Working WIth Our Tenants To Keep Them Safe

REIProperties Columbus founder, Jeff Ihlenfield, navigates the coronavirus pandemic with tenants front and center in order to help them stay in their homes.
By Jeff Ihlanfield, REIProperties Columbus

Earlier this week, The Columbus Dispatch reported on the fallout that both tenants and landlords are facing due to the ongoing pandemic (“With No End to COVID Pandemic In Sight, Money for Eviction Aid Dwindles.) The Federal CARES act passed this summer, allocated millions to the HOPE fund which is aimed at helping low income families in need of emergency assistance. But with unemployment rates at historic highs, the fund has faced overwhelming demand, and can no longer accept applications. 

Determined to help his tenants in crisis, REIProperties Columbus founder, Jeff Ihlenfield and his team, helped 16 tenants submit applications to the HOPE fund. It is our understanding that our tenants’ needs will be processed, and they will receive the financial assistance they need. Because we understand that we are #InThisTogether, to date, REI Properties has not taken a single tenant to court for non-payment due to the pandemic. While tenants who appear in court right now are often getting the aide they need, their records will reflect an eviction case, and this can negatively impact them in the future. Ironically, many landlords who are taking their tenants to court are getting paid immediately. Instead, we are facing a 6+ week backlog. Still, we believe under the circumstances, our course of action is the right path in order to keep our tenants safely in their homes. In addition, our property manager is sourcing additional support services at the local levels as we know the need will continue. 

At this unprecedented time, we firmly believe that we must all do what we can to help one another. To that end, REIProperties Columbus has continued its partnership with the Columbus Dream Center, sponsoring a Learning Extension Center (LEC). Each LEC provides students K-12 a safe environment with access to internet, learning devices to assist with remote learning and meals and tutors. Our recent donation helps fund the LEC located at the Christian Assembly in North Linden. 49 kids have signed up here and more are on the way. It is our hope that REIProperties Columbus support will help make a difference in these children’s lives at this most difficult time. 

Columbus Property Owner Applauds Temporary Halt on Evictions

REIProperties Columbus welcomes new moratorium that protects eligible renters from eviction through the end of the year.
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

Citing a public health measure, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued an order that halts evictions through the end of the year. The action is aimed at decreasing the number of people who are forced to move, sometimes from state to state and/or into shared living situations like shelters. The CDC contends that both scenarios could increase the spread of COVID-19.

“This is a good start,” said REIProperties Columbus Founder Jeff Ihlenfield. “And while it is only a temporary fix, it will certainly be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of renters across the country who can’t pay their rent due in large part to the pandemic.”

Ihlenfield, a Central Ohio residential property owner for more than 15 years, has never seen a housing crisis like this in all the years he has been renting Section 8 housing. He too believes that the mounting eviction crisis is a public health crisis.

“The good news is that there is a lot of public assistance out there," Ihlenfield added. “We are actually helping our tenants find that support and leading them through the process to secure it.”

In fact, renters must have made an effort to get government assistance to cover their rent in order to be eligible to invoke the right to stay put. That’s just one of a number of requirements people must meet to be protected by the eviction moratorium. The full list can be seen here.

Ihlenfield and his team are planning to work with as many as 40 of his tenants who are presently unable to pay their rent due to the coronavirus. REIProperties Columbus will be directing their tenants to the Community Hope Fund, which serves Columbus and Franklin County, and guiding them through the entire application process. “This is a win-win,” Ihlenfield explained, “Our tenants get the help they need and we can then make ends meet.”

About REIProperties Columbus 
Since 2005, REIProperties Columbus, founded by Jeff Ihlenfield, has been committed to providing housing for low income individuals and families. We specialize in Section 8 housing and have a broad portfolio of single-family properties that are safe, modern and comfortable. Our goal is to provide our tenants with the best property that they have ever rented. For more information visit http://www. REIPropertiesColumbus.com.

As the Eviction Moratorium on Federally Backed Mortgages Ends Important Resources Now Available For Tenants

REIProperties Columbus founder, Jeff Ihlenfield, shares Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Resources As the Eviction Moratorium on Federally Backed Mortgages Ends
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

The eviction moratorium on federally backed mortgages ended today. With this in mind, REIProperties Columbus is pleased to proactively reach out and offer both tenants and landlords important resources that could help at this unprecedented time. Please click here to learn more about several resources available right now.

