Got a letter slipped under the door Friday saying starting next month all rent has to go through their new resident portal. Fine, whatever, but the fee schedule says there's a flat fee for e-check and a percentage for cards. My lease says I can pay by check to the management office. Can they just flip the method and charge me to pay? I'm in a prewar walkup, market-rate, not rent stabilized (unfortunately). Don't want to be the only tenant making a stink, but paying extra every month for the privilege of paying rent is annoying. The portal FAQ also says 'no cash or check at office,' but the lease says check.

Wait, they can't do that, right? My building uses a portal too but I just set up ACH from my bank and there's no fee at all. Did you see if the fee is only when you use a card or one of those 'express' payments? Maybe the letter is just badly worded. I'd call the management office and ask if they still take a paper check dropped in the rent box. Let us know what they say!

Nah, they can't unilaterally rewrite your lease. If the lease says check at the office, they either honor it or negotiate. I'd mail it certified, return receipt, and send an email saying you'll keep paying by check per the lease. They hate paper but that's their problem. The portal fee is just a backdoor rent increase with extra steps.

This is a contract issue first. Your lease controls. If it says rent may be paid by personal check delivered to the management office, the landlord cannot require a different method unless the lease reserves that right. I would check whether there's a rider about 'payment methods' or 'electronic payments.' Some newer riders let them designate a portal but usually say you must have a no-fee option.

A mandatory fee to pay rent, even a few dollars, functions as a rent surcharge. In NYC, if you're not rent-stabilized, you have fewer statutory protections, but you can still say no and keep paying the exact rent amount by check. Send it by certified mail if they stop accepting hand delivery, and keep the receipt.

I had a landlord try this once. They sent a similar letter about a portal fee, and after two of us emailed asking for a no-fee option, management backed off and made ACH free. Practical advice: if they refuse your check, don't just skip rent—pay by money order or bank check to show good faith and document everything. You can also ask for a written fee waiver if they want you to use the portal. If they won't put it in writing, that tells you something.

Have you tried setting up ACH directly through the portal rather than a debit card? I had this exact panic! The flat fee was for card/express payments, but my actual ACH (routing + account number) was free. Some portals hide the ACH option under 'other payment methods' or a tiny link! If they still want a fee for rent, ask if they'll take Zelle or bank bill pay. Those are free and give you a paper trail. I love bank bill pay! No paper checks, no fee, and my bank guarantees delivery!

This is one of my biggest pet peeves! A fee to pay rent is just a rent increase with extra steps! If the lease says check, then they're stuck unless they want to take you to housing court over a few bucks—spoiler: no judge is going to be impressed. Have you tried showing up with a money order during office hours? Nothing makes a property manager squirm like a tenant who knows the exact rent amount cannot include a portal surcharge. Check whether NYC requires a no-fee payment option. I think they do for some buildings!

Thanks, this makes sense. I just looked at my building's portal and there's actually a tiny 'ACH' button separate from 'card payment.' I had no idea. Maybe OP's portal has that too? But if they're saying no check at office, I'd still be nervous. Has anyone ever had a landlord actually refuse a rent check? That seems wild.

I've had a landlord 'lose' my check once when they switched to a portal, so now I send checks from my bank's bill pay. It still counts as a check but it's automatically mailed, so I have records and the bank can confirm it was delivered. If they cash it, they accepted it. If they don't, that's on them. Just make sure it arrives by the due date. Portal fees are junk fees; don't normalize them.

Small update: I called the office, and the person said I can still bring a physical check to the office, but I'll need to call ahead so someone is there. So basically discourage but not forbid. Not exactly the letter's 'no checks at office,' but I'll take it. Still might set up bank bill pay and let them deal with the mailbox. Also seems like the flat e-check fee is only if you pay from the portal using a card, not true ACH? They made it confusing on purpose.

That sounds about right. The letter overstates policy, but the phone call doesn't give you much of a record. Follow up in writing: 'Pursuant to our conversation, I will continue to pay by check or bank bill pay per the lease.' If you can, avoid phone-only conversations; confirm in email.

And yes, the distinction between ACH and card matters. True ACH is often free or capped, while card processing is a convenience. But they cannot make card the only way. I'd also check if your lease has a 'no waiver' clause—if they accept your check after saying no checks, they might be waiving their own policy.

Keep a running file: the letter, the portal fee schedule, and your emailed confirmation. If they later try to charge a late fee because the portal wouldn't let you pay without the processing fee, you'll want that paper trail.