LAS VEGAS – The Nevada State Apartment Association (NVSAA) recognizes its members and residents are facing unprecedented pressures. Now that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has temporarily suspended all evictions in the state, NVSAA is increasing its efforts to help residents and communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
To protect those who rent, manage and own properties in Nevada and to maintain housing stability, NVSAA recommends that its members adopt the following policies:
· First and foremost communicate with residents and encourage them to communicate with you. Make it clear that housing providers are committed to ensuring residents retain their housing. Create open lines of communications so residents who cannot pay their rent know to inform their housing providers as soon as possible.
· Request documentation. Once the line of communication is open, ask residents who are financially impacted by this crisis to provide documentation that they have lost their job, been furloughed, etc.
· Create payment plans for residents who had previously outstanding eviction balances or cannot pay rent because of the COVID-19 outbreak and put those plans in writing.
· Extend grace periods for late payments and waive late fees by order of the Governor for residents who have provided documentation of hardship. This may help renters in need and encourages at least partial payment.
· Avoid rent increases for residents who have provided documentation of hardship for 90 days to help them weather the crisis.
· Identify government and community resources that may assist renters, such as food assistance, financial, and healthcare resources. Visit the Nevada 2-1-1 resource page for more information at www.nevada211.org. Also reference the Nevada Health Response webpage for valuable COVID-19 information at https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/.
· Remember that evictions have been halted by the Governor through the duration of the Nevada State of Emergency. Clarify that the freeze on evictions does not rescind leases nor wipe out the responsibility to pay rent. Posting of any eviction documents is not allowed as well. Residents and housing providers are encouraged to communicate with each other to create reasonable ways to resolve these situations.
“Many of our rental housing professionals already have individual plans in place to work with their residents to help them through this unprecedented crisis,” NVSAA Executive Director Susy Vasquez said. “There is no ‘one approach fits all’ here. The best strategy and recommendation is for owners, managers and residents to partner together to find the optimal solution. Providing a secure home for all of our residents is our primary goal.”
About the NVSAA
The Nevada State Apartment Association is the voice of the multifamily housing industry in Nevada. The nonprofit organization provides a variety of services to its 894 community, property management and business partner members statewide, including legislative support, education and community outreach. NVSAA is committed to promoting and supporting the diversity, integrity and success of its members and their industry. For more information, visit www.NVSAA.org.
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