Why renters need better cash flow solutions

Access to money can be critical in emergency situations 

By Chanin Ballance, CEO & Co-founder Roost

A trip to the emergency room. A last-minute flight to see a sick family member. A car repair that costs more than planned. If you live paycheck to paycheck, a single unexpected expense can leave you short on money and at risk of sinking into debt (or further into debt). But what if we could help solve this problem by giving people better access to their own money? After several years of record-breaking unemployment, increasing debt, and rising rent, cash flow solutions for renters are more necessary than ever.

Emergency savings funds are hard to build

During the pandemic, the economic vulnerability of so many became clear. A 2021 survey by Bankrate found that 25% of Americans have no emergency savings and 51% have less than three months’ worth. Unemployment reached a record 14.7% in April 2020, with 20.5 million jobs lost. Americans were not prepared for this economic hit—particularly those in the lower and middle class who are the least likely to have savings to fall back on. 

Of course, debt was a pervasive problem long before COVID-19. And debt can make it extremely difficult to build an emergency fund. When your paycheck barely covers your bills, rent, and debt payment, it’s essentially impossible to plan ahead. 

In 2020 and again in 2021, the federal government stepped in to provide emergency funds for individuals and families. The relief checks, PPP loans, and additional unemployment income made a big difference for many people. The availability of emergency funds allowed the recently un- or underemployed to hold on to their homes, their businesses, and to keep putting food on the table. 

Unfortunately, that type of widespread economic relief is rare. And most people do not have their own emergency funds to cover unexpected expenses. When you don’t have those funds, additional costs quickly add up.  

The hidden costs of mismatches in cash flow 

Not having enough money to cover an expense is often just one of many financial setbacks. A mismatch in cash flow can quickly lead to compounding costs. 

Take rent, for example. Let’s say you’re a freelancer waiting on an overdue payment from a client. If that unpaid invoice leaves you short on money to cover rent, you’re likely facing a 5% late fee. (If your rent is $1,000, that’s $50 extra for being late.) If you’d enrolled in automatic payments to pay your rent and your checking account lacked sufficient funds, then you can tack on the cost of an overdraft fee, too. 

Roost found that nearly 25 percent of all renters missed a rent payment or paid late at least once in the past 12 months. And they’re paying on average $150 in late rent penalties annually, along with $117 in overdraft fees, $76 on other late fees (car, credit card, utility), and $150 in added costs from drops in credit scores. 

The repercussions of being temporarily short on money can quickly turn into additional financial hardship. Immediate access to money you’ve already earned or already have but can’t yet access can help. 

The benefits and pitfalls of cash flow solutions 

Cash flow solutions help people overcome emergencies or unexpected expenses with their own money. This might make you think of “payday loans,” which have a justifiably terrible reputation. Payday loans are small personal loans with interest rates around 300%-500%. If the loans are not paid back in full within a short period of time, the amount owed quickly adds up. According to Pew Research, about 12 million Americans take out these loans each year and collectively pay nine billion on loan fees. 

Clearly, this is not a great option. 

The average net worth of a rental tenant in America is $6,300. When renters first sign the lease on a new property, they typically put down one or two months’ worth of rent as a security deposit—sometimes three!

But responsible cash flow solutions can be a huge relief to those who need to cover an upcoming expense a security deposit. And they don’t have to be risky, interest-heavy loans. Helping renters qualify for small, low-interest personal loans through financial education, for instance, offers a much better option without creating debt that might take years to dig out of.

44.1 million American households who rent could definitely benefit from access to sound financial advice and knowledge base for everything from how to start an emergency fund to how to improve their credit score so that low interest personal loans are a cash flow solution option. 

The impact of debt is more than financial 

The burden of debt clearly impacts your financial health, but it can also affect your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. If you have debt, you’re more likely to experience impaired cognitive function, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Your productivity might also decrease, making it more challenging to bounce back. Anxiety and depression can inhibit your ability to work, which can lead to lost wages or layoffs. And if you’re already unemployed, debt can make it harder to regain employment. 

But there are solutions that can help people stop the cycle before it begins. 

Cash flow solutions, including access to your rental property security deposit, can offer the kind of relief we all deserve. Simply by making money available that is already yours. 

Roost is a mission-driven tech company focused on improving property NOI and renter financial health. Roost’s free platform helps large multifamily automate the deposit intake and refund process, reduce compliance risk, and minimize disputes. It also helps renters avoid late fees and build credit history by providing renting guidance, financial tips, and savings deals, and a simple way to turn their refundable deposits into an instant emergency fund.