Can the landlord charge for late payment of rent?

Verified 15 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

The landlord (or the real estate agency) is prohibited from charging late fees to the tenant, i.e. a fine or penalties, in case of late payment.

This rule applies when the empty residential lease or furnished residential lease has been signed, renewed or tacitly renewed since 27 March 2014. The same applies in the case of mobility lease.

If the tenant repeatedly pays his rent late, the landlord (or real estate agency) is entitled not to renew the lease for legitimate and serious reasons.

Please note

When the owner engages ​​ a procedure for unpaid debts​​ the judge may, in particular, order the tenant to pay the costs incurred by the owner in order to obtain the termination of the lease and the eviction of the tenant from the dwelling​

At any time, the tenant or owner can take advice from SOS unpaid rent :

Who shall I contact

  • Support, advice and prevention service in case of risk of eviction due to unpaid rent. This service informs tenants, such as landlords, free of charge.

    By phone

    0,805,160,075 monday to friday

    Toll-free number: free call and service, from a landline or mobile phone

Please note

More generally, the owner (or real estate agency) is prohibited from requiring the tenant to pay a fine or penalties, in case of violation of the lease or the regulation of the immovable. If the lease contains a clause that allows it, that clause is unfair. Consequently, it must be ignored, as if it did not exist.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

    • accès

      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.

    • horaires
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15Horaires exceptionnels le vendredi 14 août de 09h00 à 12h15

    • Request a call

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    • service

      The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and urban planning.

  • Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)