# Coronavirus? Let's be good people **URL:** \ **Category:** Landlord Discussion\ **Created:** [15 March 2020 01:54 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399 "2020-03-15T01:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/sam/32/6179_2.png) [@Sam](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [20 March 2020 18:08 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/21 "2020-03-20T18:08:56Z")
Hi Mark, > [@Mark49](#): > > residential customers only Where did you hear this? It also applies to buy-to-let. I noticed a LandlordZone email that made the residential-only claim, but this is false. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Mark49](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/mark49/32/3538_2.png) [@Mark49](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Mark49)\ **Post date:** [20 March 2020 22:10 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/22 "2020-03-20T22:10:08Z")
Hi Sam, I read it in a post somewhere, if its false then I stand corrected, and a lot happier. Thank you for letting me know… ---
**Author:** ![Mark54](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/mark54/32/450_2.png) [@Mark54](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Mark54)\ **Post date:** [21 March 2020 13:25 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/23 "2020-03-21T13:25:35Z")
Very useful comments on negotiating reduced payments. I have to admit my tenants failed the credit reference but looking through paperwork, I understood why. They seemed very sensible, and had good savings, so it was a bit surprised that they simply said they wanted to pay half rent for six months with no repayment plan. I’ve reverted with half rent for three months with the balance deferred to be repaid over the following 12 months. They were panicking, and of course, I tried to be as helpful as possible as soon as possible. But with so much savings when they moved in last month, I’m left wondering why exactly they find themselves in so much difficulty so quickly! ---
**Author:** ![Colin3](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/colin3/32/450_2.png) [@Colin3](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Colin3)\ **Post date:** [21 March 2020 15:29 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/24 "2020-03-21T15:29:38Z")
maybe someone lent them the money to look good on the bank statement and they paid it back ---
**Author:** ![Amit1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/amit1/32/450_2.png) [@Amit1](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Amit1)\ **Post date:** [22 March 2020 10:39 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/25 "2020-03-22T10:39:29Z")
Hi. I am also keen to get the process and wording in place to accept reduced rent payment so please can you let us know once this is ready so I can be ready to execute with my tenant. ---
**Author:** ![Steve11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/steve11/32/450_2.png) [@Steve11](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Steve11)\ **Post date:** [22 March 2020 17:55 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/26 "2020-03-22T17:55:19Z")
Is there any work being done on producing a template for reduced rent that protects the landlord ? ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/sam/32/6179_2.png) [@Sam](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [23 March 2020 12:42 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/27 "2020-03-23T12:42:04Z")
Hi all, Thanks for letting me know that guidance for a reduced rent agreement is a priority for you. I am working with a solicitors at leading housing law firm, Anthony Gold, to put together the most helpful guidance possible, and should have something to share with you early this week. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Steve11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/steve11/32/450_2.png) [@Steve11](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Steve11)\ **Post date:** [23 March 2020 15:29 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/28 "2020-03-23T15:29:21Z")
That would be great, thanks, Sam ---
**Author:** ![ScottC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/scottc/32/450_2.png) [@ScottC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/ScottC)\ **Post date:** [23 March 2020 22:05 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/29 "2020-03-23T22:05:34Z")
I too would appreciate the guidance ASAP as my tenant has reached out due to having no income during the newly announced lock down. Hopefully we can figure something out which protects the long term while dealing with the chaos in the short term. ---
**Author:** ![Steve11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/steve11/32/450_2.png) [@Steve11](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Steve11)\ **Post date:** [23 March 2020 23:57 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/30 "2020-03-23T23:57:56Z")
See, I am still not getting this new Pause feature. Why not just use a method already in place, namely the “Add a rent payment button”. The way I understand that nifty feature is that if I, for example, input £200 then you will chase them for their usual rent minus 200 quid Is there something I am still missing ? I can already easily reduce rent for as long and by as much as I like while still benefiting from rent collection procedures. No ? ---
**Author:** ![ScottC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/scottc/32/450_2.png) [@ScottC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/ScottC)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 09:39 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/31 "2020-03-24T09:39:50Z")
Steve as I understand the Pause feature introduced only effects the automatic emails generated from OpenRent which would normally actively remind the tenants of overdue rent. By hitting pause you don’t change the features of Rent Collection in OpenRent - you only pause the emails to the tenants. ---
**Author:** ![ScottC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/scottc/32/450_2.png) [@ScottC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/ScottC)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 13:27 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/32 "2020-03-24T13:27:46Z")
Hi Sam you mentioned guidance would be published with template agreements for landlords to use with tenants unable to pay rent at this time. Do you have an ETA on this? My tenant is self employed and without income until the situation improves… I would appreciate advice and template agreements to look at ASAP please. Best regards, Scott ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/sam/32/6179_2.png) [@Sam](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 15:50 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/33 "2020-03-24T15:50:34Z")
