Writing An Eviction Hardship Letter Casual

If you are experiencing financial hardship, it is possible that you are unable to pay your rent. In an ideal situation, you will have written a hardship letter to your landlord long before you started to face eviction. However, there may be situations where that was not possible, and you are now in fear of that notice from your landlord. Meanwhile, if you rent from a private landlord, it is likely that you have some sort of personal, perhaps even amicable, relationship with him or her. Hence, you may be able to write a casual eviction hardship letter.

Basics of Writing the Casual Eviction Hardship Letter

Although you will be writing this letter in a less formal style, it does not mean that you can write it on a napkin and not pay attention to what you say. Rather, it means that you can put a little bit more feeling into what you want to write. Hence, it should still be written neatly, on proper paper, and in such a way that it isn’t filled with spelling and grammar errors. You might want to consider writing the letter by hand, rather than on a computer, but you then really have to be confident about your spelling.

What to Say in the Hardship Letter

In the letter, start by expressing your apology for being unable to pay your rent. If you are facing eviction, you must have had several arrears in your payments, which means you have not been a good tenant. You must own up to this in your letter. Explain that you know your landlord has already been generous and that he or she has shown a great deal of understanding but you are currently undergoing a certain situation (describe this). Make it very clear that you are genuinely thankful for being understanding and that you do not wish to take advantage of the landlord’s kindness.

Next, request your landlord not to push through with the eviction. Point out that you really understand how serious the situation is, and that you understand the position of the landlord in serving the eviction notice. Indicate when you expect to have the money for the rent or your proposed schedule for paying your arrears if you plan to pay in installments. Do also offer something else as a goodwill gesture. For instance, you may want to invest in a certain repair project yourself or landscape the garden at your expense.

If your financial situation is now under control, indicate that in your letter and that you plan to pay all future rents promptly. On the other hand, if your situation has not yet stabilized, explain what you are doing to remedy the situation and your proposed schedule for paying the balance. You must demonstrate that the rent payments are now a priority for you. For instance, you could provide evidence of setting up a standing order with your bank, so that the landlord can see that the rent will take precedence over any other bill that comes out of your account. End your letter by once again thanking the landlord for his or her kind consideration.

For more sample hardship letters, click here.

Eviction Hardship Letter Casual Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}

{Date}

Dear {landlord}:

I am so incredibly sorry for being late with the rent again. I know that it was due on {date} and it is now {date}. You have been so generous and understanding in the past as I wrestled with {situation}, and I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.

Please don’t proceed with the eviction. I definitely got the message when I saw your {letter/notice on the door}. I have the rent money and will {bring/mail} it to you immediately. Additionally, as a show of good faith, I hope you will allow me to {gesture such as upkeep of yard or repair projects}.

I promise you that I now have {situation} under control and will make prompt payment of the rent my top priority from here on out.

Appreciatively,

{Sender Name}

Writing A Hardship Letter For Loan Modification

Writing a loan modification hardship letter means that you are formally requesting your lender for some changes to the terms and conditions of your loan. This letter is an opportunity for you to highlight your financial difficulties and to prevent a foreclosure for the case of a mortgage. This letter must be factual, rather than a sob story, however, so do make sure that you write it properly.

Why a Loan Modification May Be Needed

There are two key reasons as to why you may apply for a loan modification:

  1. You have lost your job.
  2. Your are facing serious medical issues.

Other reasons, such as divorce, separation, death in the family, incarceration, and military duty, may also be accepted. However, whatever the reason may be, you have to make sure that you can provide sufficient evidence for it. You also have show how it is affecting you and your family financially.

Questions to Serve as Guide for the Content of the Hardship Letter

A lender will have a number of questions and you must attempt to answer these immediately. These are:

  1. Why are you behind in your payments?
  2. When did you start to fall behind?
  3. Will your situation improve and, if so, when and how?
  4. What modifications are you asking for?
  5. How much you can pay in the immediate and how long for.
  6. Whether you are receiving treatment if the hardship is due to an addiction.

