Letter Template for Tenants Facing Financial Hardship Due to COVID-19
On March 17, 2020, the City of Richmond declared a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and adopted an emergency Order (Resolution 20-20) prohibiting certain types of evictions, including evictions based on a Tenant's failure to pay rent due to financial impacts related to COVID-19, during the period of local emergency.

Affected Tenants need to (1) notify Landlords in writing within 30 days of the date rent is due of their inability to pay rent and (2) state the ways in which they have been financially impacted and attach supporting documentation to support their claims.
The Order does NOT relieve Tenants of the liability to pay rent. Rent must be paid within six months after the period of local emergency ends. Landlords may not charge late fees or interest on deferred rent payments.

Access the Letter Template for Tenants to Inform Landlords of Their Inability to Pay Rent Due to the Financial Impacts of COVID-19 (English)

Access the Letter Template for Tenants to Inform Landlords of Their Inability to Pay Rent Due to the Financial Impacts of COVID-19 (Spanish)

For more information about evictions during the period of local emergency, as well as resources to address food, shelter, health and other emergency needs, please access the COVID-19 and Evictions Fact Sheet (English and Spanish). 

Rent Program staff are available by phone at (510) 234-RENT [7368] or email (rent@ci.richmond.ca.us) to address any questions from community members.

For updates related to COVID-19 visit www.ci.richmond.ca.us/AlertCenter