If the OP has yet to sign a contract, time to consider other options.
If the OP has signed a contract, time to read through the clauses and see what it says about payment. I most definitely would not want to pay by cash, but I can tolerate making numerous payments a month for rent payment. I had to do this when previous landlord changed his receiving contact info, and the associated daily amount limit was lowered from $2k to $500.
After a few months, the daily amount went to $2k (or $2.5k).
In many (if not most) places, even ones without much tenant protection and where rent has increased drastically in the past 10 years (e.g. two metro areas where I recently lived), landlords are still required by law to accept at least one form of payment that does not result in tenant incur additional charge when making rent payments.
If the OP has signed a contract, time to read through the clauses and see what it says about payment. I most definitely would not want to pay by cash, but I can tolerate making numerous payments a month for rent payment. I had to do this when previous landlord changed his receiving contact info, and the associated daily amount limit was lowered from $2k to $500.
After a few months, the daily amount went to $2k (or $2.5k).
I would not call potential situation where one could allege nonpayment an over-reaction. Both checks and e-payments are recorded and per se constitute evidence of payment, not the case with cash unless accompanied by receipt from landlord.That seems like an overreaction for having to pay $20-30 over a few months for a temporary living situation.I would not want to use cash as she can easy misplace it or claim you didn't give her the full amount and it lacks tracking.
I would rent from someone else
My mom's corporate apartment complex requires tenants to link bank accounts and pay rent in a third-party portal via recurring direct debit transactions.
In most parts of this country, it is a landlord's market for rentals, they can make whatever rules they want (as long as they don't violate state law). Many do not accept personal checks. It is not practical for anyone to be able to choose their rental housing based on specifications like this from a landlord.
Interestingly when I searched the laws in my state about rent payment, it seems that Virginia has just passed new legislation last month that says renters must be allowed to pay "by check and money order" although I don't know if that means personal checks must be accepted or if the landlord can restrict that to cashier's checks only.
In many (if not most) places, even ones without much tenant protection and where rent has increased drastically in the past 10 years (e.g. two metro areas where I recently lived), landlords are still required by law to accept at least one form of payment that does not result in tenant incur additional charge when making rent payments.
Statistics: Posted by InvisibleAerobar — Tue May 05, 2026 11:12 am — Replies 25 — Views 513
