Rent reminder messages: polite WhatsApp templates in English and Hindi
By Nishanth Shankar, Founder, RentKarma. Checked against the sources below on .
Asking for rent is awkward, so many owners wait, then send one annoyed message when it's already late. A short reminder before rent is due, and a calm, specific one after, gets most rent paid without a single difficult call. Below are messages for each moment, in English and Hindi, ready to copy into WhatsApp.
In short: remind three days before and on the due date. Every message says the month, the amount, the due date and how to pay. After that, follow up the day after, a week later, then once more in writing with a final date. Never cut water or power, and never message the tenant's family, employer or society group.
The messages
Replace the words in square brackets. Each one has a Copy button.
Three days before rent is due
Most late rent is forgotten rent. A friendly heads-up fixes most of it.
Hi [name], a quick reminder that rent for [month] (₹[amount]) is due on [date]. You can pay on UPI to [UPI ID]. Thank you!
नमस्ते [नाम] जी, [महीने] का किराया (₹[राशि]) [तारीख] को देना है। आप UPI से [UPI ID] पर भेज सकते हैं। धन्यवाद!
On the due date
Ask for the screenshot or UTR now, so every payment has a record from the start.
Hi [name], rent for [month] (₹[amount]) is due today. UPI: [UPI ID]. Please send the screenshot or UTR once it's done so I can note it.
नमस्ते [नाम] जी, [महीने] का किराया (₹[राशि]) आज देना है। UPI: [UPI ID]. भुगतान के बाद स्क्रीनशॉट या UTR भेज दीजिए, ताकि मैं इसे नोट कर लूँ।
The day after
Assume they forgot, or that the money is on its way. Give them an easy way to say they've paid.
Hi [name], I haven't received rent for [month] yet (₹[amount], due on [date]). If you've already paid, please send the UTR so I can match it. If not, could you pay today?
नमस्ते [नाम] जी, [महीने] का किराया (₹[राशि], [तारीख] को देय) अभी तक नहीं मिला है। अगर आपने भेज दिया है तो UTR भेज दीजिए, ताकि मिलान हो सके। नहीं तो क्या आप आज भेज सकते हैं?
A week late
Firmer, and asking for a date. Leave room for them to tell you about a real problem.
Hi [name], rent for [month] (₹[amount]) is now a week overdue. Please let me know by [date] when you'll pay. If something has come up, tell me and we can work out a plan.
नमस्ते [नाम] जी, [महीने] का किराया (₹[राशि]) एक हफ्ते से बाकी है। कृपया [तारीख] तक बताइए कि आप कब भुगतान करेंगे। अगर कोई परेशानी है तो बताइए, हम मिलकर कोई रास्ता निकाल लेंगे।
Confirming a plan you agreed on a call
Calls are forgotten. One line in the chat means you both remember the same thing.
Thanks for letting me know, [name]. To confirm: for [month]'s rent you'll pay ₹[amount 1] on [date 1] and ₹[amount 2] on [date 2]. Rent for [next month] is due on [date] as usual.
बताने के लिए धन्यवाद, [नाम] जी। तय हुआ: [महीने] के किराए के लिए आप [तारीख 1] को ₹[राशि 1] और [तारीख 2] को ₹[राशि 2] देंगे। [अगले महीने] का किराया हमेशा की तरह [तारीख] को देना है।
A final reminder before you take it further
Calm and in writing, with a clear date. No threats, and nothing you wouldn't want a judge to read.
Hi [name], rent for [month] (₹[amount]) was due on [date] and is still unpaid, and I haven't heard when it will be paid. Please pay by [date]. If it isn't paid by then, I'll have to follow the steps in our rent agreement.
नमस्ते [नाम] जी, [महीने] का किराया (₹[राशि]) [तारीख] को देय था और अभी तक नहीं मिला है, न ही यह बताया गया है कि कब मिलेगा। कृपया [तारीख] तक भुगतान करें। तब तक भुगतान न होने पर मुझे रेंट एग्रीमेंट में लिखे कदम उठाने होंगे।
When the rent arrives
A short thank-you with the amount and UTR is a receipt both of you can find later.
Received ₹[amount] for [month] rent on [date], UTR [UTR]. Thank you, [name]!
[महीने] का किराया ₹[राशि] [तारीख] को मिल गया, UTR [UTR]. धन्यवाद, [नाम] जी!
When only part of it arrives
Thank them for what came, and name the balance and a date in the same message.
