A student relying on her bar working to pay her bills is fearful of losing her home amid the coronavirus pandemic after receiving a recent lettings agency email insisting: "Rents are due in full."
The woman, who lives in the Smithdown Road area of the city, received the sudden message on Thursday about her payments as the health crisis worsened in the UK and worldwide.
The email read: "We are receiving a number of emails regarding rent payments and we must advise you that rent will be due in full until the tenancy ends.
"If you are having difficulty with rent payments, please contact us and we will endeavour to work with you on a suitable payment plan."
The Liverpool University student, in her final year with a dissertation to complete, recently lost her income after the bar where she works closed because of the spreading infection.
Her tenancy agreement is set to last until mid-summer.
The woman, who lives in their Wavertree home with another student, has been left "absolutely desperate" and "trapped between a rock and a hard place."
In her early 20s, she is fearful of any repercussions of speaking out, but contacted her friend, mental health professional, and private landlord Steve Flatt for advice.
He told the ECHO: "This is a reoccurring problem I'm hearing now for students, who often live hand to mouth, with little help.
"It's all very well talking about a suitable payment, but because of coronavirus, and her employment stopping, she simply cannot pay."
On Thursday, the government announced new emergency legislation stating renters won’t be able to be evicted for three months.
The package of measures is to ensure no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home during the Covid-19 outbreak.
On Friday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Universal Credit would be raised by £1,000 a year to help people out of work cover costs.
Speaking of his friend's dilemma, Mr Flatt said: "She could go home, but there's physical distancing measures, and she won't be able to work...
"So, she either returns home, and tries to pay rent on an empty property, or she stays, and faces whatever consequences arise.
"Her family will not be able to afford the £300-400 payments for her.
"She fears this type of message from the lettings agency will increase."
Are you struggling to pay the rent because of the coronavirus outbreak? Email news@liverpool.com
