Charging Self-Storage Late Fees: Operators Debate Their Time and Effort vs. End Result

All self-storage operators deal with late-paying tenants here and there. Some even have “regulars” who pay late every month! Fortunately, state laws allow you to charge a fee when rent is past-due, which not only deters future delinquency, it allows you to generate a bit more revenue. While many of you are happy to collect this money, some find it a hassle and not worth the effort “for a few bucks.” It takes time to send those emails and make those calls, and many tenants simply ignore or dodge them. The manager might even fear getting pushback from customers or watching the fees stack up. For them, it’s simply more convenient to forego this charge. It’s an interesting take. Where do you stand in this debate? Express your thoughts in this thread on the Self-Storage Talk online community and see what others have to say about it. Are self-storage late fees more boon or bother?