In this week’s Ask Landlord Hank question he deals with a COVID-19 question and a tenant who cannot pay rent. Hank is a veteran property manager and landlord and strives to help other landlords and property managers. He does not offer legal advice.
Dear Landlord Hank:
With schools closed, my tenant has advised she has to stay home with her children and cannot go to work and thus will have no income to pay rent. She wants to know if she can delay paying rent.
-Sam
Dear Landlord Sam,
With this pandemic, most are living in fear and uncertainty right now. I’m all about business first, but this is different.
Government bailout money is in the works, supposedly mortgage companies may be offering delays on payments (I’d call your mortgage company to see what their stance is), businesses are shutting down, etc.
We all have to work together in this disaster. Even if you didn’t want to help out your tenant right now, courts are suspending evictions in many districts.
I’d try to work with this tenant if you can. Hopefully, with all the measures that are being taken, this can be contained and eliminated and we can get back to the good life.
Sincerely,
Hank Rossi
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Ask veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi your questions from tenant screening to leases to pets and more! He provides answers each week to landlords.
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About the author Landlord Hank:
“I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc , in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta. “ Visit Hank’s website here.
