How to Talk to Your Landlord During the Coronavirus Outbreak

It’s frustrating and challenging if you’re unable to work, and trying to figure out how to afford your home could make you even more stressed out. If you’re struggling to make rent in the coming months due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), your landlord may be able to work with you so it’s not as much of a burden. While every landlord will handle how they manage tent during the outbreak differently, hopefully you’ll be able to find and agree on a payment plan that works for you.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Negotiating Your Rent

1. Email your landlord as soon as possible if you have financial trouble. Realizing you may not be able to make a rent payment can be extremely stressful, but do your best to stay calm. Try your best not to reach out to your landlord right when your rent is due since they may not be able to offer you as many options. Instead, talk to them immediately so you can inform them about your current financial situation and how coronavirus has affected you.^[1]
   
   • You may also send texts or a physical letter to your landlord if you don’t want to use email.
2. Provide paperwork that shows a loss of income due to coronavirus. You can either use a letter from your employer about their coronavirus policy or your past few paychecks as proof of any financial difficulties. If you’re part of an industry that was forced to close, such as retail or entertainment, providing your proof of employment may be enough. Attach copies of the documents to your email so your landlord can look over them and recognize that you’ve genuinely been affected.^[2]
   
   • Avoid trying to negotiate your rent if you haven’t been affected by coronavirus and can still afford to pay it in full.
3. Offer to make a partial rent payment if you’re able to. Even if you can’t make your full rent payment, let your landlord know how much you’d be able to comfortably pay. That way, your landlord will see that you’re still trying to work with them and they may be more willing to negotiate or waive your payment. Just be sure to leave enough money for yourself so you can still afford groceries, medication, or any other essential products you’ll need.^[3]
   
   • For example, you may say, “I’m sorry I can’t make the full rent payment for next month since my job has been shut down for 2 weeks due to coronavirus. I can still cover $1,200 though, so would we be able to make that work out?”
4. Ask if you can make a plan to repay rent over a few months. If you don’t have enough money to make a large rent payment, see if your landlord will accept smaller payments over a set period of time. Choose a regular payment amount that you can comfortably afford and let your landlord know how long you plan on taking to pay it back. If you come to an agreement, make sure you make your payments on time to show that you’re reliable.^[4]
   
   • For example, if you have to pay $1,200 USD for rent, you may instead offer to pay $300 USD every month for the next 4 months or even $200 USD for the next 6 months.
   • You will still have to make your future rent payments in full and on time unless you also negotiate for them.
   • Your landlord may ask you to pay an extra percentage as interest if you split your payment between months. For example, if your rent is $1,200 USD and your landlord wants 10% extra as interest, then you’ll pay a total of $1,320 USD.
5. Mention what makes you a good tenant to help persuade your landlord. If you’ve made payments on time in the past or have had a good rental history, mention it in your email so your landlord sees that you’re usually very dependable. While being a good tenant doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a break on your rent, it may help convince your landlord to help you out so you keep renting from them.^[5]
   
   • For example, you could say, “I’ve rented from you for 2 years without receiving any complaints, and I have made all my past payments on time so you can tell that I’m usually reliable. Since we had to leave work so suddenly due to coronavirus, I hope you can understand why I’m asking you to accept a partial payment for this month.”
6. Keep your landlord updated on any changes in employment or income. Have an open line of communication with your landlord about your financial situation throughout the month so you both can plan accordingly. If you get another job or are able to go back to work, let them know if you still need to follow the payment plan you agreed on. If you’re still having trouble trying to meet rent, tell your landlord as soon as you can to see if they can offer any additional assistance.^[6]
   

[Edit]Finding Alternative Solutions

1. Check if your area has eviction holds so you don’t lose your home. Some cities, states, and countries are putting moratoriums, or holds, on evictions, so you’re still legally able to live in your home if you miss your rent payment. Check the websites for your local, state, and federal governments to see if there are any moratoriums in effect. If you live in an area with a moratorium, then you don’t have to worry about getting evicted if you miss or are late on a payment right away. However, you usually have to pay back rent within a certain period of time.^[7]
   
