Debit card fees are typically like $0.20, for any size of payment though.
Only reason I can imagine they might be hesitant is because debit cards allow a customer to dispute a transaction, which can hold up capital while the dispute is resolved, and obviously the landlord might be forced to return a rent payment or two if the credit card company sides with the letter.
I think there is still a % component in the US anyway. It’s smaller than credit, usually <1%. But brings up Another factor, in the US anyway, getting a merchant account to process debit transactions is not an straightforward thing, especially assuming It needs to be done online. Sure there’s tons of options for credit square/PayPal/etc. But even a somewhat big apartment complex has only a couple 100 monthly transactions and it’s just not worth the hassle for the landlord. No value add on our side equals no reason to change our ways. And yes, we change high fees to discourage behavior we dislike. I charge crazy high late fees because I don’t want to be a debt collector. I actually have a thing I tell ever new tenant about how I will never bother them about payments being late because I’m not a debt collector. But they can expect a eviction notice on the N day late because that’s what the state minimum requirement. My renters are never late.
Only reason I can imagine they might be hesitant is because debit cards allow a customer to dispute a transaction, which can hold up capital while the dispute is resolved, and obviously the landlord might be forced to return a rent payment or two if the credit card company sides with the letter.