As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy, renters across the country are beginning to see some relief in the form of rent waivers and lowered rent costs. Although the exact details of each individual situation may vary depending on location, many landlords have agreed to provide financial assistance as a way to help ease the burden on tenants in these difficult times. In some places, landlords are providing rent discounts, while others are offering partial or complete waivers.
In larger cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, government assistance programs have been created to assist renters and provide them with the financial aid needed to keep rent costs down. Programs including the federal moratorium on evictions and the option to use their stimulus checks to cover rent have been put into action by state and local governments. Renters in these areas are also encouraged to contact their landlords personally to negotiate rent payment plans.
Other cities and towns have taken more of a local approach, providing assistance to those in need without the need for Federal-level action. In Sarasota, Florida, for instance, a local nonprofit is offering rent waivers and closing costs to low-income renters in need. The city of Dallas, Texas, has enacted a rent waiver program that provides up to three months of rent relief to those affected by job loss or reduction in hours due to the pandemic.
Additionally, certain states have implemented sitting laws—or laws in which tenants are allowed to stay in their homes without paying rent, usually under stipulation of certain terms and conditions. In Texas, for example, tenants are permitted to remain in their rental unit without owing back due rent payments for up to one month. Unfortunately, these types of laws are not yet available nationwide, so renters in other states should contact their local government to see what kind of assistance is available to them.
Though the economic effects of the pandemic are expected to linger long after it has subsided, renters across the U.S. can now find some relief through rent waivers, partial payments, government assistance, and other local rent relief programs. As always, it’s important to contact landlords directly and take advantage of these offers while they are available, in order to ensure a more stable financial future.