What are consdered to fee reasonable late fees, etc?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are consdered to fee reasonable late fees, etc?
Rent is due on the first I get that, with a late fee after the 3rd and I get that too. Today rent was placed in a money order, plus late fee, and water.I wastold that an additional $200 is to be added for legal fees that they had to file. I was told that someone would come to my apartment to pick up the check at 3:00 today. I agreed and said that I’d Ibe here all day no problem. A call came in after 4:00 and we were there but no one answered the door, so now they said that I owe an addirional $200. Can they make such a claim? I know in the past I never had to pay such a fee. What legal steps should I take now?
Asked on November 12, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Your landlord can only charge legal fees if there is a written lease allowing them to do so (i.e. the lease says these fees can be charged). If there is, however, the landlord can charge its actual legal cost if such is "reasonable." The initial $200 is certainly reasonable if they did file an eviction complaint for late payment. An extra $200 because you did not answer the door is not reasonable, and a judge would very likely knock it down (though you never know for sure how a judge will rule in advance).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.