How Did COVID Change Landlord-Tenant Laws

24 September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic did a number on every industry across the globe. Even the real estate sector, well known for its relative stability, was not immune to its effects. In some instances, the battle was between lives and livelihood as many tenants lost their jobs. And with it, the ability to pay their bills, including their rent. These unfortunate circumstances necessitated changes to the usual landlord-tenant laws practically overnight.

Due to these changes, landlords have had to suspend their home renovation plans to fully grasp these new laws and avoid legal suits. Read on for an overview of how exactly COVID changed landlord-tenant rules.

Rent suspension

One of the most impactful changes to the landlord-tenant laws is rent suspensions. In the heat of the pandemic, the government was forced to suspend rent collection in specific locations and for particular demographics, as the lockdown dealt many citizens a heavy financial blow. Of course, this decision pushed most of the weight onto the landlords who could not rely on getting their regular passive income.

But in August 2020, the external control of rent was partially lifted, allowing landlords to charge full rent and increase it. However, this comes with the condition that COVID-19 has not heavily impacted your tenants. So, for the most part, limits on rent increases are still in place.

Rent arrears

Rent arrears refers to the unpaid rent a tenant owes their landlord. Under normal circumstances, property owners reserve the right to evict an occupant who doesn’t comply with their payments, but such laws were suspended amid the pandemic. Policies such as the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020 were set up to protect tenants from losing their homes.

Following the signing of that Act in February 2021, it became illegal for landlords in California to evict renters with longer than 12 months’ tenancy. So rather than issue eviction requests, landlords owed rent, or the tenants themselves need to seek relocation assistance payments from relief bodies.

Dispute resolutions

The sudden changes to landlord-tenant laws in the wake of the coronavirus make disputes inevitable. Despite the effort of government policies to protect both parties, there are still a lot of grey areas that leave room for conflict and require mediation.

However, to curb the spread of COVID-19, the suspension of the routine procedure has left people confused about where to bear their grievances. If you’re a landlord having trouble with your tenant, you may appeal at court where an adjudicator will deliberate over your case and try to help you reach an amicable decision.

If the mediator cannot help you get a consensus, you may take up the case to a hearing by a 3-person Tenancy Tribunal. Many of these adjudications and hearings take place over the phone or virtually, so you may not have to leave the safety of your house.

Protection for landlords

It’s clear to anyone that real estate policies often defer to the side of the tenant. But that doesn’t mean the law has left all landlords in the cold. After all, COVID-19 marked everyone, so there are laws to protect landlords from going bankrupt. Despite the policies pushing rent suspensions and eviction bans, the landlord can take steps to refute their tenant’s protection under these laws based on certain conditions.

You’ll have to go through the trouble of filing an eviction notice, which will receive approval if:

The tenant still owes rent as of August 2021

The tenant violated their landlord-tenant agreement.

The tenant did not seek relief assistance after you issued a rent arrears warning notice.

The withholding of rent would cause the landlord undue financial hardship

How do Landlords protect themselves?

Familiarize yourself with the current laws

As a landlord, the best way to protect yourself from a lawsuit or other legal pitfalls is to familiarize yourself with the current landlord-tenant laws. Of course, keeping up with both national and state laws can be a challenging task. The effort could save you more trouble in the future. Alternatively, to err on the side of caution, you should contact an expert before taking any legal steps.

Seek external aid for your tenants

Most investors are in real estate for the money. Still, it’s essential to remember to be kind. Everyone is having a tough time because of COVID, and it’s more likely your tenant genuinely can’t meet up with the rent because of financial constraints rather than harboring their money out of malice. Extend a fig leaf by offering a more flexible payment scheme or helping them look for rent relief programs that can assist.

Seek external aid for yourself

Alternatively, you can also look out for your interests by seeking external aid for homeowners. Banks and other lending institutions are also offering handouts during this trying period in the way of waiving late fees or offering refinancing options for your mortgage. There are also a few tax breaks and deductions applicable to landlords to make up for the rent freezes and eviction moratoriums.

Keep your records

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issue to stop evictions expired in August 2021, there have been evictions in large numbers in many states. Despite this trend, policies and legal aids to protect tenants are still in place. So if you’re bent on removing an occupant from your property, ensure you have all written records of your correspondence with the tenant. These documents serve as proof you did your due diligence and may absolve you from a potential suit.

Conclusion

If you’re a landlord finding it hard to keep up with the recent changes to landlord-tenant laws, you’re not alone. Still, rather than remaining aloof, you could contact a professional who understands the rental market more than you do. Hiring an experienced property manager could be an excellent investment, as they can steer you away from hefty fines and lawsuits. They can also help maximize your rental property’s income as you weather through the effects of COVID.

