May 1 is approaching. Tenants plan rent strikes as pandemic cripples US, survey says
As U.S. unemployment claims skyrocket during the coronavirus pandemic, only half of the country’s tenants believe they’ll be able to pay rent in May, according to a new survey.
Grace Hill, a company that develops technology for the property management industry, surveyed tenants in mid-April and found that two-thirds of renters faced loss of income during the coronavirus pandemic, and nearly half of those respondents said the loss was “major or devastating.” While more renters were able to make payments in April than expected, only 52% believe they will be able to pay rent in full for the month of May, according to Grace Hill.
The survey found 12% of renters don’t expect to pay any rent in May, 15% expect to pay partially, and 21% are unsure of whether they will make rent payments this month, CNBC reported. Survey authors partially attribute the results to the fact that less than half of Americans will receive federal stimulus checks before May 1, according to CNBC.
In response, organizers are planning rent strikes in cities across the country, The Wall Street Journal reported. Organizers say the strike is meant to encourage lawmakers to offer rental assistance during the pandemic, according to WSJ.
Strikes are planned to take place in California, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, to name a few, WSJ reported. Tenant groups in New York called for 1 million renters to strike statewide earlier this month, according to WSJ.
Dozens of tenants in Seattle signed a letter asking landlords to consider more leniency and warned they are contemplating a rent strike, The Seattle Times reported. Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant joined other activists in calling on tenants to use a rent strike to encourage landlords and the federal government to cancel rent and provide more assistance, according to The Seattle Times.
Some states and cities have implemented eviction moratoriums through a certain date until stay-at-home orders are lifted and people can get back to work, Forbes reported. But some housing experts say while eviction moratoriums are a first step, courts could see a “flood of eviction proceedings” after they end, according to Forbes.
“Without additional rent relief or flexible cash assistance, moratoria could reduce COVID-19 transmission risks today but create an eviction tsunami later,” a blog post from the Urban Institute’s housing research department says, according to Forbes.
Lawmakers like Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar are proposing that mortgage and rent payments be canceled instead of just suspended or postponed for up to a year, Forbes reported. Rent strike organizers in New York are hoping state lawmakers will impose rent, mortgage and utility payment cancellations, according to WSJ.