had to bail my boy out of jail and it cost $200 and if I didn't bail him out, they were gonna throw ME in jail, so I don't have it." - Lori W., Bristol, VA

Excuse of the Day for 9/13/09:

"I don't have the rent because my baby-daddy and I had to go to arbitration for support, and he didn't reimburse me for his half that I paid." What makes you think that if you have to FORCE this guy to pay child support, that he is going to keep his word and pay you back?????? - Susan S., New York

Excuse of the Day for 9/06/09:

"I'll catch you after Labor Day. We have a lot goin on this weekend. Stop by for a burger if you're in the area." I am in the area and I want my rent which is already late- not a burger. - Danny L., NY

Excuse of the Day for 8/28/09:

"Baby made a miraculous recovery from SWINE FLU and LIVER FAILURE and made it to the wedding! We will get caught up by the end of the month." The irony: I am a Critical Care Nurse - did she really think I would buy that?! I guess so, afterall, I rented my house to them! - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/24/09:

"My 3 month old grandson has less than 10% chance of living. I have to leave for my son's wedding tonight."(Yes, in the same message.) - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/22/09:

Month 6: "I have to fly down to Texas to see my daughter have her baby. They are doing an emergency C-section" And for the grand finale biggest whopper yet, see my next post about the baby having SWINE FLU & LIVER FAILURE! - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/20/09:

Month 5: ON TIME! (Way more shocking than their excuses!) - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/19/09:

Month 4: "I had the cash in my car, but my car was broken into and the money got stolen." - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/18/09:

Month 3: "My daughter rear-ended an off-duty police officer while drunk-driving last night. I had to use the money to bail her out of jail." - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/17/09:

"I thought that the last month of the rent for the year lease was covered by the 'last month' payment that I made when I moved in. I didn't know I had to actually give you notice and move out for 'last month' to apply. You didn't tell me that!" Unbelievable. - Jeff Armstrong, Orem, UT.

Excuse of the Day for 8/15/09:

Month 2: "I was out of town with the cash. Thank God I had it because my car broke down and I luckily had that money with me to fix it." - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/14/09:

Month 1: "We are late because we had to pay the movers to move in." - Mary G., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 8/9/09:

"Sorry I have not got the money from dad." Well I can help you, an eviction notice from me will make it easier for you to get money from a charity. This really makes it easier to give eviction notices. - John Bruggeman

Excuse of the Day for 8/6/09:

"We tried to drop it off yesterday but we couldn’t find your house and we lost your phone number." Our number is on the lease and we had just called them five days prior. They have been in my house now 6 months and have been late or requested partial payment 5 out of those months. I’m glad I used the LPA lease! - Mark, NC

Excuse of the Day for 7/31/09:

"My accountant said I can't afford to pay my rent." I don't think he meant for you to STOP paying so you'd be evicted which is what will happen if you don't pay your rent!!! - Ann, NY

Excuse of the Day for 7/28/09:

"We had a new gazebo installed which makes your property much more valuable." No permission for adding a structure to the yard and NO rent! I am sending an eviction notice. - Kevin D., NJ

Excuse of the Day for 7/24/09:

"I packed my checkbook in one of the moving boxes and the movers took it already." Believe this was a ploy to try to get us to take it out of the security deposit. Just sent second notice of accruing $10/day late fees. Soon she will owe more in late fees than the week of rent she owes. - Brian, Savannah, GA

Excuse of the Day for 7/16/09:

"I meant to pay you, but things got crazy. It's the thought that counts, right?" Sorry, it's not the thought that counts. It's the money that counts and now you have a late fee to add to your rent. - Monty J., Newark, NJ

Excuse of the Day for 7/15/09:

"I got paid but someone stole only the $600 I owe you in rent." - Chris Lathbury, South Carolina

Excuse of the Day for 7/11/09:

"I couldn't pay the rent, I had something in my eye and couldn't come to your office." When asked if she was unable to mail a check, she had no response. She actually used this excuse 4 times over the course of a year and was evicted. - Leanne, Rollinsford, NH

Excuse of the Day for 7/7/09:

"I'm sorry, I spent this month's rent on a much needed cruise vacation. Don't worry- there's a casino and I'll win back the rent PLUS the late fee!" - Sorry, but you'll have to win back the attorney fee too, cause the eviction ain't waiting for you to get back.- - Sylvia Adams, Montgomery, AL

