Raising rents during COVID?

[Amanda Forde]

Wanted to hear your thoughts on rent strategies in the current era.

As some states (such as Massachusetts) has extended moratoriums on evictions into the Fall, inevitably they will cross into lease end/renewal times.

How are you mitigating any prior expectations about increasing rents at end of lease (keeping pace with expenses) vs tenant retention at this time?

[Chris B.]

I have one tenant who was scheduled for a substantial rent increase in a home that is renting for well below market rates but I delayed it for 6 months as she's having trouble paying the current rate.  I have another home that I just placed a new tenant in and raised the rent significantly higher than what the previous tenant was paying and it is now back up to market rate.  Be considerate of the tenant's situation, but where appropriate you shouldn't short change yourself.