Should I lock out tenants who are late?

Only if your rental agreement says so and your state allows it. Many yards change the tenant’s gate code after a set number of days late; make sure the policy is in writing first.

Collecting monthly rent at an RV and boat storage yard

Updated October 22, 2026 · For RV and boat storage yards

Most storage tenants pay on time. The time sink is the handful who don’t, and the hours spent working out who has paid this month. A simple routine fixes most of it.

Pick one due date

Billing everyone on the first of the month is easier to track than billing on each tenant’s move-in anniversary. Prorate the first month for new tenants so everyone lines up.

Give tenants an easy way to pay

A payment link they can open on a phone (from Square, Stripe or whatever you already use) gets paid faster than “drop a check in the box.” Send the same link every month so it becomes routine.

Keep a paid list for the month

At any point in the month you should be able to answer: which occupied spaces have paid, and which haven’t. Mark each space paid as payments come in. On the fifth, everyone left on the unpaid list gets a reminder.

Late payments

A friendly reminder a few days after the due date.
A second notice with any late fee your rental agreement allows.
A call.
After that, follow your rental agreement and your state’s rules for storage liens and gate lockouts. These vary by state, so check them before you need them.

Common questions

Should I lock out tenants who are late?: Only if your rental agreement says so and your state allows it. Many yards change the tenant’s gate code after a set number of days late; make sure the policy is in writing first.