Cash for Keys During Covid

[Nicole Richards]

It has been really difficult during Covid to sell multifamily here in Oregon. I have a Duplex listed for sale and a tenant who is not paying.  Spent a few hours working with an attorney trying to figure out if we can legally sell the property to a buyer who will Owner Occupy.  Of course the buyers want us to handle removing the tenant. This tenant has paid and already owes over $10k. The attorney was very uncomfortable stating we don't have case precedence for the Cash for Keys during Covid and wasn't sure the contract would hold up in court.  He drafted up a Mutual Termination Contract.  The tenant is getting $10,000 of back rent eliminated and $3,000 cash if he vacates in 35 days.  The tenant was bragging about his new iPhone 12 he bought and $300 shoes.  He has been working this whole time and just not paying.  Our county has decided that tenants dont need to make application to not pay rent....they can just "not pay."  Today he agreed to move out on February 15 which is helpful because he can "not pay" all the way up to June.  He made out well.  I wish all the people who really needed help from Covid relief could get it, but people who want to cheat other people always will!