When tenants are unable to pay their rent on time, it can lead to several consequences. This article aims to provide a simple and easy-to-understand overview of what happens when you don't pay rent at an apartment in the United States. It will highlight the key aspects and benefits, as well as outline the conditions in which these consequences may occur.

I. Consequences of Not Paying Rent:

1. Late Fees:

   • Landlords often charge late fees if the rent is not paid by the due date.
   • These fees can vary and are typically outlined in the lease agreement.

2. Notice to Pay or Quit:

   • After a certain period, usually a few days to a week, landlords may serve a "Notice to Pay or Quit."
   • This notice demands payment of rent within a specific timeframe or the tenant must vacate the premises.

3. Eviction Process:

   • If the tenant fails to pay or vacate the property, the landlord can start the eviction process.
   • The process involves filing a lawsuit, attending court hearings, and obtaining a court order to remove the tenant.

4. Damaged Credit Score:

   • Failing to pay rent

Say you go a long time without paying rent. You're probably looking at eviction, but your landlord is also likely to try and collect the money you owe. Perhaps he or she will hire a collections agency to do so, in which case you'll see a collections account appear on your credit report. You may also face legal action.

Jun 2, 2014 — If your landlord sues you for the unpaid rent and wins, you'll receive a judgment ordering you to pay the outstanding balance. Judgments 

Missing a rent payment by a few days won't hurt your credit. But if you leave your rent unpaid by 30 days or more, it could damage your credit if your landlord reports the delinquency to one or more credit reporting agencies.

Generally speaking, negative information such as late or missed payments, accounts that have been sent to collection agencies, accounts not being paid as agreed, or bankruptcies stays on credit reports for approximately seven years.

You can ask your landlord if they're willing to remove the broken lease from your credit report in exchange for paying any outstanding rent or fees. Some landlords may be willing to remove the broken lease from your credit reports. And if you're able to pay the balance in full or set up a payment plan.

In most cases, the statute of limitations for a debt will have passed after 10 years. This means a debt collector may still attempt to pursue it (and you technically do still owe it), but they can't typically take legal action against you.