As U.S. Government Shut Down Persists, Landlords Defer Tenant Rents, Waive Late Charges

According to the National Rental Home Council, many of the US's largest operators of single-family rental homes are working with their residents affected by the government shutdown to accommodate their needs, including deferring rent payments and waiving late fees.

"Going without a paycheck for nearly a month can be an incredibly stressful experience for American working families," said NRHC President Kevin Baldridge, the President of Tricon American Homes. "We are deeply committed to helping all of our residents impacted by the government shutdown."

American Homes 4 Rent, FirstKey Homes, Front Yard Residential, Invitation Homes, Progress Residential and Tricon American Homes have offered deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed, and several of the companies' residents have already taken advantage of the program. Residents apply for the deferral by showing verifiable proof of being furloughed. Additionally, Tricor Contracting's service division is deferring service/maintenance costs for its customers, with proof of furlough.

The U.S. government shutdown has stretched for nearly three weeks and impacted millions of working families, including more than 800,000 federal workers. Approximately 380,000 federal employees across the country have been furloughed, while another 420,000 are working without pay. In total, NRHC members owning more than 200,000 single-family rental homes have offered accommodations to their impacted residents.

"The hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay serve our country every day in our airports, national parks, VA hospitals, and many more," said NRHC Executive Director Diane Tomb. "All of us at NRHC are thankful for their efforts, and I'm proud that our members are putting their residents first during this unprecedented shutdown."

The current government shutdown has lasted for 20 days. If it continues past Friday, Jan. 11, it will become the longest shutdown in history.