Tips in Writing a Hardship Letter for Loan Modification

You must make sure that you offer something that benefits your lender as well. Being able to collect something and keeping the loan active would be better than you getting into bankruptcy or foreclosure. If you explain that you have every intention of repaying your debt but that you simply need some respite at this point, your creditor may be willing to consider it.

Your letter should be positive in tone. You must show yourself to be a trustworthy person who always pay as long as your finances allow it. Be matter of fact about this and provide evidence for your claims. Include payslips, copies of bills, bank statements, proof of attempts to reduce your expenses and increase your income, and so on.

It is also possible that you have sought out the assistance of experts like a lawyer or financial consultant. If so, they may be writing the letter for you. However, it is vital that you sign it and not the consultant or legal professional. You should also avoid simply copying a template.

When you write your loan modification hardship letter, keep it short and to the point. State the facts of your situation in an honest way. Never place any blame on the lender or other third party for your situation either. These letters are formal letters and they will be kept on your record permanently. Hence, make sure that it is written appropriately, addressed to the correct person in the right department, and free from spelling and grammar errors. It is also likely that your lender will have a standard form to fill in for loan modification requests, so do find out about that before sending your letter. Make sure you keep copies for your own records, and send the letter via registered post.

Hardship Letter For Loan Modification Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Address Continued}
{Your Phone Number}

{Mortgage Company Name}
ATTN: {appropriate department}
{Address}
{Address Continued}

{Date}

RE: loan modification for {Name}

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter in support for my loan modification plan for the {mortgage, loan, etc.} on the {home, car, etc.} located at {address}. My intention is to stay in my home, and my hope is that the loan modification will allow me to get my loan in order and back on the right path.

I have been unable to pay my mortgage payments on time due to {explanation of the reasons you are experiencing hardship; be specific}.

I have attached the appropriate financial documents, including {list of documents}, which should illustrate to you how serious my situation has become.

I hope that we can work together, and quickly, to modify this loan so that I may begin to make the payments again as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}

Writing A Lower Payments Hardship Letter

There are numerous bills that you have to pay monthly or regularly. Generally speaking, these bills, such as credit card bills, rent, or utility bills, are paid at regular intervals. If you find yourself in a position of financial hardship, which means that you are unable to make some of those monthly payments, you may find that you have to write a lower payments hardship letter.

What Can the Letter Be Used For?

In most cases, a lower payments hardship letter is written for a line of credit where some sort of interest is paid. That is because all other types of bills, such as rent, utilities, or cellphones, are paid for a service. A reduction in monthly payments on those, therefore, would also result in a reduction of usage. However, on bills such as loans, car finance, mortgages, or credit cards, you could lower payments made on interest, but still make payments overall.

Write a Lower Payments Hardship Letter Formally

You must write this type of letter formally. It should be addressed to the right person in the right department, and that it should be formatted properly. It must include your personal details and your account details as well. You should also make sure that the letter is free from spelling and grammatical errors.

Describe Your Financial Hardship

Next, write a description of the financial hardship you are experiencing. The creditor is not interested in sob stories, however, so only put in the facts. Explain why you are in hardship and the impact this has had on your ability to pay your bills. Provide documented evidence (pay slips, termination notices, bills, etc…) of your financial situation.

Indicate Your Request Clearly

You should make your request as clear as possible. Indicate that you currently make quarterly/monthly/weekly payments on a certain account, and do tell the creditor that you have been unable to make payments for a certain period of time if that is the case. A word of warning: the longer you wait in writing this type of letter, the less likely it will be that your request for lower payments will be granted. Hence, write it as soon as possible.

When you make your proposal, do not simply ask your creditor for lower payments, as they do not know what you can and can’t afford. Rather, you should be concise and tell them exactly what you are proposing. Do not make promises you can’t keep, however. Creditors would rather wait longer for their money but know they are getting it, rather than expect a shorter period of time but payments are not actually made.

