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Rent Hardship Letter for Your Landlord
Rent is due and the full amount isn't there. A rent hardship letter tells your landlord or property manager what changed, what you can pay now, and when you expect to be caught up, so they have a concrete plan to say yes to.
Not available to California residents
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- 4 drafts to choose from
Writing assistance tool · Not legal advice. LetterLotus is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by using this tool.
Your letter
- laid off in March, company downsized
- rent is $1,400; I can pay $700 now
- new job starts May 1
written into
I was laid off in March when my company downsized. My rent is $1,400 a month and I can pay $700 for now. I have a job that starts on May 1.
I am asking for a short payment plan, and I have set out what I can pay each month and when I will be caught up.
Balanced & Thorough
How It Works
Pick your favorite draft
You get 4 drafts built from your answers to choose from and edit.
Edit, download & use
Make any edits you want, then download a print-ready PDF or Word document. It's your letter.
What Your Letter Covers
- Your unit, the rent amount and the month you're writing about
- What changed, in a sentence or two (job loss, reduced hours, a medical event)
- The payment plan, partial payment or late-fee waiver you're asking for
- Any rental assistance application you've made, and when you expect a decision
- When you expect full payments to resume
Free Help With Rent
- For emergency help paying rent, USAGov says to call 211 or search for your state and local programs; each state sets its own eligibility rules.
Assistance programs and landlords each decide on their own terms. A hardship letter asks for their consideration; it can't promise a reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rent hardship letter?
A short letter to your landlord or property manager explaining why you can't pay rent in full right now, what you can pay, and when you expect to be current again. It turns a missed payment into a specific proposal they can accept.
Does my landlord have to accept it?
No. A hardship letter is a request for consideration, and your landlord decides. What it does is put your situation and your plan in writing, which gives them something concrete to agree to.
Can I use it for a rental assistance application?
Yes, if the program asks for a written explanation of your hardship. Fill in the program's own application first, then send your letter with it. The letter supports the application; it doesn't replace it.
What should I ask my landlord for?
Something specific: a payment plan with dates, a partial payment now with the balance later, or a waived late fee. A clear amount and date is easier to approve than an open-ended request.
Who writes the letter?
You do. You answer a short set of questions about your situation, and the tool helps you organize your own details into a clear, polished letter. You review it, edit anything, and send it yourself.
How much does this cost?
$39, one time. No subscription. You get four drafts to choose from, inline editing, and PDF and Word downloads.
More Hardship Letters and Guides
Other situations, and guides with full sample letters.
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Important: LetterLotus provides a letter you write and send yourself. We are not a credit repair organization, debt settlement company, or law firm.
Ready to Write Your Letter?
Write to your landlord before the due date passes, while you still have room to propose a plan.
Writing assistance tool. Not a law firm. Not legal advice.