AboutJohn Smiley Expertise I am a commercial lease negotiator who specializes in representing dentists, doctors and other professionals. I have represented every manner of tenant (retail, industrial, office, professional) and only negotiate on behalf of tenants. I can answer questions that deal with commercial landlord/tenant relationships, negotiating factors and strategies, process-oriented questions, and other matters that pertain to commercial landlord and tenant rights and obligations.
Experience I am a commercial tenant representative, specializing in negotiations on behalf of doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and other professionals. I have been a real estate professional for 10 years and have negotiated over 600 commercial lease transactions or 20,000 lease amendments, almost all representing the tenant.
Education/Credentials B.Mgmt. (Finance)
Real Estate License
Question Our boss has left on "vacation". The rent is 27 days late. I am the administrator, I know where the signed check is and can give it to the lease company. I have asked the boss by e-mail and text and phone messages if I should sent it to them because they are calling and asking for it. How long does the rent have to be late before the lease company locks us out of our offices and warehouse? I'm may just make an "executive decision" and give them the check. This is urgent as I am not in the office today and they have sent someone over to collect the rent in previous months.
Answer Hi Lisa,
The default provisions (the terms which state what a landlord can do to a tenant when rent is not paid) vary from lease to lease. However, most of the thousands I have read say that rent must be paid on the day it's due, and give a grace period of anywhere from five to ten days (though some have no grace period at all).
Given that rent is now 27 days late, you are well past any normal period of allowance for the late rent. This will really come down to how good your ("you" being the company that you work for, not you specifically--though if you know the landlord or their representative well, that can help as well) relationship is with the landlord.
If the boss left a check for rent, then I would assume that it was meant to be paid, and you may be well advised to simply deliver the rent to them to avoid being evicted from the space.