   • In the United States, all foreclosures and evictions are suspended through the end of April.
   • If you can afford your rent and there’s a moratorium in effect, you can still pay for it on time.
2. Organize with your neighbors to address your landlord together. Reach out to the other tenants in your building via social media, email, or fliers and ask them if they’re also worried about paying for rent. If there are multiple people in the same building with similar concerns, plan to send emails at the same time to your landlord. Alternatively, you can collect signatures from your neighbors and send a physical letter to your landlord to address the problem.^[8]
   
   • Your landlord may be more likely to listen and be able to offer assistance if multiple people have the same problem.
3. File for unemployment so you can still receive income. If you’re out of work due to the coronavirus, you can still get unemployment insurance even if you’ll get your job back after a quarantine. Look up your state’s unemployment program to see if you meet the qualifications. Fill out your personal information in the online claim forms or call the office directly if you want to speak to a representative. Typically, you’ll be sent a debit card or check within a few days.^[9]
   
   • You can find the list of state-specific benefits and filing processes here: https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/find-unemployment-benefits.aspx.
   • Unemployment offices are very busy because many people are out of work due to coronavirus, so it may take longer than normal to process your claims.
   • If you live in the UK, you may be able to qualify for a Universal Credit housing payment, which is similar to unemployment. You can fill out the application here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit.
4. Look for an “essential” job so you can start working again. While there are many industries that have had to shut down, you may still find job openings in jobs that are considered essential. Try contacting local pharmacies, grocery stores, or restaurants to see if they have positions available. If you have a vehicle, you may also sign up for food delivery services, such as Postmates or Uber Eats, since they still operate during the outbreak as well.^[10]
   
   • Other essential industries include law enforcement, healthcare, utility services, and financial services.
   • If you’ve been infected by COVID-19 or feel sick, don’t try to return to work since you could spread the virus.
5. Look for tenant advocacy groups in your area that can offer financial aid. Advocacy groups typically have emergency funds to help tenants who can’t afford rent due to an emergency, so check if your state or city has one. Reach out to the advocacy group and let them know about your situation to find out how they can help. If they have funds available, they may be able to provide some money so you’re able to afford your place for the next month.^[11]
   
   • Advocacy groups may also contact politicians or present to a city council to further protect your rights as a tenant.
6. Apply for a short-term loan at a bank if you need to. Many banks are offering zero- or low-interest loans during the coronavirus outbreak to help ease your financial burden. Call a few different banks or lenders and tell them about your situation. Ask about how much you can receive, what the interest rates are, and how long you have to pay them back. Only take out as much money as you need so you don’t go into debt.^[12]
   
7. Contact a politician to bring up your concerns. If you live in the United States, try reaching out to your state’s governor or Congress representative. Otherwise, you can try reaching out to a mayor, member of parliament, or your city council. Bring up your concerns about affording rent and explain how your landlord handled the situation. You may be able to sway the politician to consider different rent policies that are more helpful for you and the community.^[13]
   
   • If you can, try to get multiple people on board since politicians may be more likely to help if they know more people have been affected.

[Edit]Tips

• Avoid making any non-essential purchases so you can save your money.

[Edit]Warnings

• Don’t assume that you don’t have to pay rent even if you can’t get evicted. Always discuss your options with your landlord so you can find the best solution together.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/what-to-do-if-you-cant-make-your-rent-or-mortgage-payments.html
2. ↑ https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/making-rent-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/
3. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/what-to-do-if-you-cant-make-your-rent-or-mortgage-payments.html
4. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/what-to-do-if-you-cant-make-your-rent-or-mortgage-payments.html
5. ↑ https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/landlord-wont-renegotiate-rent-012500430.html
6. ↑ https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/making-rent-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/
7. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/what-to-do-if-you-cant-make-your-rent-or-mortgage-payments.html
8. ↑ https://www.brownstoner.com/real-estate-market/what-to-do-if-you-cant-pay-rent-mortgage-forbearance-coronavirus-landlord-homeowners-nyc/
9. ↑ https://www.benefits.gov/help/faq/Coronavirus-resources
10. ↑ https://fortune.com/2020/03/20/essential-workers-government-list-employees-coronavirus/
11. ↑ https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-landlord-rent-property-manager-20200326.html
12. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/what-to-do-if-you-cant-make-your-rent-or-mortgage-payments.html
13. ↑ https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/landlord-wont-renegotiate-rent-012500430.html