Hi All, Robin from Anthony Gold has helped us turn this around really quickly. > **[How to Formalise a Temporary Rent Reduction or Rent Holiday | OpenRent Blog](https://blog.openrent.co.uk/how-to-formalise-a-temporary-rent-reduction-or-rent-holiday/)** > > Many landlords have been asking how to go about formalising an agreement with their tenant to temporarily lower or suspend the rent. Understandably landlords will want to help out their tenants without accidentally breaching the Tenant Fees Act 2019... ---
**Author:** ![ScottC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/scottc/32/450_2.png) [@ScottC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/ScottC)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 16:07 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/34 "2020-03-24T16:07:45Z")
Hi Sam! Thank you very much for this guide as I found it very useful, providing assurance that my plan as a landlord is heading in the right direction. In an earlier post you said: “I have sought expert guidance on this ans will hopefully have a guide for landlords soon. For the moment, we think phrasing it as a rent payment plan is the least risky way to do it. I.e. instead of saying “the rent for the next three rental periods is halved”, it is phrased more like “the rent for the next three rental periods is the same always, but multiple payments can be made, incuding payments made at some point tbc after the usual due date”.” Would it be possible for OpenRent to add to the guide or provide a template of sorts to give landlords such as myself a template agreement which could be made to cover a fixed duration to be paid back at a later time? I am trying to draft one myself but experienced guidance would be appreciated! I was refer to where the guide recommends recording the agreement but gives no template or example agreements which might be used. I am seeking guidance on the wording which might be used? "It is a good idea to record the agreement in writing, but there is no need for a contract signed by both parties, and right now that should definitely be avoided because it would involve making unnecessary trips out of the house. An exchange of emails or text messages between landlord and tenant will provide sufficient evidence as long as copies are made." Scott ---
**Author:** ![Jenny5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/jenny5/32/450_2.png) [@Jenny5](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Jenny5)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 16:48 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/36 "2020-03-24T16:48:30Z")
Hi I completely agree that we need to be decent and flexible with our tenants during this difficult time. However my tenant has been in arrears with payments since November 2019. I have been flexible and negotiated a number of payment plans to try and support them but they kept ignoring dates agreed and then blocked my contact on their phone when they couldn’t afford to pay and I was trying to get in touch to find out what was going on. I had just reached the point with this where I was going to be able to serve four weeks notice for any deferred payments and then corona happened. I don’t do this as a business - I rent one property to cover costs because I have relocated to another area and rely on these monies. My concern now is that a person who is already struggling to pay rent and catch up when in arrears is going to really struggle to meet a payment plan once this is all over. I want to support and do the decent thing as my tenant has already got in touch and is in a desperate situation with the recent outbreak but would really appreciate any thoughts or advice on how to approach the above. Appreciate this is all new for everyone and not a lot of guidance around at the moment. Thanks Jen ---
**Author:** ![Steve11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/steve11/32/450_2.png) [@Steve11](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Steve11)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 17:11 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/37 "2020-03-24T17:11:30Z")
Jen, are you a member of any of the landlord groups ? I would be looking to take legal action since you can prove their issues with rent payment precede the outbreak of corona. ---
**Author:** ![Steve11](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/steve11/32/450_2.png) [@Steve11](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Steve11)\ **Post date:** [24 March 2020 17:23 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/38 "2020-03-24T17:23:26Z")
That is great, Sam. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Amit1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/amit1/32/450_2.png) [@Amit1](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Amit1)\ **Post date:** [25 March 2020 20:15 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/39 "2020-03-25T20:15:46Z")
Thanks for this swift blog post covering this. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_T](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/mr_t/32/515_2.png) [@Mr\_T](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Mr_T)\ **Post date:** [26 March 2020 07:31 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/40 "2020-03-26T07:31:02Z")
Hi. Think it depends if your tenants are employed or self employed? Help for self employed to be announced today UC and LHA paid immediately with no wait times. Government will pay 80% of wages of employed so tenants should still be able to pay at least 80% of their rent. As far as I understand there’s also a £1000 loan payable immediately which could make up short fall. Also I believe people can also ask for a repayment holiday on store/credit cards and utility bills and worth asking about council tax. ---
**Author:** ![Blondie.1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.openrent.co.uk/blondie.1/32/450_2.png) [@Blondie.1](https://community.openrent.co.uk/u/Blondie.1)\ **Post date:** [27 March 2020 18:25 UTC](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399/41 "2020-03-27T18:25:25Z")
Yes this would be very useful [Previous page](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.openrent.co.uk/t/coronavirus-lets-be-good-people/10399.md?page=3)