Rent Strike Letter #1

1. SAMPLE LANDLORD LETTER #1
Dear (Landlord),
As you know, the COVID-19 virus has ripped across the world, leaving personal and
economic ruin in its wake. Locally, although many people in sectors like the tech
industry can work from home- continuing to pull a paycheck- many of us cannot.
This disruption to our daily lives has created a ripple of effects that are yet to be
fully understood.
We the undersigned/I have come to the realization that with such a major
disruption to our normal lives, we can not be expected to make a rent payment on
April 1st, and possibly not for many months after. It is unreasonable to demand that
while half the economy crumbles, the other half is expected to make rent or
mortgage payments. The burden of this crisis is being shifted onto those already
struggling to stay afloat in a city with one of the highest costs of living in the
country. This letter is to inform you that I/we simply can not and will not pay rent
on April 1st, or thereafter, until this pandemic has been managed.
A freeze on rents, coming from the city or state, would make this situation
unnecessary. But as it stands, I/we refuse to drain the last dollars from our savings
or expose ourselves to high-risk work environments in order to pay for a space to
live. This refusal is no less essential to our long-term survival than social distancing
or washing our hands. And I/we stand in solidarity with others who refuse to pay, as
well.
Along with this letter, we are sending you the contact info for local and state officials
who you can contact to demand a freeze on both rent and mortgage payments. We
will be petitioning them as well.
Thank you for your time,
(signatories)