Since the early part of the year, the news about the Coronavirus has continued to spread. With all of the unknowns about this virus, it can be challenging to navigate what you should be doing as a property owner to help support your tenants during these unknown times. As a landlord, you have a responsibility to help keep your tenants safe. You might also be worried about how your tenants are handling all that is going on. As a property manager, you might even feel a bit responsible for your tenants and you want to do what you can to help them during these unprecedented times. Here are five things that you can consider doing in order to help your tenants at this time. 

1. Offer Assistance on Rent if Able

There are going to be several people living in your apartments that are simply not going to be able to pay their rent this month and possibly over the next couple of months. One of the things that you can do as a landlord is reach out to these people and offer some type of assistance if you are able. This assistance could be in the form of a payment plan of some type. You need their rent money to continue paying bills, but also know that they might truly be struggling. Work with your tenants to come up with some type of solution that will work for both of you. 

Another way that you can help your tenants is to research the different agencies in your area to determine who is offering rental assistance for individuals and families. Providing this information to your tenants can be extremely beneficial as they will be able to fill out the appropriate paperwork to get the help that they need. 

2. Provide Employment Opportunities

Many people have been left unemployed because of the pandemic. However, there are some industries that are currently hiring people to help fill in. Most grocery stores are looking for extra help at this time. Factories are still working as well. Take some time to research your area and learn more about who is hiring right now. You can pass this information on to your tenants who might be struggling without a job right now. You can place flyers with this information in their mailboxes or under their doors. You can also post the information around your apartment complex. 

3. Food Delivery Services

Going out anywhere, even shopping right now, is not recommended. If you have older individuals or others at risk individuals living in your apartments, provide them with information about food delivery services. You might want to also try to match up tenants to help each other out. For example, if you have a young couple living in an apartment, ask them if they would be willing to shop for one of your other tenants who might be at risk. Of course, delivery of food and other items could be done through a porch drop off, so no contact is necessary. 

4. Local Food Banks

Another great way that you might be able to help your tenants is to provide them with information about the local food banks. Things are really tough financially right now for many people and knowing where to get food to help get you through is very important. Find a list of all of the food banks in your area and the times that people can pick up food from them. You can also offer to pick up food for some of your more at risk tenants or provide them with information for people who are willing to get food for them. For your tenants who are still working and able to pay their bills, you might want to try to organize a food drive for the local food banks. 

5. Community Engagement

Right now, mental health is suffering for many people. It is hard to not socialize like we normally would. While gathering in groups is not recommended, you could organize a scavenger hunt or some other type of community challenge for the people in your apartment complex. You can hide items around the area and have your tenants take pictures when they find the items. You could even come up with small prizes to leave at the front door of the winner’s apartment.

The most important thing to remember at this time is that everyone is really struggling. Reaching out to your tenants to let them know that you are trying to help can go a long way during these uncertain times.