SMART CHOICE PROPERTIES COVID-19 NOTICE TO ALL RESIDENTS – 3/30/20
There are a few items we wanted to communicate to all Residents regarding the current pandemic.
OPERATION CHANGES
We have been deemed an essential business by the State of Illinois and remain open with the following changes in order to limit potential spread of the virus:
- Our office on Clocktower is closed to the public. Rent payments can be dropped in our drop box, mailed or paid on line by going through our website – smartchoiceproperties.net (NO CASH PLEASE).
- We are performing emergency work orders only until further notice. We will still input routine work orders into our property management system. We will begin doing them as soon as the government says it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please be patient. Our maintenance staff is equipped with gloves, sanitary wipes and hand sanitizer. If you call in an emergency work order, please let us know if anyone in your home has COVID-19 or is otherwise sick.
- Our cleaning staff is disinfecting common areas as often as possible. However, it is impossible for us to do this continuously. We are asking that all Residents be diligent about wiping down common area door handles and laundry equipment before and after using. Other things that we all need to be diligent about now is maintaining social distancing of at least 6 feet, washing our hands in warm water or using hand sanitizer frequently, coughing and sneezing into our elbows, frequently wiping down hard surfaces with disinfectant wipes, staying home when sick and not touching our faces. Our understanding is not touching your face is extremely important because the only way you can get infected is through your eyes, nose or mouth.
RENT PAYMENTS
The government has specifically stated that “No provision contained in this executive order shall be construed as relieving any individual of the obligation to pay rent”. We rely on timely rent payments to continue paying our employees, mortgages, real estate taxes, insurance and many other operating expenses. The federal government has just passed a bill to assist all Americans in keeping up with their basic bills, including rent. Every American should end up making more money than before the pandemic. There are several scenarios that are possible in regards to paying rent:
- You haven’t lost your job and the government is sending you a cash payment of $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent child toward the middle of April. You should be able to pay on time and may want to consider paying ahead a month or two when you receive your government payment. April late fee will be assessed if late.
- You aren’t working, but your employer is taking advantage of a forgivable small business loan from the government to continue paying their employees and the government is sending you a cash payment of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child toward the middle of April. You may be a little late paying April’s rent, but may want to consider paying ahead a month or two when you receive your government assistance. April late fee will be forgiven. Rent should be paid on time beginning in May
- You’ve been laid off and filed for unemployment. The government has significantly increased the amount of unemployment you will receive and the government will be sending you $1,200 per adult and $500 per child in the middle of April. Again, you may be a little late paying April’s rent, but may want to consider paying a month or two ahead when you receive your government assistance. April late fee will be forgiven. Rent should be paid on time beginning in May.
Thanks in advance to all of you during this difficult time. We appreciate all of you very much!
