Late Fees
How the board issues late fees, sets a standard amount, and voids them — and how residents view and pay them.
Late Fees
Fourplex lets your board charge late fees to residents who are behind on dues. This article explains how to issue a late fee, set a default amount, void one, and how residents see and pay them.
For board members
How do I issue a late fee?
- Go to Dues in the sidebar.
- In the dues ledger, click the cell for the unit and month that is overdue or shows a failed payment.
- In the drawer that opens on the right, select Issue a late fee.
- The amount field is prefilled with your HOA's standard late fee. You can change the amount for this individual fee.
- Optionally add a short note explaining the reason. The resident will see this note.
- Click Issue late fee to confirm.
The resident receives an email notification and the fee appears in their portal balance.
Can I issue multiple late fees to the same unit?
Yes. Late fees are per period — you can issue one for each month a unit is behind, and they accumulate. Each fee is tracked and paid separately.
How do I set a standard late fee amount?
- Go to Dues in the sidebar, then open the Settings tab.
- Find Standard late fee and enter the default amount.
- Save.
From now on, the issue-late-fee drawer will prefill with that amount. You can still adjust the amount for any individual fee before issuing it.
How do I void a late fee?
You can void a late fee if the resident has not paid it yet.
- Go to Dues in the sidebar.
- Click the unit's cell in the dues ledger for the relevant period.
- In the drawer, find the outstanding late fee and select Void.
- Optionally add a note explaining why (for your records).
Once voided, the fee is removed from the resident's balance and cannot be reinstated. If the resident has already paid a late fee, follow the normal refund process instead.
Where do late fees show up for the board?
Late fees appear in several places:
- Dues ledger — a badge on the affected cell shows how many outstanding late fees exist for that unit and period.
- Dues → Transactions — every late-fee payment is listed chronologically with the unit, reason, and amount.
- Units page — the unit detail drawer shows all outstanding and historical late fees for that address.
- Open balances card — unpaid late fees are included in each unit's total outstanding balance.
What if a resident pays by check or cash?
You can record a manual payment for a late fee, the same way you record manual dues payments.
- In the dues ledger, click the unit's cell.
- Find the outstanding late fee in the drawer.
- Select Record a manual payment and fill in the amount, date, and method.
The late fee is marked paid and disappears from the resident's open balance.
For residents
How will I know if I have a late fee?
You will receive an email when the board issues a late fee. The email shows the amount, which period it covers, and any note the board added.
Your Portal → Home banner and the Payments tab also reflect any unpaid late fees: they are counted in your total balance and the "Pay all" amount, shown alongside overdue dues. Even if your monthly dues are fully paid, an outstanding late fee keeps showing as a balance to clear — your Home page will not say "Everything is paid" while a late fee is still owed.
How do I pay a late fee?
Late fees are paid through the same flow as regular dues.
- Go to Portal → Payments.
- Your open balance shows any unpaid dues and late fees together.
- Click Pay now (or Pay all).
- Review the itemized list. You will see the late fee listed separately with its amount and description.
- Select your payment method and confirm.
Late fees are processed alongside dues in a single payment. The same processing fees apply (3% + $0.30 for cards, 0.9% up to $5.00 for ACH).
Can I pay a late fee without paying my dues at the same time?
In most cases, late fees are paid together with other outstanding balances. If you want to pay a specific item on its own, contact your board for guidance.
Where can I see my late fee history?
Go to Portal → Payments. Paid late fees appear in your payment history with the date, amount, and period they covered. You can download a receipt for each payment.
Common questions
Can a board member issue a late fee if I am current on dues?
No. The late-fee option only appears on cells that are overdue or show a failed payment. A cell that is paid cannot receive a new late fee.
What happens if my payment fails after I submit the pay-all?
If the payment fails, the late fee goes back to unpaid status and appears in your open balance. You can retry the next time you visit Portal → Payments.
Can a board member set a different late fee amount for specific residents?
Yes. While there is a standard default amount, the board can enter any amount when issuing each individual fee. The standard amount is just a starting point.
What is the maximum late fee amount?
The board can enter any amount up to $10,000 per fee. There is no minimum beyond $0.01.
Last updated: 2026-06-23