What to do if you miss a rent payment in New Bedford (New Bedford Light)
Below is an excerpt from an article published by the New Bedford Light on September 9, helping prepare residents in need with the resources necessary to address missed rent payments in New Bedford. This is another installment of a new series on navigating life in New Bedford. South Coastal Counties Legal Services’ Rob Mount is quoted.
One in every 10 Massachusetts renters is behind on rent payments, according to recent Census data.
A missed payment can lead to an eviction, but there are strategies you can use to stay in your home and pay back what you owe. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Talk to your landlord
Ask your landlord if they’re open to setting up a repayment plan. By agreeing to pay your past-due rent in installments, you may be able to avoid an eviction case.
“I’m a proponent of working things out before you get to court,” said Rob Mount, managing attorney at South Coastal Counties Legal Services.
It can be a tense discussion, Mount said, but staying out of court saves everyone’s time and money. Just don’t make promises you can’t keep — go into the discussion with an idea of what you can realistically pay every month, Mount said.
Read more at the New Bedford Light.
