Does anyone have creative ways that they are collecting rent during the pandemic?

Does anyone have creative ways that they are collecting rent during the pandemic? Washington is not requiring rent payments or proof that you are impacted by COVID. We have done drawings for free rent already but we are struggling to get people to pay and when they do pay it is whatever date they want with no communication.
Anything creative you have done at your property that worked?

I am in WA as well and it sucks.

Our ownership offered 1/2 off January rent IF you made all rent payments on time. This notice went out in April of last year. We are also cutting our losses and negotiating lots of buy-outs. Letting them leave with a fraction of what they owe so we can take possession of the unit back. Saves their credit, because eventually we will be allowed to evict.

Payment agreements, but must pay by a certain date.

We are all over payment agreements. I’m looking for creative ways to get people to respond and pay.

The best thing to do is rent drawings, we do them here as well, if they pay by the 3rd they enter into a drawing. last month we did for late payments if they paid by the 15th they would get into a drawing for $500 off February rent.

We did that already! It didn’t work for us. Just looking for some other creative ideas

It’s not creative but it seems to work (although thankfully where I work we haven’t had a ton of trouble). Talk to them. Use emotional intelligence. Be empathetic but also realistic, explain that you don’t want to have to, even if eventually, evict them. Explain how an eviction works and how it will “scar” their rental history. Who wants that on their credit/rental history?! The key is to be empathetic, don’t threaten! Let them feel like they are in control by asking “how much can you pay and when” instead of saying you owe this much and it’s past due. Do your homework. Mathematically a person whose rent is $1000 monthly could pay roughly $32 a day or $225 a week and pay their monthly rent. I don’t know, just a thought

We use that when we can talk to them for sure. We know people are struggling and want to help as much as we can with a payment plan. They don’t answer the phone and avoid us like the plague. Notices haven’t worked. I don’t have a huge problem by any means, but I don’t have a handful of units not paying.

I wish I could be of more help! Being avoided is hard, I had one resident who did that. Once I finally got in touch with them I was able to provide resources and luckily for them and I they were able to get assistance through the county we live in. Maybe post resources in community areas, maybe set up a community pantry (we did this) and post resources there as well. Again, I wish I could be of more help. Wishing you the best!!!

Give them resources. If they can’t pay there are typically resources available to them to catch up. If they can pay then just be patient and you will win in the long run and they will have learned a life lesson.

I’m in Oregon and am so tired of putting a smile on my face and trying to be as helpful as possible. I email tenants agencies twice a month and tell them anything management can do to help to let us know. It’s so frustrating and super old now. We literally can’t do anything with the handful of tenants that just don’t pay. Oregon has a terrible moratorium so please don’t say we can still take them to court and fight their declaration because we can not. I feel your pain.

If you call, email and they dont respond put an abandonment notice in their apartment, they will call

I am sure you have sent out notices, emails, knocked on doors and called them as well. Sometime these normal/standard procedures work but during these trying times that don't always do the job. There are some that will purposely ignore you, while there are others that are just scared and/or embarrassed and don't know what to do so by nature they inadvertently ignore you.

For those that do continue to ignore your communication efforts, you can always use this tip that works 99% of the time. Look at their application and call the emergency contact. You don't have to say why you are calling, and by law you can't, but all you have to say is "This is Manager at XYZ Apartments and it important that Tenant call me back ASAP." These people know why you are calling without you having to say it. It is amazing how quickly you receive a phone call from them.

We had called, emailed,sent letters, did payment arrangements, offered 50% off if they vacate, agreed to waive any late fees. But we still have several residents that will not respond to anything. We knocked on their doors to make sure they still occupy the apartment and they still have not responded.

We compiled a list of charities and helped the resident apply for help with the charities. We closed December with zero delinquency.

We have had a give away of food cards for the first 10 people to pay rent. We have started an online way to pay their rent. We have applied for emergency COVID funds for rent and utilities as if the tenant knows they will have power and food they will more likely pay their rent. We have helped tenants apply for food stamps so that they will have money for rent. Ask them to pay what they have and try to get county assistance for the rest. Unfortunately we have not renewed leases to those who have taken advantage of. You do not have to evict, just no lease renewal. That is NOT considered eviction.

Put up and abandonment notice with a date to clean out the unit. They will have to call or their unit canbe considered abandoned

From the beginning when someone said they couldn't pay rent we requested 3 things to see if we could make payment arrangements.
- Copy of their last pay stub
- Copy they they have filed for unemployment and the current status
- A letter from their employer stating they have reduced hours or have been let go due to Covid

No one could get us a letter from the employer stating covid as the reason, a few got other ones that said lack of performance but that is not pandemic related and covered under the CDC letter.

We have had no evictions, we don't have any open payment arrangements, and are collecting 100% of the rent. Get proof that they can not pay due to covid. If they show you proof but fail at attempting to make a payment arrangement, do a non renewal at the end of the term.

I would add 1) concessions such as 1 month free rent at the end of their term if they pay rent, and 2) payment plans to tie into paycheck time, for example, twice a month. Tammy