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How Are Auto Accident Compensations Calculated? – 5 Things To Note

Auto accident cases are disastrous in nature. You never know what types of compensation you have to bear. Auto accident compensations can make your life easier once you know the exact amount you can claim from the other party due to whom you are suffering. Proper planning can help you to achieve your goals appropriately. Here you need to make sure that you do not make the wrong calculation as it is a matter of your survival, and this compensation amount can save your life. On What Factors Auto Accident Cases Calculations Are Conducted? There are several factors depending on which auto accident compensations are calculated. First, ensure that you do not make the wrong calculation of compensation for auto accident cases. 1. Medical Expenses The medical expenses resulting from the accident are one of the significant factors of calculation that you need to make for your auto accident compensation case. Here there are several factors of calculations you need to take care of while calculating the medical expenses of your auto accident cases:- What is the cost of your treatment? What amount of money do you have to invest for your surgeries? Doctors visit costs. Ambulance ride expenses after the accident. Daily costs involved in your medical treatment after the accident. These are some of the core issues you need to avoid your car accident cases. In addition, it will help you to meet the medical-related costs in the best possible ways. If you are not confident enough with your calculation, seek help from an attorney. How can an attorney help you? Click here to learn more. 2. Lost Wages The amount of money you lose is another issue you need to take care of while calculating lost wages for your auto accident compensation. In case of the lost wages, there are series of calculations you need to make for meeting the need of your auto accident wages:- Unpaid leaves from work. Loss of incentives. Bonuses. Loss of family income. Take care of all these factors while calculating the compensation money for your auto car accident claim. 3. Suffering & Pain Pain and suffering are the common causes of auto car accident cases. Some pain and suffering are temporary, while others are permanent. The pain that lasts longer has a long-term impact on your body. For this, you may have to invest money later. In addition, you must calculate the future medical bills that you will suffer from the auto car accident. It also forms a part of your auto car accident claim. It is one of the most difficult types of damage that one must calculate while you suffer from severe pain and suffering. Proper planning here holds the key to help you in getting rid of this situation as quickly as possible. 4. Amount Of Emotional Distress Emotional damages and mental trauma are very severe in car accident injuries that you cannot avoid. Seeking treatment of licensed mental health professionals can work well in your favor. In addition, documentation of the car accident damage can make your calculation accurate. If you have documented the extent of mental trauma and emotional distress you suffered from the auto car accident. In that case, it can also come under the purview of the car accident injuries calculation. 5. Chances Of Property Damages You can also calculate the property damage caused due to the car accident. The fair market value of your car is also totaled depending on which you can make your calculation. You have the right to claim the damage of the property that has caused havoc in your life. However, you have to make your choices depending on some rational parameters that are accepted in the eyes of the law. Auto Accident Cases Calculations Requirements Whenever you have faced auto car accident cases, you must consider the mentioned factors to make your calculations perfect. You must not make your choices in the wrong way. Proper planning holds the key that can make things possible in your favor. Read Also: Personal Injury Attorneys Denver Why Do Businesses Need Lawyer's Advice? 5 Types of Damages You Can Claim After a Car Accident

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You wouldn’t want someone laying claim to something of yours just to sell it. Therefore, it should go to the right person. The amount of money people spend on teenagers or children over the years is increasing. Especially with the growing number of toys and technology that are accessible. Some young adults manage to accumulate a great amount of worth in video games, movies, or even dividends on the internet. 2. Children When a young person passes away, children become orphans. Even if they do not have children now, one needs to predetermine a guardian. This can happen if one creates a will with a correct and legal approach. Choose someone who you know will take the best care of your children. Someone who would be happy to, not someone who would just be stuck with them. There may also be something you would want to leave to them in particular. Something that is special between the two of you, or even an heirloom that was given to you. 3. 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When writing a will, if the worst occurs, all of the important valuables in your life should go to a specific person. It has to be someone you absolutely trust because then that person can divide it among others. Sentimental items can be of huge importance to some. So, it is vital to designate the right things to those you feel would honor them properly. 5. Digital Assets Technology is an integral part of life, especially those of young adults. The option of having digital assets is less thought of when developing a will, but it is now becoming necessary, This includes video games or online money wallets. Without your will these things can be lost forever, locked behind a password only you knew. 6. Separate Beliefs Than Parents If you want a specific arrangement dealing with your funeral or burial, it can be vital to state it; otherwise, those responsible may not know. 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How Did COVID Change Landlord-Tenant Laws

Rent suspension

Rent arrears

Dispute resolutions

Protection for landlords

How do Landlords protect themselves?