Received ₹[amount paid] for [month] rent, thank you. ₹[balance] is still pending. Could you send it by [date]?
[महीने] के किराए के ₹[मिली राशि] मिल गए, धन्यवाद। ₹[बाकी राशि] अभी बाकी हैं। क्या आप इन्हें [तारीख] तक भेज सकते हैं?
What makes a reminder work
- Send it before the due date. A reminder before is a favour; the same message after is a complaint.
- Be exact. The month, the amount and the due date, every time. "Rent pending" invites "which month?"
- Make paying one tap. Put your UPI ID or a payment link in the message, not "the usual account".
- Ask for the UTR or a screenshot. It ends "I paid" and "I didn't get it" arguments, and gives you a record for receipts and tax.
- Send in the daytime. Around 10 am on a weekday is read and acted on. 11 pm reads as anger.
- One chat, one person. Write to the tenant directly. Not their family, office or the society group.
- Put calls in writing. If you agree something on the phone, confirm it in the chat the same day.
A schedule that works
| When | Message |
|---|---|
| 3 days before | A friendly heads-up |
| Due date | Due today |
| 1 day after | Not received yet |
| 7 days after | A week late, asking for a date |
| After that, once a week | A short reminder, and a call |
| 3 to 4 weeks after | A final reminder with a date |
If the rent agreement gives a grace period (say five days), say so in the day-after message, so the tenant knows paying within it still counts as on time.
What the law doesn't let you do
However late the rent, an owner can't force the tenant out or make the flat unlivable. That means no cutting water, electricity or gas, no changing the locks, and no removing their things. The Model Tenancy Act, 2021 lets the Rent Authority order supplies restored and make the owner pay compensation. State rent laws that predate it have similar rules.
A late fee is only allowed if the rent agreement provides for it. Publicly shaming a tenant, in the society group or to their employer, can expose you to a defamation or harassment complaint and rarely gets rent paid faster.
If rent still isn't paid
- Talk. A job loss or a medical bill is often behind it. A plan of two part-payments, confirmed in writing, often works.
- Send a final reminder in writing with a date (template above).
- Send a legal notice, usually through a lawyer, by registered post or email, asking for the arrears by a date.
- Apply to the Rent Authority or court. Under the Model Tenancy Act, rent unpaid for two consecutive months is a ground for eviction, and the Rent Court is meant to decide within 90 days. Your state's own law and procedure apply, so take a local lawyer's advice at this step.
Doing this every month without thinking about it
The hard part isn't the wording, it's remembering to send it, every month, for every tenant, and keeping track of who paid and when.RentKarma does that on WhatsApp: the tenant gets a reminder three days before, on the day, the day after, three days after and then weekly, in English or Hindi. They pay you on UPI, send the screenshot in the same chat, and the payment is recorded with its date and UTR. You only hear about the tenants who haven't paid.
Questions people ask
How many days before the due date should I send a rent reminder?
Three days before works well: early enough to plan for, close enough not to be forgotten. Then send one on the due date. If you send only one message, send it two or three days before.
Can I charge a late fee for late rent?
Only if your rent agreement says so, and only the amount it says. If the agreement is silent, agree a late fee in writing when you next renew it. Don't add one in the middle of a tenancy on your own.
Can I cut the water or electricity if the tenant does not pay?
No. Cutting water, electricity or other essential supplies, changing the locks or removing the tenant's things isn't allowed. Under the Model Tenancy Act, the Rent Authority can order the supply restored and make the owner pay compensation, and state rent laws have similar rules.
Is a WhatsApp message enough as a legal demand for rent?
Keep the chat. It shows what you asked for and when. For a formal demand, especially before going to the Rent Authority or court, send a written notice, usually through a lawyer, by registered post or email.
When can I start eviction for unpaid rent?
It depends on your state's rent law and your agreement. Under the Model Tenancy Act, which several states have adopted or are adopting, not paying rent for two consecutive months is a ground for the Rent Court to order the tenant out. Eviction always goes through the Rent Authority or court, never by force.
Should I send rent reminders in Hindi?
Send them in the language your tenant reads most easily. If you aren't sure, ask once. A reminder in their own language is more likely to be read straight away.
Sources
- PRS Legislative Research: The Model Tenancy Act, 2021 (summary)
- Delhi Urban Development Department: Model Tenancy Act, 2021 (Hindi and English text)
This guide explains the rules in plain English. It isn't tax or legal advice for your situation; for that, ask a chartered accountant or lawyer.