Creative Solutions For Landlords Who Can’t Evict Delinquent Tenants Due to the Coronavirus
The coronavirus has created financial hardships for many Floridians. Landlords are in an especially difficult situation – even if a tenant is not paying, landlords are currently prohibited from evicting them under temporary federal rules. But this does not mean that landlords are simply out the money they are owed. A Florida eviction attorney can help you create flexible and creative arrangements with your tenants that mitigate the losses on both ends:
(1) Barter
Your tenant likely has skills that can be used to improve your property. Perhaps the unit needs a new coat of paint or minor repairs. Outdoor areas might need cleaning, landscaping, or other work in order to maintain them properly. Common are as in your properties will also need regular cleaning and maintenance. Tenants can perform these tasks to earn credit toward their outstanding rent obligations. This, in turn, can reduce a landlord’s operating expenses at acritical time when he or she is not able to collect full rent.
(2) Work Out a Payment Plan
The temporary eviction bans do not excuse a tenant’s obligations to pay rent. Many tenants are eager to work out some kind of financial arrangement with their landlords so they will not be evicted as soon as the bans are lifted. This gives landlords an opportunity to create flexible payment arrangements that are acceptable to both parties. Perhaps a tenant can make partial payments now and add a small amount to their rent after the coronavirus in order to pay off the arrears. Or maybe a tenant is able to make partial payments and perform work on the property in order to work off the rest of the arrears. There are many arrangements that can help a landlord mitigate losses and avoid the expenses of eviction.
(3) Offer the Tenant a Different Unit
While landlords are unable to evict for a time, there is nothing to prevent tenants from voluntarily moving to another unit. A landlord can mitigate losses by offering the tenant a unit that is smaller, or more rundown, or has other factors that reduce its market value. This helps ensure the tenant has a safe place to shelter from the coronavirus and helps the landlord mitigate rent losses during the eviction ban.
Call 407.452.4918 or contact us online to learn how a Florida eviction attorney at Quattrochi & Torres can help you.