What should a tenant do if they cannot pay the rent?

If a tenant knows in advance that they will be unable to pay their rent, due to a temporary situation, they should talk to their landlord immediately to work out an arrangement with the landlord. If the tenant is unable to make arrangements with the landlord to delay the rent payment then the tenant should make arrangements to vacate the unit as soon as possible, giving the landlord written notice. A tenant can be held responsible for paying the rent for a full 30-day notice period whether or not they are in the unit. A landlord may be willing to waive the 30-day notice if they can avoid a possible eviction. A landlord is not required to provide housing for those who do not pay the rent. It is better for the landlord and tenant to avoid legal eviction proceeding if at all possible.