Can my land lord force me to pay cash? I pay my rent by check.?

Question

I left my keys in my apartment ,the engineer lives in the bldg.this has never happened,the manager says you have to pay cash she will not accept nothing else. I wan't to pay .can she force me to pay in cash?

sorry i was not clear .I left my keys in my apt the fee for them to let you in must be paid in cash.

Answer 1

I think the reason she wants cash is probably they have had people who paid by check for the locksmith because they were desperate and then felt they were overcharged or whatever and stopped payment.

Unless your lease says that fee must be paid in cash, you can make the landlord accept a check.

If your landlord customarily accepts your checks and you don't have a history of bouncing them, they really don't have any grounds to refuse it.

If you are paying the locksmith directly, he is free to accept or decline any payment method he wants.

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Jack,

That's not what that phrase means.

This is directly from the United States Treasury website:

Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

Jack ... your original unedited answer claimed that "it's illegal to refuse to accept cash" and also went on to say thats why money says this note is legal tender. I'm simply pointing out three things; 1) a creditor can't refuse cash 2) anyone else can and 3) thats not what the phrase means.

Answer 2

A locksmith usually only accepts cash, make sure you get a receipt. As for the rent, unless you have bounced a check with your landlord before, that is an unusual request. Does you lease specifically state that you have to pay in cash, if not, I would keep writing checks.

Answer 3

There is no law requiring the acceptance of a check. There are laws requiring the acceptance of cash. That is what is meant by the phrase, "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private". You could offer a cashier's check or traveler's check. You can also offer to pay with a money order. The problem with cash is the fact that there is no record of the transaction unless you get a receipt.
No receipt means no cash. That protects you and the landlord.

NOTE: the word debt is used. That is an incurred or existing debt.

Answer 4

Have you given the landlord bad checks in the past? If so, I think it's pretty typical that she would require cash or a money order. If you haven't written a bad check in the past, the landlord's behavior is unusual, but I'm not sure it's "wrong". I don't think anyone HAS to accept checks. There are even places that won't accept cash out there! In any case, this issue should have been worked out when you moved in or signed the lease. I have a feeling something's missing from your story.

Answer 5

land lord force pay cash pay rent check

Answer 6

Don't ever pay in cash. The land lord could deny they recieved it. Check with a lawyer about laws in your area, but paying cash in this case is risky

Answer 7

I don't understand how the keys relate to paying cash.

You're saying that she won't let you into your apartment to retrieve your keys unless you pay your rent in cash?

That's blackmail. Sue her.

The normal procedure in N. America is to pay rent by cheque.