Renters Brace for the End of the CARES Act Eviction Moratorium

REIProperties Columbus founder, Jeff Ihlenfield, shares strategies for renters as the CARES Act eviction period draws to a close
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It provided 120 days of eviction relief for tenants in federally backed housing. In other words, tenants could not be served with an eviction notice until July 25, 2020. In addition, the notice must give you 30 days to leave the property. After that date, we may very well see a huge spike in evictions. The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project estimates that between 19 million and 23 million Americans living in rental housing are at risk of eviction by the end of September. 

If you are potentially facing eviction, you should know the following:

·      The eviction process takes weeks at a minimum. And, at many points along the way, it is often possible to halt it. 

·      Local rules may impact eviction and in some cases there are some stopgap federal efforts. It’s good to know what they all are. 

After being in this business for decades, I also strongly suggest you take these steps:

·      Communicate with your landlord
Reach out to your landlord as soon as possible and honestly explain your situation. If you’ve lost your job, let them know. They can’t help if they don’t know the problem. Being upfront can pay off.

·      Don’t just leave. 
In most areas, you don’t have to move out until there is a legal finding against you. That gives you time to potentially figure out a solution that doesn’t result in having to move out. 

·      Get Legal Help
Local legal aid offices are a good place to turn for assistance. If they can’t help, they can likely direct you to someone who can. 

·      Negotiate
Under the present circumstances, your landlord doesn’t likely want to look for a new tenant. Talk to him/her. You won’t know what they are willing to entertain if you don’t even talk to them. Ways to reduce your cost include waiving rent, reducing rent or perhaps using a security deposit for rent. 

·      Know the rules
Some states and local municipalities have put their own eviction restrictions into place. Find out. They might pertain to your situation. 

·      Pay attention
There is still talk in Washington about another relief package and many are advocating to extend eviction protection. 

 How REIProperties Is Trying To HelpThe Country’s “Eviction Crisis”

How REIProperties Is Trying To Help
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

Before most Americans had ever heard of the coronavirus, housing experts contended that the U.S. was facing an “eviction crisis.” According to the Eviction Lab, a team of researchers, students and website architects at Princeton University, the majority of poor renting families in America spend over half of their income on housing costs. The Eviction Lab analyzed millions of records dating back to 2000 to build the first nationwide database of evictions. Their findings are sobering. 

The Eviction Lab determined the eviction rate nationwide was 2.34% in 2016. An eviction rate is the number of evictions per 100 renter homes in an area. Therefore, a national eviction rate of 2.34% means that 2.34 of every 100 renter homes faced eviction annually. In Ohio, the eviction rate is higher, at 3.49%. Now, add the impact of COVID-19, and housing insecurity becomes an even greater factor when considering the health of our entire nation.

As a stopgap measure, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued partial emergency eviction and foreclosure moratoriums to prevent families from losing their homes during the outbreak. But the CARES Act eviction moratorium is only for 120 days. And because renters make up a disproportionate share of service sector jobs, experts fear the eviction crisis is going to get a lot worse. A Health Reform Monitoring Survey conducted between March 25 and April 10 found that more than 40% of working age renters were worried about being able to pay next month’s rent. 

With all this in mind, REIPropertes Columbus, founded by Jeff Ihlendfeld in 2005, is committed to doing all it can to help our tenants. While Section 8 Housing provides safeguards for tenants, we’re still focused on being proactive at this time of crisis. Recognizing that most people have little interest in moving at a time great uncertainty, we have reached out to each of our tenants, particularly those who have part time jobs that have been impacted by COVID-19. These individuals typically pay a portion of their rent, with government funding covering the rest. If you have experienced a change in income and are living in Section 8 housing, HUD needs to know. Our team is going door to door, helping our tenants fill out the necessary paperwork to notify HUD of any changes of income. In addition, because some of our tenants don’t have easy internet access, we are filing this paperwork for them too. At REIProperties Columbus, we understand that we are #InThisTogether and we’re willing to go the extra length to keep our tenants safe. 

REIProperties Columbus & The Columbus Dream Team

Answering Our Communities Needs In A Time Of Crisis
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

The Columbus Dream Center, established in 2015 and based in Columbus, is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to providing hope to low income, homeless and under-served individuals and families in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Its mission is to "Find a need and meet it. Find a hurt and heal it."

