Your lease names the late fee and the day it starts. Find that line first — it tells you how many days you are really working with. Then put a number on the shortfall with the paycheck gap calculator.

In this order

  • Message the landlord before the due date. Short and specific: the amount you can pay now, the date the rest arrives, and a request to waive the late fee this once. Put it in writing, in text or email. Costs nothing, takes minutes, and a landlord who hears from you before the date is a different landlord from one who hears from you after.
  • Pay what you can now. A partial payment shows good faith and shrinks what is left to raise. Check the lease first: a few leases treat a partial payment as unpaid rent, so get the agreement in writing before you send it.
  • Call 211 and ask for rent assistance. Community action agencies, churches and emergency rental funds pay landlords directly. Free. It is slower than an app and the answer depends on the program and the county, so start this the same day you start everything else.
  • A paycheck advance for the remainder. If your rent gap is small and your pay arrives by direct deposit, this moves your own money forward. B9's stated terms: “Up to $250 on B9 Basic and up to $1,000 on B9 Premium. Subject to approval — advance limits depend on your direct deposit history and plan”, with “No credit checks”, “No interest” and “No late fees”. Standard transfer is free; instant transfer costs a fee.
  • A loan, if the gap is bigger than an advance. LendingTree is listed as “Compare trusted lenders quickly”, up to $5,000, all credit scores, speed: minutes. CashAdvanceFinder is listed up to $1,000 for all credit types. The rate and term are set by the lender you choose, not by us.
  • A credit card, last. Paying rent by card usually adds a processing fee on top of card interest, and a cash advance on the card carries its own fee with no grace period. Use it only when the alternative is eviction paperwork.

Questions people ask

Will one late rent payment hurt my credit? Rent is usually not reported unless the landlord uses a reporting service or sends the debt to collections. Collections is the part that does the damage, which is why a written agreement about a new date is worth more than the money you'd pay in fees.

Is it better to pay late or to borrow? Compare two real numbers: the late fee written in your lease, and what the borrowing actually costs you. If a bounced rent check also overdrafts your account, add $35 for the overdraft fee (B9 internal research, September 2026).