Late rent after Hurricane Harvey

[David Hines]

I own properties in the west Houston areas of Katy and Cypress. I've already been notified by one tenant that they may have trouble making the September rent payment due to not working this week at all. None of my properties flooded, but schools are closed and a lot of employers are keeping their employees home all week. What would you recommend I do?

Does anyone in the Carolinas, Florida or New York/ New Jersey area have experience with a similar issue after Matthew or Sandy?

I am inclined to be pretty lenient, the last thing I want to do is initiate an eviction immediately following a natural disaster.

[Steve Vaughan]

When deserving folks let me know they will be late due to not being able to work temporarily I give them a social services list. Community Action, churches, Salvation Army is good for $250 every 12 months, etc. HUD also has emergency one-time programs to help folks keep their housing. My guess is there will be far more avenues of help available because of Harvey.

These services usually need the tenant to receive a 3-day notice to pay or vacate to help.  I let the tenant know I will be giving them one, then purge it from their file when they catch up.  

Kudos to you for offering leniency in this situation @David Hines!