DEAR HARRIETTE: It has been a hard year for everyone living in this pandemic. The tenants who live in the accessory apartment in our home have been unable to pay their rent for the majority of this year. I don’t know their situation, but they tell me each month that they are unable to make payment. They are both still working, and their young daughter goes to school and day care. I know that much, but even after months of nonpayment, new laws enacted during the pandemic won’t allow me to evict them. I’ve resorted to other things like locking the driveway and discontinuing the included cable and Wi-Fi package, but they remain here comfortably.
I am retired and depend on the income to sustain myself and own a home. Without it, I am unable to pay my own bills. I’ve had to dip into my savings just to get by without the income. What should I do next? -- No Income at Home
DEAR NO INCOME AT HOME: Request a meeting with your tenants. Appeal to their humanity. Point out that everyone is suffering now, including you. While you understand that this pandemic has affected this family, point out that you know they are both working and paying for child care. Ask them to offer something monthly toward their rent.
Check to see if there is any tax abatement offered in your town for landlords. This will provide a credit to your property tax bill -- at least some relief.
You may also want to hire a lawyer to determine what you can do legally to protect yourself. When the time comes that the rent freeze is over, you want to be ready to evict them. Meanwhile, here’s hoping that your personal humanitarian appeal will have an impact on your tenants.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)