3 Commons Mistakes People Make When They Cannot Pay Rent

Many renters in the Fort Worth area are having a hard time coming up with rent money this month. If this describes your situation, know that you are not alone. Yet, this doesn't mean you can let the situation go. You still need to handle the situation to the best of your ability. Whatever you do, do not do any of these three things:

#1 Thinking Your Salary is Your Only Source of Money

Maybe you have been laid off, furloughed, or your job is much slower and so you're making less tips. Do you have other funds available or forthcoming beyond a paycheck? Do you expect a government stimulus check or tax refund? Do you have a savings account, assets you can sell, or a retirement account you can dip into to pay your rent? Maybe you could get a second job or side job right now to make a little extra money. Being a census taker or driving for Uber are both easy jobs to get that can tide you over for a few months.

#2 Ignoring or Avoiding Your Landlord

Once you’ve come to the conclusion that you are going to have a hard time paying rent due to hardships caused by the pandemic, contact your landlord or property management company right away. Let your Landlord know about your situation and try to negotiate! The worst thing you can do is go totally silent and avoid the person or group you owe rent to. Tell them about your situation, and try to come up with an agreement that will work for both of you. It is very likely they will work with you in an effort to mitigate the loss of their rental income, especially if you’ve been a good tenant so far. They don't want zero dollars a month and they don't want the added burden of evicting you unless there's no other option, so don't make them think they face that choice.

#3 Not Looking into the Lease You Signed

Now is the time to review your lease for helpful clauses you may not have realized were there. Some leases have hardship clauses that allow you to move out early in times of financial difficulty. You probably won't find a sentence that says rent is a choice, but you may find helpful language in there. You won’t be allowed to skip a rent payment, but it is very possible you can move out without penalty. You can move out to get help from an apartment locator in Fort Worth, Texas finding a cheaper apartment. A Fort Worth, Texas apartment finder is an industry professional who will work with you to make this possible, because they know the best new homes for you.

You might be among the many Americans who find themselves in dire financial straits and unable to pay their rent. Don't allow yourself to make a bad situation worse. Reach out to an apartment locator in Fort Worth, Texas and allow this professional to help you get into a better, more affordable place.