In NSW, the landlord (or agent) is only required by law to provide a receipt when a rent payment is made in person – usually in cash or alternatively by cheque. No receipt is required by law for electronic payments. This is because the electronic transaction record acts as a permanent record of the payment.
Why would a landlord want cash only?
Many landlords and/or roommates want cash (or Venmo) only – it’s simply to avoid a bank delay on clearing checks. Some banks can take up to six business days, even as some may clear in two days. It also cuts down on risk.
Can a landlord insist on paying rent in cash?
Tenants should be aware that a landlord can not insist on getting rent in cash. Even if a tenant gets a receipt, it is better to pay the rent in a form that is traceable. Direct deposit, cheque (get copy of cancelled cheque), money order, all of these are better than paying in cash.
Is it good or bad to pay rent in cash?
Cash payments are certainly not ideal as the landlord is likely to be using them to dodge tax and because you have no proof of payment or, indeed, what you are paying for, unless he is issuing invoices for the services included and signed receipts.
How can I prove that my Landlord has paid my rent?
The answer is often naive and the tenant tells me that the landlord knows the rent is paid. Sometimes the tenants can show a withdrawal of the exact amount of cash from their bank account and we try to infer that the rent must have been paid from this withdrawal. Most often though, there is no proof of payment.
Do you have to pay rent in cash in Ontario?
Sometimes the tenants can show a withdrawal of the exact amount of cash from their bank account and we try to infer that the rent must have been paid from this withdrawal. Most often though, there is no proof of payment. The burden of proof in any application at the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board is on a balance of probabilities.
