因為COVID-19，有些生意關門，導致一些人員失業，政府於是說在疫情期間不能evict不交房租的房客，但政府並沒說房東的房租損失怎麽辦。估計不少房客are able to pay rents, but choose not to pay rents。
到三月底為止，有兩個房客來郵件想遲交房租。說實在的，原來沒想到會是他們第一批來問，因為他們是白玉和半白玉房客，都住了一年半左右，一直按時交房租，也不找麻煩。
第一個來問的是個半白玉房客，妻子是中學老師，丈夫開Uber，丈夫可能受影響，但妻子是穩定的。妻子幾天前問能不能延期交租，因為大多數公司都是這樣，還轉發煤氣公司的信，裏麵說不會因為不交費而斷煤氣。我感覺她是想試探，就回了封短信，講明我也有很多賬單要付，要她按時交房租。她很快回信說: Don't worry. Rent will be paid. 這封短信見下，大家沒準有用：
Hello,
You are the first one who asked us about rent extension. We thought about it. We are small house owners, normal people just like you. We are also suffering and are in the same boat as you. But we still need to pay for city property tax, mortgage, insurance, repairs, etc. The city didn't tell us that we can pay tax late. And no super markets will allow us to get groceries without payment.
Government will send checks to every adult and children in the next few weeks. If one loses his/her job, please file for unemployment benefits immediately. Don't forget about tax refunds. And family and friends are also sources of funds.
It is hard on everyone. We make all house payments because we value a roof over head. Please try your best to pay rent on time.
Thank you,
昨天收到一個白玉房客的長郵件，這房客是個director，收入十幾萬的，離婚後帶著一個孩子搬來的。她說公司可能要暫時關門，工資隻能發到4月3號，所以4月和5月房租都要求晚交，等她下月知道公司的具體計劃，finds out what aids she can qualify，在4月20號前她會給一個payment計劃。她最後強調了她已住18個月，一直按時付房租。
我覺得這房客現在一下子說兩個月暫不交，有點過了。她現在還有工資，收入高應該有積蓄，至少能交4月房租。因為這是個白玉房客，所以把上麵第一次的回信改得比較客氣點。正好老朽說應該問房客要證明材料，就在信末加上了這條。回信附在下麵。下午寫好信後發給房客，房客過一會回信: 理解，4月房租會按時付。她的公司可能5月6月都開不了，等4月她知道更多情況後再來商量5月的房租。
這兩個房客還算情況可以的，要求付4月房租也就付了。白菜房客還沒來聯係，不知道是什麽情況，沒準直接就不交了。政府大喇叭廣播說房東幾月之內不能evict，給很多房客以錯覺，有可能會出現惡意不付房租的。
Hello,
That was a big surprise. We are also suffering and are in the same boat as you. We did not expect that you asked to defer your rent since you seem to have had very good income. But we will work with you.
First just let you know, we are only small house owners. We need to pay for city property tax, mortgage, city water/sewer, insurance, maintenance, etc. The city didn't tell us that RE tax can be paid late. Our lender, which is not FHA backed, didn't allow us to pay mortgage late either at this time.
We just break even as our rents are very reasonable. We didn't prepare for a loss of April rent at only 5 days before April 1st. For May 1st we may be better prepared.
We ask that your April rent be paid on time on April 1st. And we will work with you on your May rent. We will also waive all late fees.
There are funds available to you: Government will send checks to every adult and child in the next few weeks; If you lose your job, you will get unemployment benefits soon after you file claim; There are rent aids to tenants from state government, so check with them; Don't forget tax refunds; And family and friends are also sources of funds.
If you ask for delayed payment of May rent, we will need your cooperation to provide following:
- Proof of loss of income or job due to COVID-19 in the form of a letter from your employer stating date of termination, as well as a copy of last pay stub or check.
- Proof that you have applied for unemployment compensation, and other financial aids if applicable.
- Bank statements.
- A payment plan.
Thank you.
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小地主四月房租大部分收到，5月及之後會比較難看
一直用direct debit房租的服務，1號收的房租要三個工作日後才能到賬，又遇上周末，所以今天早上才知道收到房租的情況。除了總遲交的那個房客，其他的房租都收到了。
要謝謝其他的房客們。前些天寫過，有兩個房客問過可否晚交租。一個說純屬問問，我要她盡量按時交，她是中學老師，學校即使停課相信仍有工資，不過她先生是開Uber的會受影響，相當收入少了差不多一半，五月的房租不知道如何。
另一個是個高收入的房客，三月下旬說公司四月初要關門不發工資，她要求四月五月都晚交，我覺得她完全能交四月，要求她交四月然後根據情況商量五月及以後的房租。她前幾天給我update，說公司四月仍開門幾周，她因為是核心人員可能可以呆到五月，但工資會降低。她公司情況的好轉，不知是否與stimulus plan砸的那幾萬億有關，畢竟政府會補貼仍發工資的企業。
感覺她強調工資會降低，是有想讓降租的意思，但她沒明說。如果她明確提出來，我會比較尷尬：不是不能給她降，但她的收入即使降低，也高過我其他的和她租金一樣的房客（不在一個town，她在好區的白玉房，去年冬天搬進的，租金比市場低，所以房租和藍領區的好點房子差不多），她完全可以負擔房租，給她降了，那其他的房客呢？如果不降，她說了幾次，從晚交到降租，什麽都不答應又顯得不近人情。
沒收到的那個房客是老問題了，經常1號賬號裏沒那麽多錢，催一催，過幾天能交上。今天問她，她說她上兩周的收入沒有她想的那麽多，所以賬號裏隻有大概70％的房租，過幾天會全部交上。想了一下，都不容易，和她說她先交60％的租金，剩下的等過一兩周她有錢了再交，另外提醒她如果因為COVID19而工作時間減少，可以去申請失業金，聯邦政府每周額外補貼600。
這次比較擔心的房客是三月初剛搬進來的，還不了解秉性。這家男的是個體，開拖車公司的，應該會受影響；女的是護士，收入肯定有保障。但他們兩個是離婚後重組的，還沒有正式結婚，男追女，申請時看出是男方負擔房租等家用。不知道在男方收入減少的情況下，女方會願意負擔多久家用，以前有過類似組合的房客，女方負擔兩個月後覺得不公平撒手了，所有的房租賬單都停付。
四月房租情況還好是因為三月還工作了大半個月。五月房租不樂觀，六月之後更不提了。政府大喇叭廣播房東不能evict，給很多房客造成錯覺可以不付房租，聽說有地方政府可能要求房東免租金。希望我的房客們不要惡意不付，能付盡量付，免得後麵雙方難看。
