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I have a gnawing suspicion that a good number of people are being long-conned into debts they& #39;ll have trouble repaying.
Let me explain.
It& #39;s a fact that this entire COVID-19 situation has left a majority of us with either diminished or zero income.
Let me explain.
It& #39;s a fact that this entire COVID-19 situation has left a majority of us with either diminished or zero income.
I& #39;m a photographer and a writer, and ALL my jobs were put on hold as soon as the first case was confirmed in Kenya. It& #39;s felt like I& #39;ve been drowning since then, and it& #39;s pretty evident that many of us feel the same.
Most of us have made cutbacks to survive. I very quickly recognised the need for me to move house, for instance. The rent I was paying was an immediate pain. So I did.
Then I realised something.
Then I realised something.
A lot of folks have received no communication from their landlord and agents about rent payment terms in this time, and they aren& #39;t initiating the conversation either. I get the feeling that the silent hope is that the landlord / agent / agency will understand the situation.
Most of such, I& #39;ve observed, are in middle-income and seemingly well-to-do areas. You can list them out if you so wish.
Here& #39;s why that& #39;s dangerous.
Here& #39;s why that& #39;s dangerous.
In this silence, you& #39;re hoping that your agent or landlord is a reasonable human that empathises with your situation. Which, to their credit, some are. We& #39;ve seen the stories.
Some, however, are not.
Some, however, are not.
I moved fast because it may likely take time for my sector to recover. (Much to the deep, deep pain in my heart.)
But also because I was made aware of the possibility that as soon as "lockdown" is lifted, many agents / landlords will start hammering away at your door, on the basis of the money you owe them.
And anyone who& #39;s been there before will tell you, that& #39;s an incredibly stressful position to be in.
Here& #39;s what will complicate it further.
The people posted as security at your gate will be given instructions not to let anyone out without clearance from the landlord / agency.
Here& #39;s what will complicate it further.
The people posted as security at your gate will be given instructions not to let anyone out without clearance from the landlord / agency.
So let& #39;s paint that picture clearly.
April & May unpaid. June rent due. July coming up. You& #39;ve gotten to the point where it& #39;s untenable. You tell them you have to move. They slap you with a 4-month bill.
April & May unpaid. June rent due. July coming up. You& #39;ve gotten to the point where it& #39;s untenable. You tell them you have to move. They slap you with a 4-month bill.
Oh, and they tell you that you have to put in a 2-month notice. That& #39;s 6 months in total.
And they also tell you that you won& #39;t be allowed to move without clearing the bill.
A bill you can& #39;t clear without work.
So you& #39;re stuck in this devastating vicious loop.
And they also tell you that you won& #39;t be allowed to move without clearing the bill.
A bill you can& #39;t clear without work.
So you& #39;re stuck in this devastating vicious loop.
That current silence? It& #39;s a very dangerous gamble. It may end up being a painful one.
My suggestion? Talk to your agent / landlord now, if you haven& #39;t already. Get their position very clearly. If there& #39;s a waiver, have that clearly stated. If none, evaluate.
My suggestion? Talk to your agent / landlord now, if you haven& #39;t already. Get their position very clearly. If there& #39;s a waiver, have that clearly stated. If none, evaluate.
There& #39;s no shame in scaling down - a sense of grounded realism, however unromantic, is an asset to you right now.
Before what may now be a manageable mound becomes an insurmountable colossus.
Before what may now be a manageable mound becomes an insurmountable colossus.
