Making myself a resource to my tenants during COVID-19 crisis...

[Laura Cardenas]

Hey BP!

I would like to put together a formal and professional email to send to my tenants as a point of guidance and support to them and also give show them resources they have regarding COVID19. I want to communicate that I am going to help as much as I can in the event that someone loses their job. Would it be inappropriate to ask for proof of unemployment from their employer?
I would like to include any links that might be helpful resources for them (ex:NH unemployment website).

Any landlords/property management teams here that have or are planning to take proactive steps to contact their tenants?
If you are, would you be willing to share that document/email with me? I’d love to provide my tenants proactively with resources incase they need them.
Thanks in advance.

*New Hampshire specific advice would be a bonus.

[Mason Hickman]

@Laura Cardenas

I think your heart is in the right place to help your tenants out but you will be opening the door for problems and you'll be volunteering to subsidize your tenants' lives. Remember the children's book about if you give a mouse a cookie? Unless you're in a position to take on their rent for many months without complaint, I would steer clear of offering financial help. If you do decide to go forward with offering financial assistance, I'd be VERY specific on what you're doing to assist (30 days, 60 days, use of security deposit etc) so that you have some recourse if things go sideways. 

Let us know what you end up doing!