因为COVID-19，有些生意关门，导致一些人员失业，政府于是说在疫情期间不能evict不交房租的房客，但政府并没说房东的房租损失怎么办。估计不少房客are able to pay rents, but choose not to pay rents。
到三月底为止，有两个房客来邮件想迟交房租。说实在的，原来没想到会是他们第一批来问，因为他们是白玉和半白玉房客，都住了一年半左右，一直按时交房租，也不找麻烦。
第一个来问的是个半白玉房客，妻子是中学老师，丈夫开Uber，丈夫可能受影响，但妻子是稳定的。妻子几天前问能不能延期交租，因为大多数公司都是这样，还转发煤气公司的信，里面说不会因为不交费而断煤气。我感觉她是想试探，就回了封短信，讲明我也有很多账单要付，要她按时交房租。她很快回信说: Don't worry. Rent will be paid. 这封短信见下，大家没准有用：
Hello,
You are the first one who asked us about rent extension. We thought about it. We are small house owners, normal people just like you. We are also suffering and are in the same boat as you. But we still need to pay for city property tax, mortgage, insurance, repairs, etc. The city didn't tell us that we can pay tax late. And no super markets will allow us to get groceries without payment.
Government will send checks to every adult and children in the next few weeks. If one loses his/her job, please file for unemployment benefits immediately. Don't forget about tax refunds. And family and friends are also sources of funds.
It is hard on everyone. We make all house payments because we value a roof over head. Please try your best to pay rent on time.
Thank you,
昨天收到一个白玉房客的长邮件，这房客是个director，收入十几万的，离婚后带着一个孩子搬来的。她说公司可能要暂时关门，工资只能发到4月3号，所以4月和5月房租都要求晚交，等她下月知道公司的具体计划，finds out what aids she can qualify，在4月20号前她会给一个payment计划。她最后强调了她已住18个月，一直按时付房租。
我觉得这房客现在一下子说两个月暂不交，有点过了。她现在还有工资，收入高应该有积蓄，至少能交4月房租。因为这是个白玉房客，所以把上面第一次的回信改得比较客气点。正好老朽说应该问房客要证明材料，就在信末加上了这条。回信附在下面。下午写好信后发给房客，房客过一会回信: 理解，4月房租会按时付。她的公司可能5月6月都开不了，等4月她知道更多情况后再来商量5月的房租。
这两个房客还算情况可以的，要求付4月房租也就付了。白菜房客还没来联系，不知道是什么情况，没准直接就不交了。政府大喇叭广播说房东几月之内不能evict，给很多房客以错觉，有可能会出现恶意不付房租的。
Hello,
That was a big surprise. We are also suffering and are in the same boat as you. We did not expect that you asked to defer your rent since you seem to have had very good income. But we will work with you.
First just let you know, we are only small house owners. We need to pay for city property tax, mortgage, city water/sewer, insurance, maintenance, etc. The city didn't tell us that RE tax can be paid late. Our lender, which is not FHA backed, didn't allow us to pay mortgage late either at this time.
We just break even as our rents are very reasonable. We didn't prepare for a loss of April rent at only 5 days before April 1st. For May 1st we may be better prepared.
We ask that your April rent be paid on time on April 1st. And we will work with you on your May rent. We will also waive all late fees.
There are funds available to you: Government will send checks to every adult and child in the next few weeks; If you lose your job, you will get unemployment benefits soon after you file claim; There are rent aids to tenants from state government, so check with them; Don't forget tax refunds; And family and friends are also sources of funds.
If you ask for delayed payment of May rent, we will need your cooperation to provide following:
- Proof of loss of income or job due to COVID-19 in the form of a letter from your employer stating date of termination, as well as a copy of last pay stub or check.
- Proof that you have applied for unemployment compensation, and other financial aids if applicable.
- Bank statements.
- A payment plan.
Thank you.
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小地主四月房租大部分收到，5月及之后会比较难看
一直用direct debit房租的服务，1号收的房租要三个工作日后才能到账，又遇上周末，所以今天早上才知道收到房租的情况。除了总迟交的那个房客，其他的房租都收到了。
要谢谢其他的房客们。前些天写过，有两个房客问过可否晚交租。一个说纯属问问，我要她尽量按时交，她是中学老师，学校即使停课相信仍有工资，不过她先生是开Uber的会受影响，相当收入少了差不多一半，五月的房租不知道如何。
另一个是个高收入的房客，三月下旬说公司四月初要关门不发工资，她要求四月五月都晚交，我觉得她完全能交四月，要求她交四月然后根据情况商量五月及以后的房租。她前几天给我update，说公司四月仍开门几周，她因为是核心人员可能可以呆到五月，但工资会降低。她公司情况的好转，不知是否与stimulus plan砸的那几万亿有关，毕竟政府会补贴仍发工资的企业。
感觉她强调工资会降低，是有想让降租的意思，但她没明说。如果她明确提出来，我会比较尴尬：不是不能给她降，但她的收入即使降低，也高过我其他的和她租金一样的房客（不在一个town，她在好区的白玉房，去年冬天搬进的，租金比市场低，所以房租和蓝领区的好点房子差不多），她完全可以负担房租，给她降了，那其他的房客呢？如果不降，她说了几次，从晚交到降租，什么都不答应又显得不近人情。
没收到的那个房客是老问题了，经常1号账号里没那么多钱，催一催，过几天能交上。今天问她，她说她上两周的收入没有她想的那么多，所以账号里只有大概70％的房租，过几天会全部交上。想了一下，都不容易，和她说她先交60％的租金，剩下的等过一两周她有钱了再交，另外提醒她如果因为COVID19而工作时间减少，可以去申请失业金，联邦政府每周额外补贴600。
这次比较担心的房客是三月初刚搬进来的，还不了解秉性。这家男的是个体，开拖车公司的，应该会受影响；女的是护士，收入肯定有保障。但他们两个是离婚后重组的，还没有正式结婚，男追女，申请时看出是男方负担房租等家用。不知道在男方收入减少的情况下，女方会愿意负担多久家用，以前有过类似组合的房客，女方负担两个月后觉得不公平撒手了，所有的房租账单都停付。
四月房租情况还好是因为三月还工作了大半个月。五月房租不乐观，六月之后更不提了。政府大喇叭广播房东不能evict，给很多房客造成错觉可以不付房租，听说有地方政府可能要求房东免租金。希望我的房客们不要恶意不付，能付尽量付，免得后面双方难看。
