Important information about rent payments – COVID 19

23/03/2020

Columbia Estates understands that some tenants will face hardship. We recognise that many of you work in sectors that will be more affected than others, such as what we are currently seeing in hospitality and retail. We realise that for many people, that their employers have reacted to the virus at the same speed that the virus has spread and that you have not had time to consider how to deal with the situation. Likewise, Columbia Estates needs to adapt at the same speed to work with tenants that fall into this category and we have been busy putting together plans to manage rental defaults.

Firstly, we pledge to do our very best to help people where we can and further details of how we intend to contribute against war on the virus will follow shortly.

In the meantime, we expect that you will continue to pay your rent when it is due.

If think that your rent may not be paid because your income may have been affected, you need to contact us immediately on 734 200 as we can help you.

For this to work, we need you to be fully transparent about your circumstances and to provide us with written confirmation on change of employment status as early as you become aware of it. Everyone’s circumstances will be different, so it is important to you seek information from your employer in writing. If you need help obtaining this we are on hand to talk you through the process or deal with your employer directly.

If you know that you are going to struggle to pay your rent – Contact Us Immediately – We can help

If the reason that rent has not been paid is linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic then we will provide advice and reassurance in particular:

• That we will work with Customer & Local Services to assist in getting Income Support claims approved quickly 
• That we do not intend to evict tenants who go into rent arrears because of COVID-19
• We will discuss options with you for paying rent differently or in the case of arrears accruing, setting up an interest free payment plan with you to repay it over a reasonable period

NEW Income support claimants can work out what you will be entitled to and how to go about making a claim using the Income Support Calculator 

EXISTING Income support claimants,  who have all or part of their rent paid by Income Support all ready, should contact Income Support by email Income.support@gov.je with details of any change in circumstances.