Excuse of the Day for 7/5/09:

"I MAILED IT AT THE POST OFFICE LAST NIGHT BUT SOMEONE LIT THAT MAILBOX ON FIRE THIS MORNING." - BOBBI-WATERBURY CT

Excuse of the Day for 7/5/09:

"I can't believe it's late already! It was just the 4th of July... like a couple of days ago.... something like that." Rent is due on the first, moron. How can I have rented to anybody this dumb? - Rocco J., NY

Excuse of the Day for 7/1/09:

"We'd like a new screen door." What does that have to do with the rent? Besides, what happened to the new screen door I gave you when you moved in 2 years ago? These people never cease to amaze me. - Steve S., Uniondale, NY

Excuse of the Day for 6/27/09:

"I had the rent yesterday when I called you to come pick it up. You didn't show so I spent it." - Diana , San Antonio

Excuse of the Day for 6/24/09:

"With my daughter's graduation, our new boat and our trip to Europe this year, we're a little strapped." - Frank M., NY

Excuse of the Day for 6/20/09:

"I had to make my car payment and utility payments. The rent will just have to wait" - Ed Cumming, Georgia

Excuse of the Day for 6/17/09:

"I couldn't pay the rent because I had to pay for the California Lottery Machine in my business because it costs $10,000 to renew. I'll have the rent in three weeks." They were already two weeks late. I served the three-day notice and they used the lottery monies to pay the rent. Better luck next time. - E. Ramirez, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Excuse of the Day for 6/12/09:

"My boss's mother was in the hospital and I had to go to the hospital to visit her." followed by "My son had the flu and I've had the flu for a week so I couldn't work." followed by "We've both lost our jobs" followed by "We'll come pay you the $2,000 we owe you tonight" followed by "I couldn't get to the bank before it closed" followed by "I couldn't leave work to come pay you" followed by "My boss couldn't give me my pay this week" followed by eviction warrant and eviction by Marshalls. - W. Collier, Roswell, GA

Excuse of the Day for 6/11/09:

"I know the rent is late again, I figured it was okay if we got it to you late. If we knew you needed it on the 1st we would of got it to you, but we thought it was okay to mail it on the 5th (It's always been due on the 1st for the past four years!) . We've been going through some hard times and I’m sure you probably are too." Yes, I am going through some tough times because of you! These same tenants bought fire pit and stuck it in the yard without permission and just got a new vehicle. These people also cost me $40,000 in new windows, doors and siding and interior work due to a state required lead paint abatement after the husband took a part-time job scraping lead paint off of an old building and came home with lead dust on his clothing and lead poisoned his own kid!!! These people are the worst tenants *ever.* - Chris, New Hampshire

Excuse of the Day for 6/4/09:

"I lost my job." ( again) and "You have no right to talk to me that way." When asked about the $80,000. divorce settlement she bragged about recieving, the fine 'woe is me' tenant then agreed to vacate but now has pending charges for stealing the laundry equipment........ J. Walter, Berlin, MD

Excuse of the Day for 5/26/09:

"My dog ate it." Feels like I'm back in school. - Bonnie (Pa)

Excuse of the Day for 5/23/09:

"The swine flu freaked me out so much, I forgot to send you the rent check." Bob Shumway, Rockford, Illinois

Excuse of the Day for 5/22/09:

"I have plenty of money to pay rent but my husband has to pay it because he's the man and has to take care of his babies." I'm sorry but your name is on the Lease, and your lazy, jobless, excuse-after-excuse-giving estranged husband's is not. (They were separated when she signed; however, he did stop by for the night "to visit" every couple of weeks...but that's a whole other issue). - Michael, Utah

Excuse of the Day for 5/18/09:

"I'm a good tenant, because I've never NOT paid". But, she's late every single month for some wonderful reason. - Jude, KY

Excuse of the Day for 5/15/09:

"Can I skip this month and sign a 2 year lease? I am buying a truck from a guy that got a DWI and he needs the money now..." Answer is: hmmm...how would you like it if your boss said he would pay you for this month, but it would be next year?!!! I am not your parent! - Eleanor from TX

Excuse of the Day for 5/14/09:

"We had a family emergency and the rent check I gave you for this month MAY bounce". I believe the "family emergency" may involve the purchase of a new swimming pool that showed up in the backyard as of this morning (another “no no”). Gail Georgia

Excuse of the Day for 5/11/09:

