NAA Guidance Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the outbreak of a novel (meaning new) coronavirus (COVID-19), which was first detected in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to 209 countries and territories. With 367,685 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the United States (through April 7, 2020), the National Apartment Association (NAA) believes it prudent for its members and affiliates to be prepared for incidents involving COVID-19.
NAA understands that affiliates, members and residents may have concerns about how apartment communities should address the virus and, in an effort to offer guidance and information to assist with preparations, we have compiled the following material from official sources.
It is important to recognize that NAA, its affiliates and individual members are not health care professionals. The CDC and other qualified health officials should continue to be the primary source of current information and guidance. NAA is offering general, precautionary guidance from officials, and also adding some common-sense guidelines for our industry in the interest of promoting a proper amount of caution at this time.
Because this is a rapidly evolving situation, NAA will monitor developments and will continue efforts to secure guidance specific to the operation of rental housing from health officials. Additionally, NAA will update our website with new information as it becomes available.




Operational Best Practices
Operations
- Covid-19 Webinars
- Best Practices for Operations
- Best Practices for Personal Protective Equipment
- Best Practices for Transitioning Employees Back into the Workplace
- Best Practices for Preparing for Temporary Workforce Reductions
- Emergency Document for Essential Personnel
- Sample - Maintenance Emergencies Defined
- Listing of Operations Related Webinars
- Next Steps: What Owners and Operators Should Consider
- 5 Things Independent Rental Owners Should Do to Protect their Businesses During COVID-19
- OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
- Reopening Office and Amenity Spaces
- The Demand for Flexibility in the Workplace: Overcoming Challenges for Onsite Staffing
- Returning to Learning: Solutions for Apartment Operators
Rent Collection
- Best Practices for Rent Collection Amid COVID-19
- Forms for Payment Plan Agreement and Notice of Temporary Waiver of Late Fees
- Webinar - Best Practices For Property Managers: Rent Collection, Late Fees, Filings, Payment Plans
Resident Exposure
- Best Practices for Resident Exposure to COVID-19
- Webinar - My Resident Tested Positive for COVID-19, Now What?
Free Form for Rent Relief Requests
NAA is offering a sneak peek of its newest compliance solution, NAA Click & Comply, by releasing a Rent Relief Request Form for property management companies to utilize across their portfolio. This form will easily document and track requests from residents who are suffering financially during COVID-19, including special arrangements and/or payment plans that have been agreed upon by the property and its residents.
The form, powered by Leonardo247, is free of charge and will allow property management companies to pull reports with detail on each property or an overview across the entire portfolio.
If you are interested in this form, please contact Nicholas Tovar.
Resident Engagement
- 10 Ways to Keep Residents Engaged During COVID-19
- Helping Affordable Housing Residents Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic (from National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities, Trusted Space Partners and Virginia Tech)
- Best Practices for Conflict Resolution
Off-Campus Student Housing
Resources for Teleworking
- Best Practices for Teleworking Amidst COVID-19
- Best Practices for Flex Scheduling
- 10 Ways to Keep Your Culture Thriving Remotely in the Face of COVID-19
- Collaboration Tools for Working Remotely
- Communication Tools for Working Remotely
- Sample - Telework Agreement
- Listing of Telework and Human Resources Related Webinars
Federal, State and Local Legal and Regulatory Updates
Eviction Restrictions and Related Renter Protections
- Updated NAA Guidance on CDC Order Temporarily Halting Certain Evictions
- CDC Order Temporarily Halting Certain Residential Evictions and Subsequent Guidance Released by CDC, HHS, HUD, and DOJ in the Form of FAQs
- Also see HUD's Supplmental Guidance which strongly urges resident notification requirements.
- NAA Guidance on CDC Order Temporarily Halting Certain Evictions and Webinar
- White House Orders HUD to Halt Foreclosures and Evictions
- FHA and FHFA Announce Single-Family Moratoria Extended Until December 31
- NAA CARES Act Eviction Moratorium FAQs
- HUD Guidance on the CARES Act Eviction Moratorium
- HUD COVID-19 Guidance for owners/agents of FHA-insured Multifamily Properties
- HUD COVID-19 Guidance for owners/agents of Multifamily Assisted Project-Based Rental Assistance, Section 232 and Section 811 Properties
- Per HUD, multifamily borrowers receiving extended forbearance must inform all residents of the prohibition against eviction solely for non-payment of rent.
- See ML 2020-09 and Notice H-20-7 for more information on HUD's eviction and renter protections for multifamily properties in forbearance.
- FHFA Eviction and Renter Protections for Multifamily Properties in Forbearance
Eviction Legal Resources
- Forms for Payment Plan Agreement and Notice of Temporary Waiver of Late Fees
- The Latest Court Closures and Restrictions
Tax Relief
- Business Relief in the CARES Act
- IRS Addresses Tax Implications Amid COVID-19 Relief
- Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Retention Credit
Mortgage Forbearance
- NAA’s Analysis – FHFA’s mortgage relief for property owners
- Fannie Mae’s updated multifamily rules
- Freddie Mac’s plan for multifamily
- Access FHA-issued guidance
Business Relief Programs
- Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Eligibility
- Webinar – NAA tackles common PPP questions
- Federal Reserve Takes Additional Actions to Support the Economy
State and Local Resources
State and Local Regulatory Responses to COVID-19
- COVID-19 State and Local Eviction Moratorium Report
- COVID-19 California Eviction Moratorium Report
- COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Housing Provider Assistance Report
- COVID-19 Reopening Order and Face Mask Mandate Report
- COVID-19 Rent Freeze Report
Industry Survey Report
NAA and IREM sponsored a joint survey of our memberships and partnered with CEL & Associates to conduct the survey on a monthly basis. The results will be used in advocacy efforts to inform and educate policymakers on the impacts of COVID-19 to the vital rental housing industry. The initial survey was open from April 13-April 17 and received 191 responses.
