Is there a period for paying rent?.

I am a flight attendant and I rent a bed in a house in Queens, NYC. I use this space approx 6-8 times a month, have done this for 7 years. I do not have a lease or a signed agreement with the landlord or woman who operates the house. I was 18 hrs late paying my rent (check was at the house in my room) woman called and left a message that she had not received my check, I was able to get a hold of someone who also rents in the house and she placed my check in an envelope. Woman sent me a text 15 minutes later that she had received it. The next day she texted me a note that I owed her $20 for being late (even though she was still at the house)--stated because she had to call me I owed her the $$$. A few months back she added a new rule to the list of house rules that the rent is due on the first of the month and of the $20 fee if not paid. My check was at the house I was 500 miles away. Please let me know if she can enforce this. I do know that it is illegal to rent rooms in NYC.