BELVEDERE--The St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) said in a press release on Wednesday that it will not evict tenants who are behind in paying rent during the current COVID-19 crisis.
SMHDF Director Helen Salomons said all legal action and filings for eviction have been suspended until further notice. She says this is “a concession to foundation tenants.”
Regarding rent payment, SMHDF says it is “prepared to assist tenants in any way on a case-by-case basis … those with hardship.”
However the foundation appeals to those who can maintain monthly rental payments to do so. While SMHDF’s office is closed because of the coronavirus crisis, Salomons said persons can pay their rent online.
“Our rental sums are small but this is the sole income that the foundation relies on to continue to render services,” said Salomons.
She also said tenants facing financial difficulties should send an e-mail to the foundation explaining their circumstances and to officially request deferral of rental payments to a later date. Persons can also request a payment arrangement or a rental allowance.
Persons can use one of these four e-mail addresses:
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“The income we receive from rent is very important to the continued functioning of the foundation and the services we provide to tenants. Therefore we urge everyone to keep up with their payments, while they can call us when and if the need arises.
“We want to work with tenants as much as we can; but we also want them to understand that it is also not in their best interest to have their monthly rental payments fall more and more behind,” said Salomons.
