Then make these moves, as they can help you stay where you are at a more affordable rate, or move elsewhere to start saving.
1. Write a lower rent letter.
If you don’t want to move but can’t afford your current rent, write your landlord a letter. Some call it a “lower rent letter,” and its purpose is to negotiate a more affordable monthly payment.
In this letter, you will need to make a convincing argument about why you cannot afford the current rent and why your landlord should lower it. As such, it should contain the following bits of information:
- Financial reasons why the rent is too high for your budget, such as losing your job, medical bills piling up, etc.
- A history of how you’ve been a solid tenant to convince your landlord that it’s worth keeping you at a lower rate versus finding someone new.
- Justification for lower rent by comparing it to the market rate for other properties in the area.
- The specific amount that you want to lower your rent by.
- The benefits your landlord can enjoy by keeping you at a lower rate versus finding a new tenant, such as avoiding repairs, having to screen new applicants, running background checks, the possibility of the property sitting vacant, etc.
2. Apply to the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program.
If the COVID-19 pandemic made you lose your job or income and that negatively impacted your ability to pay the rent, the ERA Program could help by paying your:
- Past due rent
- Future rent
- Utility bills
- Moving expenses
To see if you qualify for this new program that was put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, go here to find your local office.
3. Contact your Public Housing Agency (PHA).
Your PHA can help you find affordable housing via various avenues. Your best bet may be to apply for a Section 8 housing voucher, as it will ensure you only pay 30 percent of your income on rent. To learn more about Section 8 and similar housing assistance programs, contact your PHA now.
4. Call 211.
If you’re to the point of nearly severing ties with your landlord and you fear that eviction is near, dial 211 on your phone. A local operator can list your options, such as emergency rental assistance from organizations like the Salvation Army or Catholic Charities or homeless shelters in the area that can take you in for the time being.
Since you may need assistance in other areas, don’t be afraid to ask the 211 operator for the various ways they can help you. 211 specializes in not only housing assistance, but also food, healthcare, counseling, bills, and more.
5. Contact your state social service agency.
Another helpful resource for rental assistance could be your state social service agency, which you can find here. Ask about their other assistance programs too.
Section 8 Assist