Related Posts
Hey! Any Google folks know if it’s possible to negotiate fully remote if a contract role is hybrid? Personally, I don’t want to relocate and go to the office on a contract role given the current economy. Plus, I’m assuming contractors are the first to go in layoffs. I just think it’s a fair trade off if I’d be allowed to work fully remote. I’m also trying to have flexibility to manage my Airbnb business in a different country. Same time zone as the home office if I’d travel weeks at a time.
More Posts
How serious is the investigation into LCA?? Do all SPACs typically go through these?
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/09/17/2095218/0/en/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-Kaskela-Law-LLC-Announces-Investigation-of-Landcadia-Holdings-II-Inc-LCA-and-Encourages-LCA-Stockholders-to-Contact-the-Firm.html
Yay or nay? Can't make up my mind 🤯

BOA Planning for permanent WFH ?? Is that true??
Additional Posts in The Worklife Bowl
Here we go again?

Does this Friday feel like a Monday to anyone else?
...First date ideas during a pandemic?
New to Fishbowl?
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.






Why aren’t you considering paying it and having them pay you back in the future? There are also new laws springing up every day about evictions being on hold for nonpayment and other rent relief type laws, so worth looking into. You may also want to contact your landlord and see if they would be willing to let their portion go unpaid. Covering their rent as a gift seems far too generous unless these are your lifelong friends or your family is wealthy.
Pro
Do what is sustainable for you. I think it’s really nice you want to help in some way. Agree w others about reducing rent a sustainable amount for 3 months or something and maybe paying utilities. They will likely be very grateful. But you need to make sure whatever you offer is an amount that will not impact your savings, just come out of your discretionary income that’s coming in regularly.
Former landlord here...Are they good roommates/tenants? If so, it might be worth forgoing some rent for a couple of months to avoid having to replace them with new tenants who might give you new problems (loud, messy, sketchy guests etc.). Not to mention the fact that you're all sharing the same space means tensions around money could get extra difficult.
What about offering to charge them half rent in April and take it from there? Assuming they qualify for unemployment that shouldn't be an issue for them and could go a long way in cementing this as a positive relationship.
Evictions aren't/shouldn't really be an option right now so it's only to your benefit to work with them here.
Be flexible! They honestly could strike and then nobody is moving in. Think worst case scenario is making nothing and friends being homeless. Come up with an escalation ladder of tactics. Maybe start with a rent reduction, then loans, then free rent. That’s just a random order but smaller stuff you can do first. Be honest and transparent.
Being their friend and landlord certainly puts you in a tough spot. I would first judge their personal situations, with the expectation that you have to do the same with both even if their circumstances aren’t the same. If they grew up with a silver spoon then they have family to help them right now, carry on as normal. If they are good people making it on their own, get creative.
Did you charge them security deposits? If so, and assuming they haven’t trashed anything, let them know that you will use that for a months rent and they can catch up on the security deposit later.
No security deposit, get one next time, but for now offer to pick up utilities casually dropping a “you guys can catch up when everything improves” at the end. If they go on carrying on like they still have a job, guess what, it’s time to catch up. If they truly buckle down and/or struggle, when you weren’t planning for them to really catch up.
You could do the same thing with rent if just waiving utilities doesn’t help, “look I’m guessing you are tight with money right now, let’s forget April and then once you get some cash coming in we can add $50 a month to rent until you catch up.”
Or maybe buy something off them?
Pro
This is helpful context. Sounds like they are very hand to mouth. In this case, I think your open offer for them to be late is good and for them to keep the channel open to ask for what they need is wise.
You may need to allow rent to be delayed for the first month or two, but I would ensure you get at least 75% of all rent (ie $1500 would be really good for you to recoup on all months either as it is due or later). They need to apply for unemployment ASAP so they can ensure to get it as soon as possible. Normally it gets processed in 1-3 weeks. This time may take longer
I think if you can afford it means that you won't miss the money if you never see it again.
How much can you let go without needing it back? That's how much you can afford.
