How do i collect the late fee from a tenant?

My tenant gave me the rent 2 days late and refuses to pay the late fee. is argument is that he gave me my money. the lease says he must drop off the check to my office from 10 am - 6 pm every 1st of the month and he signed the lease in front of my lawyer. how do i make him pay the late fee and avoid this happening again? i do have a security deposit from him, is it legal do deduct it from that in the future if he were to leave?

unfortunately i did not write in the lease that I can deduct late fees from the security deposit???? what do i do?

If it's that important to you, next month if he does not pay the late fee, you can give him the legal amount of notice required in your state (3,5 or 7 days) to pay it or begin the eviction process.(Pay or Quit Notice)

Some states allow you to use the security deposit for back rent, some do not. Tell us what state you live in for more info.

On our rentals the rent is due on the first, but there is a 3 day grace period and late fees do not acrue until the fourth day. Check the terms of your lease to be sure of the terms set out in it. You should probably ask your lawyer if it is legal to deduct from the security deposit.....I believe that is only held against any damage to the property.

Im a landlord too and the renter actually has a five day grace period to pay the rent. Just like you do with your mortgage, 15 day grace, and car payments, 10 day grace. Technically, your renter wasn't late. I'd love it if any of my renters ever paid on the first! LOL
Also, you must put it in writing that there will be a late fee and the amount of the late fee if they go past five days late.

Well that depends upon where you are.. There is in most places a legal grace period. Where I am in Ontario it is 5 days.

You may want to check your rental law to see what it states. Even if there is such a clause in the rental agreement, the state landlord tenant law will trump that.