Online Payments
Residents pay through an online portal, so rent is easy to pay and easy to track.
Rent Collection Services
Rent Collection Without the Chasing
A rental only works when the rent arrives, on time, every month. Collecting it yourself means reminders, awkward conversations and knowing exactly which notice Michigan requires when a payment is missed. Zamzam Property Management collects the rent for you, follows up on late payments the same day they are late, and keeps a record of every step.
Get a Free Rental AnalysisHow We Collect Your Rent
What We Take Care Of
From the first payment to a missed one, this is the work we handle.
- Receiving rent
- Online payment portal
- Payment records
- Move-in payments
- Late payment follow-up
- Reminder calls and messages
- Payment arrangements
- Late charges under the lease
- Demand for possession notices
- Notice service
- Court filing coordination
- Records for the attorney
- Monthly owner statements
- Itemized expenses
- Owner payments
- Year-end reports
How Rent Collection Works
Every month follows the same routine, so residents know what to expect and so do you.
When Rent Is Paid on Time:
- Rent is due. The due date and how to pay are set out in the lease and explained at move-in.
- The resident pays. Most residents pay online through the resident portal.
- The payment is recorded. Every payment goes on the resident ledger.
- Expenses are paid. Approved repairs and other property costs are paid and documented.
- You are paid. You receive your funds, and your owner portal statement shows income and itemized expenses.
When Rent Is Late:
- We reach out. The resident hears from us as soon as the rent is late.
- Late charges apply. If the lease provides for a late charge, it is applied as written.
- A notice is served. If rent is still unpaid, we serve the written demand that Michigan requires before a case can be filed.
- We keep talking. Many late payments are resolved here, with the rent paid and the tenancy saved.
- The court process starts. If it is not resolved, the matter moves to eviction. See our eviction services.
What Michigan Requires When Rent Is Late
Collecting rent has rules. These are the ones owners most often get wrong.
What the Law Requires:
- A written demand comes first. Before an eviction case for unpaid rent can be filed, the landlord must serve a written demand for possession that gives the tenant seven days to pay or move. Michigan Legal Help explains the process.
- No lockouts. A landlord may not change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. Only a court order, carried out by a court officer, can remove a tenant.
- The lease controls the charges. Late charges and due dates have to be in the lease to be enforced.
- Deposits are protected. A security deposit is the tenant’s money until the landlord establishes a right to it under the Security Deposits Act. It is not a substitute for collecting rent.
- Source of income is protected. Rent paid through a housing voucher or other lawful source of income has to be treated like any other rent.
Mistakes That Cost Owners:
- Waiting. Every week without action makes unpaid rent harder to recover.
- The wrong notice. A notice with the wrong form, amount or service can get a case dismissed and force a restart.
- Accepting partial payments carelessly. Taking money after a notice can affect the case. It needs to be handled deliberately.
- Inconsistent enforcement. Waiving late charges for one resident and not another invites a fair housing complaint.
- No paper trail. Without a ledger and copies of notices, a judge has little to work with.
Getting Started with Zamzam
Rent Collection Is Part of Full-Service Management
Collecting rent is one piece of what we do for every rental we manage. We also market the home, screen applicants, handle maintenance, inspect the property and post monthly statements to your owner portal.
Good collection starts before the lease is signed. Careful tenant screening is the best protection against late rent.
Rent Collection Services FAQ
How do residents pay rent?
Residents pay through an online resident portal. The lease sets out the due date and how payment is made.
What happens when rent is late?
We contact the resident as soon as the rent is late, apply any late charge the lease provides for, and serve the required written notice if the rent remains unpaid.
Do you send pay or quit notices?
Yes. In Michigan the notice for unpaid rent is called a demand for possession. We prepare and serve it when it is needed.
How much notice does Michigan require for unpaid rent?
A landlord must serve a written demand for possession giving the tenant seven days to pay the rent or move before an eviction case can be filed.
Can I lock out a tenant who has not paid?
No. Michigan law does not allow a landlord to change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. A court order is required.
Do you enforce late fees?
Yes, as the lease is written. Late charges must be in the lease to be enforced, and we apply them the same way for every resident.
When do I get paid?
You receive your funds, and the monthly statement in your owner portal shows the rent collected and itemized expenses.
What if the tenant still does not pay?
If the notice period passes without payment, the matter moves to the court process. We coordinate the filing and provide the ledger and notices the attorney needs.
Talk to Us About Your Rental
Request a free rental analysis and we will tell you what your home could rent for. Prefer to talk? Call 248-592-7688.
Tell Us About Your Rental:
- Property address and number of bedrooms
- Whether the home is vacant or occupied
- Current rent, if it is rented
- Any problem you are dealing with right now
- What you want from the property
Sources: Michigan Legal Help, eviction: what it is and how it starts; Michigan Compiled Laws 600.2918, unlawful interference with a possessory interest; Michigan Compiled Laws 600.5714, summary proceedings to recover possession. Rules change. This page is general information, not legal advice.