Yet all landlords should handle their payments as a business, just as big corporate landlords. A written lease is recommended for all rentals even for a month to month. Your lease should specifically require that the tenant pay the landlord's attorney's fees if they fail to pay rent or breach the lease in any way. If a written lease does not provide for attorneys fees, the court cannot award attorneys fees. In addition, your lease should provide in writing for re-renting cost if the tenant breaches the lease.
Many leases also provide for late fees.
If your tenant fails to pay and you want to evict the tenant, a Tenancy Summons Dispossess Eviction Complaint must be filed in the Supreme Court's Special Civil Part. Different attorneys charge different fees depending upon the amount of work to be done. Your attorney can prepare the mandatory complaint and summons. The court constable is required to personally serve the tenant with a copy of the complaint. The court clerk will fill out the date and time for hearing on the summons, which also will be served on the tenant.