[Flifuss]

The landlord might just be protecting his rights under the lease agreement. If you signed a lease agreement with the landlord (Lessor)and that agreement has no specified grace period (late payment), then if the Lessor accepts a late payment, the lease agreement now has an implied grace period. The landlord then loses certain timely eviction rights if you fail to pay in a timely fashion in the future.

This may not be the problem and is just speculation, because I don't know your specific circumstances, but, if the above is part of the problem, you can always affirm in writing that the lease agreement will not be altered by your late payment.

[Richard Kimball]

I think it's more likely with the housing shortage he thinks he can up the rent with a new tenant.