I recently saw a statistic that 35% of renters have not been able to pay rent. That is huge. So, what are your options if you are a landlord with a delinquent tenant? Try Rent Assistance. Last March, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs started administering the Rental Assistance Program (GRA) designed to help renters with their past due rent and utilities. Funds came from the Federal government with Georgia receiving $989m.
This program helps tenant catch up on their past due payments and sometimes gives them a month or two in future rents so tenants can get back on their feet. There are guidelines and, as a landlord, you will need to provide ledgers with amounts due, copies of leases, and other documents. If you are managing your own property, make sure you keep clean and clear payment records on your tenants.
The way we assist our tenants is once they have missed the rent due date, we contact them to find out what the problem is. Remember that for most tenants, losing a job and falling into hard times is embarrassing and they are frequently reluctant to tell you. Keep probing and once you uncover that they lost their jobs or have reduced hours or whatever the hardship may be, help them get back on their feet by recommending Rent Assistance. Be empathetic but firm and let them know you will have to file for eviction if they don’t apply.
https://georgiarentalassistance.ga.gov/faq
https://www.dca.ga.gov/newsroom/blog/qa-landlords-georgia-rental-assistance-program-part-one
https://www.dca.ga.gov/newsroom/blog/qa-landlords-georgia-rental-assistance-program-part-two
https://opb.georgia.gov/emergency-rental-assistance-program
