Hello, everyone!
As you may know, California has placed a moratorium on evictions and late fees for non-payment of rent due to Coronavirus disruptions. Landlords and tenants alike are experiencing wage loss and layoffs, and tenants may inquire about rent abatements or lease breaks as the reality of this situation hits.
In addition to the Lease Preparation and Renewal services we typically provide, there are a number of new lease addenda for these COVID specific scenarios.
COVID-19 Notification to Tenants of Rights
This document is intended to notify the tenant of their rights under the Eviction Moratorium. Although there is currently no requirement to provide the document, it can help to start the conversation when a tenant contacts you and says they are unable to pay their rent in full.
COVID-19 Receipt for Partial Rent Payment
Once the tenant has made a partial rent payment, you may use this to record the payment made, and note the rent that was deferred.
COVID-19 Rent Deferral Payment Agreement Addendum
This document will codify the re-payment of the deferred rent. It will act as an addendum to the existing lease and is to only be used in cases where owner and tenant have agreed to a rent re-payment plan. Request that a tenant fill out this form for each month during the pandemic, in which they are unable to pay the rent in full.
COVID-19 Tenant Hardship Consideration Form
This document provides guidance to a tenant on how to indicate the financial impact of COVID-19 on them. This will help to make it clear to both tenant and owner that nonpayment of rent is for reasons associated with COVID-19 only.
Landlords – If you don’t see the addendum you need above – shoot us an email letting us know your situation and we’ll help you problem-solve.
If receiving partial rent payments for a time creates a hardship for you, there are resources available for landlords as well. We encourage you to contact your lender about mortgage forbearance, and your insurance company about Rent Loss or Business Interruption coverage.
Here are some links that may be helpful for both Landlords and Tenants as we navigate the coming months:
City of Oakland general resource page
Berkeley Renter’s Relief Fund application process.
Rental Assistance For Oakland Residents
Tenant Financial Assistance Resources Bay Area Community Services, (510) 613-0330,
Catholic Charities of the East Bay, (510) 768-3100,
Echo Housing, (510) 581-0380.
CA State Unemployment Insurance
Meals Services for Students – Alameda County Office of Education
Benefits for Workers Impacted by Covid-19 – Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Disaster Loans for Small Businesses- Small Business Administration
Filing for Unemployment – CA Employment Development Department
We are sending you warm and healthy thoughts, and can’t wait to see you out in the big, wide world again!
Best,
Andrea, Servane, Stephanie, and Laura
[The AndreaRentals Team]
