MANITOWOC, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Without a stable income during the pandemic, some local renters struggle to make their monthly payments.
And without that money from tenants, Bernie Starzewski says he knows fellow 'small' landlords who struggle to keep their properties.
"She [landlord] felt the tenant was taking advantage of her because he hadn’t paid in months," Starzweski said. "And without that income, she couldn’t afford to keep the house."
The CDC extended an eviction moratorium to June 30 that prevents the eviction of renters who are unable to make their payments. Starzewski rents out two apartments in Manitowoc and says he and his tenants are doing well. But he also says the moratorium could impact small-scale landlords.
"If they [renters] weren’t actually out of work, I would be upset by that," he said. "And once the moratorium is off, I probably wouldn’t want to do business with them again."
Renters must be able to meet criteria necessary to qualify for the moratorium, but Starzewski says he usually gives his tenants leeway.
"If they legitimately can’t pay, it’s a problem," the 25-year veteran landlord said. "It’s a bigger problem if they could pay and are just using the program."
Local rental assistance organizations like NEWCAP understand frustrations of landlords during the pandemic.
"I used to be a landlord myself and when that rent was late coming, that was tough," NEWCAP President and CEO Cheryl Detrick said. "Because how am I gonna make what is essentially two house payments?"
That's why NEWCAP says it works with local property owners to help tenants make timely payments.
"We’re taking recommendations from landlords as well and then reaching out to tenants and saying 'hey, your landlord reached out that your behind on your rent or that he’s concerned about you and he’s worried that you may get behind on your rent,'" Detrick said.
And while many have lost income over the past year, Starzewski says understands as a landlord and will always make an effort to work with his renters.
"An empty apartment pays no rent," he said. "If you’re first instinct is to run for the eviction notice, maybe that’s not the best business strategy in the world."
Starzewski advises renters and landlords to use a guide provided by the State of Wisconsin.
