CAA Announces Response to COVID-19 for Rental Housing Providers
DENVER (March 24, 2020) – Today the Colorado Apartment Association’s COVID-19 task force, which is made up of representatives from nearly 45 medium and large housing communities and housing providers throughout the state, announced its recommendations for Colorado rental housing providers as we continue to see the effects of COVID-19 throughout our state.
“As an association representing all rental residents in Colorado, today we’re standing with Governor Polis and recommending that our members take steps to help residents in need due to the COIVD-19 pandemic,” said Mark Williams, executive vice president, Colorado Apartment Association. “Our industry is 100% committed to helping Coloradans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are a partner and a resource for housing providers in Colorado and our hope is that the housing providers in the state share the resources we have available for residents and take seriously our guidelines outlined above. By working together, we can ensure a promising Colorado rental community.”
The Colorado Apartment Association recommends that its members take the following steps through April 30, 2020:
- Create payment plans for residents unable to pay rent because of virus related loss of income
- Waive all late fees through April 30,2020
- Refrain from enforcing eviction orders with move-outs through April 30, 2020
- Avoid rent increases
- Share the Colorado Housing Financial Assistance Programs and Apartment Association of Metro Denver’s list of resources for renters
- Limit entry to rental properties to only emergency maintenance response
- Follow HIPPA federal rules for resident and employee privacy if a community has a positive test
- Increase common area cleaning with the approved list of cleaning supplies from the CDC
- Continue to follow the Governor’s mandate for reduced workplace staff and continue to follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing
- Maintain emergency maintenance needs for renters
“In addition, we are encouraging housing providers to do their part to assist residents who are suffering from lost income by restructuring the rent payment plan to better match the tenant’s needs,” said Williams. “If a resident has concerns that he or she may not be able to pay rent in full, we encourage you to reach out to your housing provider to discuss the situation as soon as possible.”
For more information, visit: https://www.aamdhq.org/news/coronavirus.
About the Colorado Apartment Association
The Colorado Apartment Association (CAA) is a non-profit trade association representing owners, developers, management companies, and vendors of the multifamily rental housing industry. CAA is comprised of four local affiliates from across the state. The association represents over 3,100 members who own and manage over 282,000 apartment homes, which totals more than $60 billion in assets. Together with the local affiliates, the National Multifamily Housing Council, and the National Apartment Association (NAA), CAA offers a strong network of information, education and representation of the multifamily housing industry.