As the coronavirus pandemic spread and businesses shutdown, nearly 3.3. million people in the U.S. filed unemployment claims for the week of March 16. Now, it’s the first of the month. April rent is due for many Michiganders who may have been laid off from their job dues to the health crisis.
Esperanza de Carlos Garay Negron lost their job last month and received a 5 percent discount from their landlord for April’s rent.
“And I just got my last paycheck with any money which is what I used to pay April’s rent so its obvious that May’s rent is going to be a struggle.”
Raquel Salas Guzman is a local attorney. She said no one in the state is required to pay rent until April 17 and thats because of an executive order from Governor Gretchen Whitmers which could be subject to change if the stay safe stay home order continues.
“Your landlord cannot take you to court for nonpayment of rent, there are some exceptions but not for you not having the money to pay your rent.”
And while the new CARE Act prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for 120 days, it only applies to renters whose owners have federally backed mortgages.
“If you can pay rent go ahead and pay your rent, if you cannot pay your rent then the first step is to call your landlord, explain to your landlord why you cannot pay your rent.”