- September 18, 2020 Industry Survey Report
- July 30, 2020 Industry Survey Report
- June 18, 2020 Industry Survey Report
- May 26, 2020 Industry Survey Report
- April 29, 2020 Industry Survey Report
Economic Impact
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Bi-weekly updates on economic data releases, forecasts and impacts of the coronavirus on the national economy.
- January 6, 2021 Economic Impact Report
- December 23, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- December 9, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- November 25, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- November 11, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- October 28, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- October 21, 2020 Economic Impact Report
- October 14, 2020 Economic Impact Report
Data Resources
- J Turner Research: Multifamily Industry Leaders Survey December 2020
- Entrata: COVID-19 Rental Housing Trends
- Yardi Matrix: Strong Capital Flows Point To Rebound in Multifamily Deals
- Berkadia’s 2021 Multifamily Forecast
- RealPage: Apartment Rent Payments at 89.8% as of December 20
- Apartment List Apartment Vacancies Are Peaking In Expensive Markets
- RealPage: Apartment Rent Payments Slide as of mid-December
- Yardi Matrix: National Multifamily Report November 2020
- Apartment List Renter Migration Report: 2020 Q4
- Newmark: Nooks, Balconies and Beyond: Rethinking Multifamily Design Post-Pandemic
- Apartment List National Rent Report
- Avail: Landlords and Renters Struggling to Make Ends Meet During COVID-19 Uncertainty
- Apartment List: National Rent Report
- RealPage: Apartment Rent Payments Hit 90% in August’s Third Week
- Rentec Direct: Impact of COVID-19 on Rent Payments and Rent Payment Methods, August 2020
- RealPage: Mid-August Apartment Rent Payments Near 87%
- Yardi Matrix Bulletin: Stressed Out: Are Commercial Properties Close to Default?
- Apartment List Renter Migration Report: 2020 Q3
- NAIOP’s July Coronavirus Impacts Survey Results
- Entrata - Covid-19 Trends August 2020
- RealPage - Apartment Rent Payments Close to Normal in Early August
- MRI Software Market Insights - The impact of COVID-19 on the Multifamily Industry
- Yardi Matrix Multifamily Outlook - July 2020
- LeaseLock - August 1st Rent Payments Decline Following Benefits Running Out
- Freddie Mac - Multifamily Outlook 2020
- Apartment List - 32% of Americans Entered August With Unpaid Housing Bills
- NAHREP - Small Landlord Survey
- RealPage - July Apartment Rent Payments Trail Earlier Results
- Apartment List - National Rent Report
- Yardi Matrix Multifamily Outlook - Summer 2020
- Satisfacts COVID-19 National Renter Study [Round 3]
- RealPage - Apartment Rent Payments Continue to Slip in July
- LeaseLock - Class C Residents Show Signs of Growing Financial Strain
- Rentec Direct - Rent Payments Continue to Fall During Covid-19 Pandemic
- Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report - June
- RealPage - Rent Payments Are Down Slightly As Of July 13
- Entrata - Covid-19 Early July Trends
- Rentec Direct - Rental Payments Have Decreased Since March
- RealPage - July Rent Collections Off To A Sluggish Start
- LeaseLock - July Rent Payments Indicate Hardship Among Renters
- ApartmentList - Renters Making No or Partial Payments Increased In July
- RealPage - Renters Stay Current With June Rent But Face Uncertainty
- ApartmentList - June Rent Payment Analysis
- NMHC - Rent Payments - June
- Rentec Direct - Rent Payment Trends - June 2020
- RealPage - Rent Payments - Mid June
- Entrata - Rent Payment Trends - Early June
- LeaseLock - Rent Collections - June
- MRI - Covid-19 Impact on Multifamily - May
- Yardi Matrix Multifamily Report - May
Census Household Pulse Survey (Renter Sentiment)
The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey provides a weekly study of household experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic. The information collected includes household employment, food security, health status, housing security, and educational disruptions. The U.S. Census Bureau is collecting data for 90 days starting on April 23.
- Census Household Pulse Survey - July 16 - 21
- Census Household Pulse Survey - July 9 - 14
- Census Household Pulse Survey - July 2 - 7
- Census Household Pulse Survey - June 25 - 30
- Census Household Pulse Survey - June 18 - 23
- Census Household Pulse Survey - June 11 - 17
- Census Household Pulse Survey - June 4 - 9
- Census Household Pulse Survey - May 28 - June 2
- Census Household Pulse Survey - May 21 - 26
Media Guidance
NAA recommends that incoming media requests be directed to CDC and/or local health officials, who are better qualified to answer their questions at this time. You don’t want to be at risk with liability concerns.
Ensure your office has proper contact information of the local health authority and/or the best CDC resources on hand for handling queries from local stakeholders.
NAA recommends a holding statement be developed. An example: "We appreciate your call. It is wise for everyone to remain current and follow the most recent guidance provided by health officials. That is why we request that you direct your question to [Local Health Official] or the CDC, who are on top of this situation."
Other Key Messages to Consider
NAA recommends that guidance from CDC and other officials be treated seriously. At present, CDC prevention information includes:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
- Frequently clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces.
NAA encourages all members and affiliates to monitor the situation and stay current with advice from CDC and public health officials.