How to write a rent cheque (and what a security cheque is)
Many Israeli leases are still paid by cheque — usually 12 post-dated cheques for the year, plus a security cheque. Filling one in wrong, or handing over a blank security cheque, can cost you. Here's how to do it right.
← All renter guidesPost-dated cheques — how it works
At signing you usually hand over 12 cheques, one per month, each dated for its month (post-dated). The landlord deposits each on its date. Keep your own list: every cheque number and its date — so you know what's been cashed and what hasn't.
How to fill a cheque correctly
Five fields, all of them matter:
- •Date — for a post-dated cheque, the future date on which it may be deposited.
- •Payee (לפקודת) — the landlord's exact name, as it appears in the lease.
- •Amount in figures — e.g. 6,400.
- •Amount in words — the same sum spelled out in full. That's what stops the amount being altered after you hand it over.
- •Signature — like at the bank. Without it the cheque is void. Add “payee only” (a double line in the corner) so only the landlord can cash it.
The security cheque — the most important rule
A security cheque (or deposit cheque) is collateral, not a payment — it's meant to be cashed only if you genuinely breach the lease. Never hand over a blank security cheque: write a clear amount (not empty), note on it that it's for security, and pin down in the contract exactly when it may be deposited and the conditions for getting it back. A blank cheque is a signed cheque for an unknown amount.
Scan the contract — we'll flag an unfair securities clause →How much security is allowed
The law caps the total of securities that cost you money (deposit, security cheque, bank guarantee — combined). Worth knowing the ceiling before you agree to a number, so you don't give more than can lawfully be required.
The securities cap & deposit return →Stopping a cheque — when, and at what risk
You can instruct the bank to stop a cheque, but stopping one with no real grounds can lead to a claim and enforcement proceedings. Use it only when there's a genuine reason — and ideally after checking your rights, not in a moment of anger.
A money dispute — small claims →A simpler alternative: transfer or standing order
More and more landlords accept a bank transfer or a standing order instead of cheques. It's simpler, there's no lost-cheque risk, and every payment leaves a clear trail. If it suits you — offer it; it's not an unusual request.