Most of us have faced difficult times that make it challenging to meet our financial obligations. Sometimes a loss of income, an unfortunate setback or mismanagement of money puts us in a position where we get behind in our rent or utilities. Rent is usually our largest single bill and one of the most important since it’s what keeps a roof over our head.

If there are times when you can’t pay our rent or are at-risk of getting behind, there are ways to avoid eviction. Remember, evictions are reflected in your credit report and will impact your ability to rent other apartments as well as make other purchases in the future so it’s something you’ll want to avoid as best you can.

If you find yourself needing help paying your rent, here are a few options to immediately consider. Remember, it’s important to consider a wide array of options just in case your first option does not work out.

• Review your rental agreement. You want to make sure that you thoroughly review your rental agreement to see what’s the latest date you can pay your rent without incurring a late fee, what the late fee is and what the next steps are if you’re late on your rent. It’s very important to always be aware of this information.

• Borrow money from someone in your support network. Is there someone that you trust that will let you borrow money to pay toward your rent? Borrowing money can always get a little tricky so make sure that you share with who you are borrowing from what the situation is, how much you need and when you expect to pay it back.

• Speak with your landlord. If you know that you are going to have trouble paying your rent, make sure you contact your landlord. The sooner, the better. Don’t wait until after the rent is due. Explain your situation—don’t exaggerate or get too emotional, just tell your landlord the facts. Make sure you are clear as to why this happened this month and why it will not happen again. In some cases, you may have a relationship with your landlord and he or she may be willing to give you some extra days to avoid a late fee. No harm in asking. You also might want to consider making a partial payment. For example, maybe you have most of your rent and are only $200 behind. Your landlord may be willing to work out a timeline for the remainder of money you owe.

• Tap into community resources. It is important to also tap into community resources. Most communities provide temporary rental assistance to low-income households at high risk of homelessness due to a crisis situation. Some of the services include temporary rental assistance and help with security deposits. These resources can usually be tapped through your local human services agency.

• Look for more affordable housing options. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, there may be other options to consider like getting a roomate, downsizing or if you are income eligible, accessing low-rent/subsized housing. For more information on low-rent/subsidized housing, check out Choosing a Place to Live in the On Our Own resource group. 

apartment, rent, money, trouble

Last updated 229 days ago by Chuck