Honesty and openness go a long way. Remember that the creditors are interested only in how they will get back their money. If you have not made any payments for a long period of time, they are likely to have already started legal action against you. Hence, do not bury your head in the sand, but address the problem as soon as it starts to arise.

Lower Payments Hardship Letter Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone #}

{Date}

Dear {creditor}:

I am writing to request lower {weekly/monthly/quarterly} payments on {debt}.

Your records should indicate that I {have/have not} kept up with the required payments of {amount}. But now, due to {situation}, I can no longer afford that amount. {Describe financial/life conditions}.

I would like to propose lower {weekly/monthly/quarterly} payments of {amount}. I know this will extend the length of the loan that was offered to me, but the only alternative would be {default/bankruptcy/etc.}.

Please let me know if this arrangement works for you and I will immediately send the adjusted payment amount.

Appreciatively,

{Sender Name}

For more sample hardship letters, click here.

Writing A Hardship Letter To Stop Foreclosure

The U.S. Government believes that if homeowners are facing the threat of foreclosure, there are a number of things that they should do. The first is to make sure that they stay in direct communication with their lenders, rather than ignoring them in the hopes of the problem simply vanishing at some point. If they receive any requests, or if they receive any court documents, these must be responded to as soon as possible. However, the U.S. Government also believes that people should be able to stay in their homes. So much so, in fact, that the government has rendered those who leave their property incapable of receiving any help. This is quite significant, both for lenders and borrowers.

The problem with forcing people to remain in their homes is that they often stop treating the property properly. Lenders who have had to foreclose on homes have often found them to be in a state of significant disrepair and squalor. This is a terrible situation in and of itself, but it is one that may be able to work in your favor to a degree. Indeed, if you write a hardship letter to stop foreclosure, you can cite the fact that it means your lender will not be left with a neglected property. However, you must be very careful with this, as threatening or blackmailing your lender in any way will not go in your favor.

Before Writing the Hardship Letter to Stop Foreclosure

Before you write a letter of hardship, consider whether there is other help out there first. For instance, you may be approved for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program. These are counseling agencies that can help you find solutions to your problems and help you stay in your home.

Content of the Hardship Letter to Stop Foreclosure

If you do find yourself in significant hardship, then you may want to consider writing this type of letter. You should make it clear which property you are discussing and when you first started to own it. Explain that, as of a certain date, you started to fall behind on payments and that this is because of a certain situation. Detail the causes of your hardship, such as loss of a job, medical bills, or death in the family, and make sure they are dated as well. Indicate that, as a result of this hardship, you have not been able to keep up with your mortgage payments, stating how much they are.

Explain that you hope to be able to avoid foreclosure. State that your home is not currently on the market and that you would like to remain in it. If you do want to sell your property, explain that it has been listed since a certain date and for what price. If you want your lender to approve a short sale, this is important information.

Next, you should offer a solution. This could be a temporary loan modification, for instance. Be to the point and factual, so that your lender is not left with any unanswered questions.

Hardship Letter To Stop Foreclosure Example

{Your Name}
{Your Address}
{Your Phone Number}
{Creditor Name}
{Address}
{Address}

{Date}

RE: stopping foreclosure on {address of home}

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in the hopes that this letter will help to stop the foreclosure proceedings on my home at {address}.

I have owned this home since {date}, and have recently begun to fall behind on payments due to financial hardship. This hardship was caused by {details of the hardship; could be medical bills, death, job loss, etc.} and has left me unable to keep up with the mortgage payments of {amount in dollars} per month.

I would like to avoid foreclosure. I {am/am not} committed to staying in my home. My home {is/is not} on the market. {If it is on the market, indicate the current asking price, and if you are requesting approval of a short sale}.

{If you are trying to consolidate or restructure your loan, indicate that here, along with any plan you have in mind for doing so} .

I have attached all my relevant financial documents, including {list of what you’re attaching}. I hope we can work together to avoid the complications and price of foreclosure.

Please contact me at your earlier convenience.

Sincerely,

{Sender Name}