Evictions in the Pandemic Age

In today’s blog, we’re talking about something that is on the minds of a lot of rental property owners in Sarasota and the surrounding areas. That’s the topic of evictions. 

Evictions are stressful, time-consuming, and expensive even in relatively normal times. 

Now, we’re talking about the experience of evictions during a pandemic. Sarasota Management & Leasing has had some success avoiding evictions, even during the worst months of the pandemic, and we want to share some information on what we’ve done and what we haven’t done. 

At the end of this blog, we also have a link to a resource that you may find helpful if you’re dealing with a potential eviction. It’s a website from The Law Office of Heist, Weisse, and Wolk. These are the attorneys that we use to write all of our lease agreements. 

Evictions and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The eviction moratorium is essentially over in Florida and throughout most of the country, except for states where it has been extended. At Sarasota Management & Leasing, we have been keeping a close eye on the ongoing updates regarding the federal moratorium that was in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We have had a few of our own residents find themselves negatively impacted by COVID-19. Our philosophy has always been to honor people, especially people who need help, while protecting the interests of our owners. These are the values that we’ve kept in mind while discussing options with both residents and owners throughout the pandemic. 

Communicating with Owners and Residents 

Over the last year and a half, we have found that communication is really the key to successfully navigating each solution. It’s been our best defense against misinformation and mistakes. Our responsive and attentive communication has allowed us to help close the gap for both landlords who expect and need the rent paid and residents who may have been struggling to make those payments on time due to the financial problems caused by the pandemic.

Good communication with and between all parties has ensured everyone wins. 

Some of our residents have needed payment schedules and arrangements to get caught up with the rent that was owed. We put those in place and made sure they were followed. Other residents needed to vacate because of relocations, decisions to move in with friends or family members, or because of impossible circumstances that wouldn’t allow them to continue paying the rent.

Our efforts have been 100 percent successful thus far in negotiating with residents and owners through these sensitive situations. We are happy and grateful to tell you that here at Sarasota Management & Leasing, we have not had a single situation which required an eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s an achievement we’re proud of.

Additional Eviction Resources 

We promised you an extra resource, and here it is. If you need up-to-date information on evictions in Florida or any information on the pandemic and eviction relief and prevention, please check out this website: http://www.evicttv.com/. Our attorneys can provide any help or support you may need. 

We’re also happy to talk with you about your property and any leasing or management needs you may have. Please contact our team at Sarasota Management & Leasing.