Trying to apply for emergency financial assistance with the county in my state (Illinois) this month since one of my 3 tenants dodged her last month's rent with the Moratorium, and took off into the sunset. I'm stuck with their utility bills and mine, mortgage due and only the income from 2 apartments at the moment. Its not enough :/

To my surprise, the County says they're denying my application. Their reason is: They say they don't believe I'm a landlord and have rental income (??!)

The "board" says they may consider my tax returns from last year, though I just have the one building and did my taxes last year myself. I have the bank statements showing my renters deposits, but the lady says "Oh that could just be a relative giving you money. Not acceptable." They also won't accept the tenant's leases.

My question is, how can I prove to the satisfaction of a Township employee and "board", that I'm a landlord, and have rental income? I've been at it for four years now. Is there some kind of document you can get from a Circuit Clerk's office, or what.

It seems the most ridiculous hoop yet in this fight for COVID survival.

Has anyone had to do this before?

Take your tax return in. It's hard to argue with last years schedule E filing with the Federal Government.

You ask for her supervisor.She is just a desk jockey.You show them your schedule E

and the depreciation tables.

I would speak softley and dont raise there hackles.

Use your leases as proof

Unless you are doing something sideways or shady.

that is about all you need. Plus alot of follow up on your part to make it happen.

Tri,

Copy of lease. Surprised they did not ask for it. That's kinda step one.

Copy of tax assessor's "card" showing your name.

Good Luck - When your dealing with STUPID and especially so when it's a local government official(s).

All I can say is your last years 1040 with depreciation schedule.

You got to prove your LL - UNBELIEVABLE.

I can understand having to prove you actually received income and then lost it in order to qualify for assistance. This is true of unemployment or any other assistance program.

Yes, they were giving me the complete runaround.

I sent them county parcel photos and finally gave them documents showing a tenant of mine who had applied for financial aid at their very office.

They gave one excuse after another, and finally settled on "You're not allowed to apply because your we paid you for that tenant in 2019". They called it "double dipping", and said it was against the rules.

*APPLICATION DENIED*

Even though she was the one who had gotten aid, not me. I had provided the lodging and paid the utilities.

Does anyone get the feeling that "Landlords" are just hated by all public aid offices? They seem to think just because I lease to someone else, I must have loads of money and be like Monty Burns, or something.

@ JAC [OH] I have to laugh at your comment. Yes, I should be richer, what's wrong with me. Must be my fault.

If only I had chosen richer parents, lol.

I'll give you a hint why I'm not a raging financial success: [ONLY OWN 1 RENTAL PROPERTY]

>>>I'll give you a hint why I'm not a raging financial success: [ONLY OWN 1 RENTAL PROPERTY]>>>

Oh and a national Rent Moratorium that says tenants can live off me indefinitely and can't be evicted, if they choose not to pay.

Triplexer, I encourage you to hang in there. I certainly can understand a person buying a triplex, getting the rents flowing, but not being perfectly capitalized BECAUSE you are starting out. Of course, you probably had some money set aside for a bump in the road, or else we’re working on that. But, this pandemic is a BIG bump in the road.

A source of finances to get through things can be credit cards. But, use extreme care, watch those. I financed my rentals on credit cards, but I started with a very good credit score, and I live in an unusual state for using spousal income when applying for cards. I transfer the balances around to keep the interest rate low, and am paying it down. Many credit card companies send convenience checks that process through like a check, but it’s a credit card. One could conceivably make a mortgage payment with such a check. There is a front end fee, usually between 3-4%, and if there is not a special offer in conjunction with these checks, then interest could be very high.

Unless one can be certain that they are diligently making both minimum payments AND paying the balance off when the low interest rate expires, then I advise against this. But, if one can watch those two things, it might help get through a rough patch.

There was a brief time early on when I first bought my rentals that I had utilization on some cards at over 90%, though zero fees, zero interest. That really kills the credit score, and some cards even closed accounts on me. But, we were in good renting conditions, and I was paying those balances down rapidly.