Embed from Getty Images
Some pretty amazing landlords around the country have decided to not collect rent or to slash it in April. This is a welcome relief for people who have found themselves unexpectedly out of work amid all of the business closures during this tough time. Nearly 20% of the world’s population is currently under lockdown. In the U.S., more than 158 million people have been told to stay home.
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have joined these thoughtful landlords. They own apartment buildings in Los Angeles. Over the weekend, the apartment manager, who is Dax’s sister, e-mailed tenants to let them know that they won’t have to pay rent in April:
We’re told a manager of Pringus Property LLC — Kristen and Dax’s company that owns at least 2 residential buildings — emailed all tenants this weekend to give them the good news.
Our sources say the message expressed empathy and encouragement, and the manager — who we’re told is Dax’s sister — promised to work with residents going forward as best as possible as everyone learns to adjust to the public health crisis.
Good for Kristen and Dax! I’m glad that they decided to help their tenants out and waive their April rent. I’m sure that that was a tremendous load of people’s minds. I keep hoping that my landlord will do the same, but I doubt it. It also seems like Kristen and Dax (via Dax’s sister) are going to work with tenants moving forward, which is also great. My concern is one that TMZ raises later in the piece: It’s fantastic that landlords are willing to help their residents out in April. But who knows how long these closures will last. At some point, landlords will need to collect rent again in order to pay their bills, and I worry about what will happen then to folks who are still out of work. Some cities and states are putting a halt to evictions. I hope that that becomes the standard so that people can focus on paying for necessities and utilities, and not worry about losing their homes.
Photos credit: Getty and via Instagram
These two seem like they are such genuinely good people. Love them
This should be the standard for landlords, not the exception. Two independently and very wealthy people forgoing an income stream that they don’t even need should not be an act of heroism or virtue. It should be baseline decency. And they clearly leaked it to the press.
Maybe they leaked it in order to encourage others to do the same. If enough people do it, then those who can but refuse might be shamed enough to participate.
Could be, who knows?
I hope that by this being “leaked” to the press, it encourages other people in places of privilege to share what they can, donate what they can, and cut people breaks where they can. I choose to see the good in this.
honestly who cares if it was leaked i think its nice wealthy people are trying to help. landlords who are only renting
It could’ve just as easily been one of their many tenants who leaked it in gratitude, to let the public know what decent landlords they have, and to give them props.
As a landlord who can survive without rent, I can assure you this is some sanctimonious SH*t right here. Yeah. You’re already wealthy enough, it’s the cream on your perfect coffee. Just drink the coffee. Ugh.
My complex said half the amount & then a payment plan I think thereafter and they’d also waive the late fees. I appreciate that
Sometimes it’s bills or meds. For me anyway. I can’t count how many times I’ve forgone health so the family has electricity and a stocked fridge. I do hope better heads prevail concerning those needing real assistance, but this has been but another glaring example of the stinking pile of shit that’s running this country and all his little minions racing in to sniff the fumes.
This is great. More landlords need to follow suit.
This also illustrates why a one-time cash payment proposed by the US government is not nearly enough. It needs to be more like a Universal Basic Income as Andrew Yang suggests — monthly payments to Americans in perpetuity (or at least for a year or two), as the economic toll of the pandemic will be felt for years: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/22/819891943/andrew-yang-talks-universal-basic-income-during-the-coronavirus-crisis
Meanwhile my landlord has said that he will be going UP on the rent in May.
Despicable!
That’s horrible and disgusting of him. And of course it happens at a time when you can’t just give notice and move by then.
Damn! That is just uncalled for!
Wow, your landlord ain’t shit.
I see it as price gauging which can be reported. Don’t back down- your landlord is in the wrong.
Sorry but as a landlord this makes me nervous. I only own 1 unit in a condo building (not an entire block) and I only collect enough rent as it is to cover costs. I can’t afford to waive rent at a time when I’ve been laid off and need to cover my own house mortgage. You need to look at it from both sides. Obviously Dax and Bell can afford to waive rents for a month but a lot of landlords can’t.
I don’t think anyone can castigate small owners like yourself. I think that people who have the means should step up, but it’s not fair to expect people like yourself to become homeless so that the tenant in your one rental still has a home.
I wish you well and hope things work out for all of us.
I’m with you. We are in the same situation where if we don’t get rent, we don’t pay our mortgage. It was never our intention to not have a cushion but this pandemic threw a huge wrench in our finances, including our college savings funds for our two college kids, which have taken big hits. We have one property on the market that the proceeds would be the answer to our problems but now we’re not expecting to sell it anytime soon.
My heart goes out to all who are struggling and of course we are hoping to work out plans with our tenants if they are having trouble coming up with rent.
100%
I have rented out the house I used to live in before my SO and I moved in together. I don’t make a ton of money on it. I talked to my tenants and postponed their payment till the 15th when we will hopefully know more of what is going on. That being said, that rent pays the mortgage on that house. If they can’t pay for months I could be in trouble.
If you can’t afford to live without charging rent, then charge rent. You’re in the same boat. If you CAN afford to live, but may cut corners, do the right thing
Wow, they’re more than just pretty faces. When their acting jobs run dry, they’ll still have a steady stream of income!
I imagine / hope they will reassess each month as everything progresses since things keep changing so rapidly.
That’s great of them, I hope others who can (not everyone can) do the same. My state has halted all evictions. Rent around here is crazy expensive – the house next to me is smaller than mine, and rents for about $300/month MORE than what I pay in mortgage, taxes, and insurance.
I really hope there’s a mortgage freeze too, that would help ease a lot of worries right now.
I’m a landlord myself and have my own property management company for larger properties. Of course I don’t want to evict anyone (and my state made it illegal today to evict because of non payment) but my mortgage on my rental is still due (and the collected rent barely covers mortgage, taxes and insurance). Even the larger properties I manage pay mortgages and taxes and maintenance workers. This is putting property owners in a tough spot. We really need all mortgages to be frozen for this to work! Most landlords are kind, normal people just trying to make ends meet, not heartless millionaires!
Please. MOST landlords are heartless millionaires, let’s not play the tiny violin. However, it only “works” with a moratorium on ALL mortgages & rents, that part I can play w because it’s accurate.