"We all have the flu. We're not sure if it's Swine flu, and we like you so much we didn't want to give it to you, so we didn't pay the rent." -Charlotte B., WA

Excuse of the Day for 5/8/09:

"I don't have time for this-- We are going to see the new STAR TREK movie. We'll worry about the rent another time." And he hung up on me. I was going to see the movie too. Maybe I should sit next to him in the theater and hand him his Notice to Vacate. - Daniel J., CO

Excuse of the Day for 5/7/09:

"Our A/C is blowing hot! We will hold the rent until you fix it."
A. they supplied their own window air conditioners
B. I gave them an "Urgent LAte Notice". She was stunned. They called last night and apologized and asked if they brought over the rent, would i waive the late fee. I said "Just this once." Thank you TheLPA! - Bernadette, Cape Coral, FL

Excuse of the Day for 5/2/09:

"It is SINFUL how money hungry you are! Our last landlord was THANKFUL we paid every 27th of the month!" Oh yeah. I finally tracked down her last landlord. He evicted her! - Faith R., Levittown, NY

Excuse of the Day for 4/29/09:

"Death in the family had to use some of the rent money. Rent will be a week late."... A week later husband called, "I was going to the store to get my money order for the rent but somehow lost my money along the way." - Sandra W. LA

Excuse of the Day for 4/27/09:

"Don't worry. You know I always come up with it. Besides what are you going to do- evict me?" Yes. The rent is due at the beginning of the month, not the end. - George B., Western NY

Excuse of the Day for 4/25/09:

"We sent you the check but misplaced the Tracking Number.. I am going to the bank to see if someone has cashed the cashiers check today!!!!" This all started 7 days ago which they were already 15 days late with the rent already.. Now they are 24days late still no RENT!!! Susan, from MI

Excuse of the Day for 4/22/09:

"Bill's printer is out of toner, so he wasn't able to print the rent check." I am insisting on a late fee this time! - Patti M., VT

Excuse of the Day for 4/17/09:

"How can you expect me to pay rent for this pigsty?! There is mold in the bathroom." It was clean and like new when they moved in. They are dirty people and do not clean. Of course the 1 year old bathroom tiles have mildew. I was skeeved just looking at that filthy bathroom and they take showers in that dirty tub WITH BARE FEET! - Tom, OH

Excuse of the Day for 4/11/09:

"I just found out my husband is a homosexual. I don't know what he's been doing with our money!" Too much information! Just pay me my rent. That is all I want. Please. - Chris, AZ

Excuse of the Day for 4/8/09:

"I was riding my bike over to pay the rent and someone came up from behind me and hit me on my head. When I woke up my money was gone and there were police & ambulance & people all around. I spent three days in the hospital, I have cuts and bruises all over my head". So I drove over to the house and knocked on the door. She was fine, she just didn't have the money and wasn't going to have it for a long time. Can you say Eviction?
Sure you can..... - Ken, Sierra Vista, Arizona

Excuse of the Day for 4/6/09:

"I wanna renegotiate our lease. MY sister is in real estate and she says I'm paying too much." Sorry the lease stands. So does the late fee. Ask your sister if you can stay with her after you are evicted. - Jack Klein, NY

Excuse of the Day for 4/3/09:

"The doc says NO STRESS. We don't have it. We'll pay it when we have it!" I said I'm sorry that's not good enough for my bank. Here's your NOTICE to PAY or Quit. - Alex J., Olympia, WA

Excuse of the Day for 3/28/09:

"My Dad said he was going to pay the rent for me this month for my birthday. What? You didn't get it yet?" I called the father to verify the story. Luckily the embarrassed dad didn't argue much about the late fee. - Michael C., Kansas

Excuse of the Day for 3/26/09:

Rent due Jan. 1, 2009: "Can't pay the rent, I used the rent money to help my son with his wedding on 12/06/08." - What about your wife? "She will not pay the rent because she says the signature on the lease not hers." By the way, there was no wedding. - ED New Bern, NC

Excuse of the Day for 3/22/09:

"We're not paying till you get rid of the mouse problem." I'm glad the LPA Lease says the tenants are responsible for pests! Turns out they set a mouse trap and killed their kid's loose pet hamster which they thought was a mouse when they glimpsed it a week before. Ha ha! - June G., MA

Excuse of the Day for 3/17/09:

"We just can't pay anymore. We have to move because we can't afford it." The lease doesn't expire till June and I only get 2 weeks notice? If their word isn't good on their lease, how can we be sure they will leave in 2 weeks? - Steve, NY

Excuse of the Day for 3/13/09:

"I am not working, so call my husband to see when he can pay." Well you're name is on the lease too, you are just as obligated, and you live in the same house with you're husband. He never answered the phone. - Lola Phoenix, AZ

Excuse of the Day for 3/8/09:

"Use our security deposit for this month or go ahead and evict us. We don't have the money. My husband is out of work." Well, I guess I'll have to evict them because they've lied to me in the past, and I don't know if I can count on them to leave when they say they will. - Rocco, NY

Excuse of the Day for 3/5/09:

"Come see what I did for you. You won't want the rent when you see this!" Oh my God! She painted everything fire engine red --- glossy! All my beautiful crown moldings and wood work. Her deposit will never be enough to restore it. - Louis, Tustin, CA

Excuse of the Day for 3/2/09:

"It is so hard to get the rent together every month! I have so many expenses." I asked what expenses. They were mainly the bar every night, lap dances, pay per view movies, take out food and hookers. He's got to go. I gave a termination notice. - Antonella, NJ

Excuse of the Day for 2/26/09:

"Didn't you get my message? I was out of town on business and was in the hospital." Well I never got any messages and after 3 weeks with no answer or any word from the tenant, she lost in court by default. Now I can take it to the sheriff and have her kicked out if she doesn't come up with every dime she owes me. BTW: She wasn't really in the hospital. - Nicole S., Shirley, NY

Excuse of the Day for 2/23/09:

"You're going to evict me anyway so how am I suppose to pay you and have enough money to pay for another place? When I went to collect the rent and the tenant didn't have it. My reply was yes you are being evicted but you still have to pay rent. Needless to say we are in process now. Bad part she lives 2 doors away. - Marcia - Saint Petersburg, Fla

Excuse of the Day for 2/21/09:

"I told you the funds were not available but you had to go cash it anyway." My tenant blames me for cashing HIS late rent check that bounced! He's no longer living in my house. - Lisa, Swansboro NC

Excuse of the Day for 2/19/09:

"I was in the hospital because I fell off YOUR roof when I SHOULD have asked YOU to fix the leak!" Yes, he should have asked me (if there really was a leak I feel bad- I can't find any evidence of one). He is mad because I still gave him an Urgent Late Notice. - Stan S., NJ

Excuse of the Day for 2/11/09:

"How can you expect to get your rent on time in this economy?" I asked if he lost his job or had to take a pay cut. He said no and I gave him his pay rent or quit notice. - Jim in GA

Excuse of the Day for 2/10/09:

"The house was struck by lightning and we haven't had electric all week. The rent will have to wait." I went to the house to see if there was any damage and everything is fine. The electricity is working. When I asked the tenant what she was talking about, I was informed that she was talking about her mother's house where she was visiting in the next town. I said "What does that have to do with my rent? She said, "Nothing. I'm just telling you what happened." - We're due in court next week. - Antonia, NY

Excuse of the Day for 1/31/09:

"I had to fix one of your radiators. I'm not even charging you labor." This after he told our repairman not to come over. I doubt the repair would have been half a month rent! - Sam M., NJ

Excuse of the Day for 1/26/09:

"My husband got some new tattoos that got infected so he's missed work and lost his job. The tats weren't cheap y'know, and now he's gotta get a new job! Whatd'ya want from us???" Let's start with the rent, and then the late fee. I can't lose my property because of tattoos! - Louis, Tustin, CA

Excuse of the Day for 1/23/09:

"I spent all my rent money on Christmas gift for my kids". (Apparently the roof over their head isn't that important.) Nick in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY

Excuse of the Day for 1/22/09:

"I lost my job because you (the landlord) is always texting me regarding the (7 months) rent I owe." Glad this idiot was evicted and locked out of his apt for a week. - JP (Bushwick, Brooklyn)

Excuse of the Day for 1/12/09:

"We all had food poisoning the last 2 weeks. Don't come near us. I'll have the rent to you by the 15th." Food poisoning is not contagious! Just admit you don't have the money. - Skip, NY

Excuse of the Day for 1/2/09:

"We're not there anymore. My loser husband abandoned me last week so I moved out too." Hey moron, you have a lease til June! - Shawn, S.C.
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