 REIProperties Columbus has been a proud supporter of the Dream Center from the start. We are passionate about offering affordable housing for low-income, Section 8 individuals and families, and that passion extends beyond simply ensuring they have a place to call home. It also means doing our part to make sure they have enough to eat. These needs are even more challenging in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has affected all of us and is contributing to the uncertainties we face about what the future holds. 

 That’s why we recently donated funds to purchase food for low income individuals and families who are hurting as a result of COVID-19. Through its partnership with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, the Dream Center used our donation to provide more than 6,200 meals to those in need in the Columbus area.

 REIProperties wants to make a difference. You can, too. When you partner with The Columbus Dream Center you, or your organization, can extend support by providing groceries for low income families or offering much-needed financial assistance. Go here to learn more about how you can help and read our news release on this donation here.

 COVID-19 & Real Estate

Affordable Housing and the Coming Recession
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

Everyone is scared. COVID-19 is affecting, either directly or indirectly, everyone in the country. From Shelter in Place directives, to Social Distancing commands, no person can escape the consequences this pandemic is having on our daily lives. And while there remains some controversy that a recession is looming, there is little doubt that the economy is suffering and a recession is, in all likelihood, a probability. What does this mean for the affordable housing market sector?

The need for affordable housing is not going away. It continues to rise across the country. Along with that comes concern about whether the federal government can continue to support affordable housing.

Suggested Reading on COVID-19’s Effect on the Real Estate Market

COVID-19 & CMHA

By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

In an effort to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) has temporarily closed the doors to its office. However, their primary goal is to keep those they serve housed during this time. To that end, all active HAP and utility allowances payments will continue to be made. In addition, because CMHA has suspended inspection of units, individuals with vouchers can move into units after landlords and residents have self-inspected units and agree they are safe to live in.

In addition, CMHA has released this list of FAQ’s to provide information on some changes to their processes in light of the pandemic.

CARES Act

Can You Get Evicted During The Coronavirus Pandemic?
By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

The COVID-19 crisis, while having a significant effect on the nation’s economy, hits many Americans where they live: their rental homes. While some employees are fortunate that their companies allow them to work from home and the paychecks keep coming, others have seen their working hours cut and their paychecks shrink. Thousands of others, however, have it even worse. Their companies have closed down entirely and/or they have been furloughed until the crisis ends. The result? Their paychecks have stopped. So what does this mean if you can’t make the rent? Can your landlord evict you? These are questions many millions of people worry about.

A recent announcement might help ease some of these concerns, at least in the short term. On March 18, 2020, President Trump announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will temporarily suspend all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April.

President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law on March 27, giving Americans the chance to get stimulus checks from the government during the crisis. To learn more about the CARES Act, who qualifies for stimulus checks and how much and when you might receive a check, go here.  

The CARES Act also puts a 120-day eviction moratorium in place nationally for tenants in properties that are part of government programs such as Section 8 housing. In addition, The National Multifamily Housing Council put out a release on March 22 asking apartment owners and landlords to halt evictions for renters who have lost their jobs or received a reduction in income due to COVID-19. The council went on to request a 90-day pause on all rent increases. These measures, while important, are only temporary stop-gaps. As the crisis continues, there may be other announcements pertinent to your situation. Check back on this website to receive the most up-to-date news that my affect your housing status.

 For information on your state’s eviction policy, go here to see a state-by-state analysis. 

Emergency Relief

By Jeff Ihlenfield, REIProperties Columbus

REIProperties Columbus is committed to its tenants and helping them manage the present crisis created by the COVID-19 outbreak.

EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAMS: If your income has changed or you are in need of financial assistance to pay utilities, rent and other qualified expenses, you can apply for relief programs through Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and Franklin County Job and Family Services. Applications are being accepted online, by mail or drop off.

To file wage changes with CMHA:
Visit  http://cmhanet.com/.  Click on “Interim Change Reporting Form” on the right side of your screen.

To get more information and/or file for Franklin Country’ Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC) Emergency Assistance:
Visit  https://jfs.franklincountyohio.gov/emergency-assistance-(prc)
Go to: https://benefits.ohio.gov/
(This website also includes links to additional help and resources)

Please call our property manager Steven Kandel at Rich Russo Realtors, (614) 656-6667, if you need any assistance.

We are here to help. #InThisTogether