PHOENIX — A new report from the National Multifamily Housing Council surveying 13 million rentals found only a third paid April rent on time due to the novel coronavirus.
Aundraale King is one of those tenants struggling to pay her rent in the wake of the outbreak. "
"It’s very, very scary,” said King. “It’s so hard not knowing if you can keep your lights on and it’s even harder not knowing if in the next couple days you can have a roof over your head.”
She is out of work after her employer notified her through an email that a fellow co-worker tested positive for COVID-19.
Home litigation lawyer and judge Denise Holliday of Hall, Holliday and Holliday said many renters that are home and isolated are unaware of the public and private resources available to them at this very moment. Holliday said the first thing to do is develop an honest payment plan with your landlord and have it in writing.
Some companies like Camden Property Trust have taken action to help their tenants.
"If they’ve lost income as a result of coronavirus, we are doing deferred rental programs just on an individual basis, no late fees associated with that," said Camden Property Trust CEO Ric Campo.
Denise Holliday points to Arizona's Department of Housing as a resource with links for tenants struggling to pay rent.
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