How Are Landlords Managing the COVID-19 Rental Crisis? Evidence From a Large Cross-Site Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated preexisting housing challenges for many low- and moderate-income US renter households, leading to a crisis in which an estimated $25 to 34 billion in rental payments were outstanding as of late 2020. However, there is very little data on how landlords have responded to this financial strain. In this session, Elijah de la Campa will present preliminary findings from a recent survey of landlords in a dozen US cities. He will offer findings on the magnitude of the rent arrears crisis, the steps landlords have been taking in response to loss of income, and their willingness to participate in public and nonprofit rental assistance programs.