If it were me I would tell them to apply for unemployment and I would cut the rent in half for the next two months. With unemployment like someone said, they'll be getting $600 on top of whatever they qualify for every week. So between the two of them that's potentially at least $4800 a month and so $2000 in rent is a generous offer.
allow them to add another roomate for more income
Probably not a good idea to add people to the household with current social distancing.
What will change after 2 months? If you start it how can you stop covering for them. Either ways they should also have savings to cover them for 1-2 months. But you could offer to maybe order take outs for everyone or pay the internet or utility bills .
OP I keep reading your replies and you keep saying “they are good tenants/friends”. And you keep asking what does it mean “if you can afford it”.? Clearly you can afford it because you’re in consulting and they aren’t. But the question you need to ask yourself is if you are okay with offsetting the costs without return and i mean REALLY OKAY, then do it. Help them out. Times are def tough right now.. The other thing is.... just because they are in hospitality doesn’t mean they can’t afford it. I used to be in hospitality and I always made sure to have 6 months min. in savings. And the fact that there is two of them, is questionable. They might have the cash and just aren’t disclosing it to you. Who knows. I sure as hell don’t. Just thinking really. If they truly don’t... that personally tells me they are living outside of their means but, again I have no idea.
I think you’ll be okay either way. Hope you figure it out OP. Good luck!!
Pro
I noticed one of my replies got cut off, but why I am guessing they will have trouble is they've been late on rent a few times due to cash flow. Always let me know ahead of time, and always said they would include a late fee (as specified in our lease), but I've told them not to pay the late fee because it's been three days late max and I wanted to build goodwill. I don't begrudge them that late fee, but I would begrudge giving thousands of dollars. As others have pointed out, though, I'm not sure how successful I'd be finding other roommates at this time. My house is in a resort town and jobs here have been totally decimated.
their first months deposit should carry you through April
Off topic, but what did they do?
it’s April 2nd , so what’s the verdict, who paid who’s rent?
Yes ask them to ask their parents. Also tell the landlord and see if the landlord can waive their rent. In the event you get laid off yourself, you may need your money.
This is assuming their parents have money???
Are you the landlord? Do you own the apartment?
If they’re your family I might consider it but since it sounds like they’re your tenants, I don’t think so. They can come to you with a plan, they’re adults, right? They should consider what they can pay for the time being (April) and then what the course of action will be after that. I would not.... at all give them that money as a gift unless you’re a trust fund baby and roll around in 20s for fun. It’s a tough time but loaning or gifting money is a funny thing. One rule of thumb my family always says is never “loan” money that you need, always give it as if it’s a gift with no expectation of its return.
Agree with A3.
No. Agree - help in other ways, but they need to file for unemployment and use their savings, not yours.
Wrong advice IMO from your friend, let the roommates figure out how they can pay it or ask the landlord for a deferral on behalf of all of you due to the situation.
Did u read their situation at all? They are the landlord as well.
Listen - if you emphasize with them and provide emotional support you will never be the bad friend. Let them deal with the landlord.
If you start supporting them it’s going to be really hard to stop without ruining a friendship. Even if you end up in a tighter spot. People forget the favors really quickly
If you really want to be a rockstar friend - and since you kinda already offered to help - maybe offer to cover a months rent. One month. While they figure things out. And then ask them to keep you in the loop about how things go with the landlord.
Is there any work that needs to done around the house (yard work, painting, etc.) that would take minimal skill to accomplish. Maybe they can ‘work-off’ some of the rent at ~$15-20/hr. Could work out well as I’m assuming they cannot exactly go out and about at the moment anyway and are probably bored. You could then forgive the rest or still charge them the remaining rent.
Which practice are you talking about ?
Don’t assume they don’t have savings. You are white collar consultants. With three folks sharing its 1300$ pm for the rent. AND you start saving and also plan to move out to less expensive ones... And have your roommates work out to get some time... On an unemployment your friend will get close to 1700$ in unemployment benefits and am sure there’s severance...
After 1200$ leaves a couple of hundreds for food and other stuff is MORE THAN ENOUGH.... Just my 2 cents...
Sorry didn’t read the thread fully... I assumed your roommates were also consulting
Short answer is you owe them nothing. If they don’t even have a month or two of savings that is their fault.