If the tenant does not pay the rent, the tenant is in
breach of contract (written or verbal).
Practically the first step of action is to contact the
tenant to establish the reason for non-payment. You will know your tenant and
be able to read if this is a once-off situation or if the tenant routinely pays
late or only partially.
It is important to read the specific lease agreement's rent
due and breach clauses as there are different ways to remedy the breach of
non-payment.
Either you may cancel the lease forthwith or you are required to
demand payment in writing giving the tenant 7 calendar days (in the event of a
non-CPA lease agreement) or 20 business days(in the event of a CPA lease
agreement) to remedy their breach.
Should the tenant fail to remedy their
breach in accordance with the letter of demand, then the landlord is entitled
to cancel the lease agreement and demand that the tenant vacate the property.
Should the tenant fail to vacate the property as requested,
then the landlord must take legal action to obtain a court order Eviction,
after which the Sheriff of the Court will forcibly remove the tenant.