Problems with your rent

To make life easier for everyone involved, I introduced rent payment by direct debit in 2010. Now, the forms you fill in at the beginning of your tenancy are used to set up electronic transfers between your bank and mine and your rent money is taken automatically from your account. If your rent doesn't get paid, it's usually because you haven't got enough money in your account to cover it.

Your bank will notify me if they cannot pay your rent and believe me when I say I'll be on the phone to you as quickly as you would be to me if you had a blocked drain! Be ready to tell me when you'll have the money and I'll sort it out to take your rent ASAP. Please note that, in addition to the rent, I will take a fee to cover my extra costs. It takes time checking up and chasing people whose money hasn't been received - plus it costs to re-present the payment to the bank.

Because we will have taken your bond directly from your account, we'll already know that your direct debit has been setup correctly, so it's highly unlikely that it will be the bank's fault. However, if this proves to be the case, then you should ask them to pay my charges; just show them your rental contract to prove that you will be charged. You are covered by the direct debit guarantee should anything go wrong at my end - like me charging you twice. All you have to do is ask and any incorrect payments will be immediately refunded to your account.

So, when you're looking at that gorgeous new dress that you simply must have (sorry boys - I have no idea what you spend your money on), remember that it might cost you a whole lot extra if you don't have enough money in your account at rent time!