Housing supply is at its lowest level and vacancies are at record low, 3% nationwide. When residents are spending up to 50% of their income on rent, there is a significant need to expand on the “S” (Social) in ESG with solutions that improve the financial health of rental communities.
ESG is the acronym for “Environmental, Social and Governance” that has become crucial for investment considerations globally. Multifamily developments that invest in sustainable features (Environment) and/or provide affordable housing (Social) are more likely to find options from capital sources looking to meet ESG targets. With the current housing policies, it’s extremely hard to invest in “S” by building affordable housing though luckily it is possible to help tackle affordability challenges by offering alternative solutions.
A Equifax report published last week said:
“Credit card balances rose to the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2019 and the average credit limit on new cards is over $5,800, the highest it has been in the last seven years.”
Bloomberg
To avoid racking up credit card debt, paying late fees and being stuck between paychecks households need more flexibility in paying their bills, starting with rent.
Almost 40% of the households are spending 30-50% of their income on rent leaving them with very little buffer between paychecks to manage household expenses as a whole. Such affordability issue is creating financial stress for residents from all income brackets who end up with two options: a) find a new home or b) deal with it.
Apart from the mental, social and economical challenges around changing homes, current trends make it extremely difficult to find a new home
When finding a new home is not a real option, residents can do nothing but just deal with their rent payments and affordability issues.
We, at Zenbase are not housing developers therefore cannot fix the housing supply shortage and avoid affordability issues. However we can partner with property managers, owner & operators to help residents navigate affordability issues by splitting their rent payments and giving them flexibility & control to manage their household expenses as a whole. We think it’s unfair that the biggest expense of the month needs to be paid on the 1st while it takes at least 14 days to receive all monthly earnings to cover that expense.
Flexible rent payments is an effective option in the toolkit of our partners to boost their “S” initiatives in ESG and help improve their residents’ financial health with flexible rent payments. Learn more here.
When we launched Zenbase, our first members were trying out the service simply for a rent day lifeline. These members would not always have the full rent amount in the bank until the last day of the month and end up paying late fees and overdrafts. As inflation soared we started seeing a different member profile with higher income who used Zenbase to better budget and smoothen out their cashflow throughout the month.
Before we illustrate how flexible rent payments help with budgeting for all household expenses let us share some quick stats about the Zenbase members:
In the current inflationary environment, core household expenses including rent, food and gas increased more than 10% and started squeezing all households regardless of their income. Households turned to debt to manage the additional financial burden and according to Equifax consumer debt increased by 9% since May 2021 and we are seeing a 10% increase in credit card balances.
More than 50% are living paycheck to paycheck from all income levels and now dealing with a greater gap between two paychecks. Here is an example:
Flexible rent payments align the timing of his payments with cash availability. After splitting his rent payment Bob keeps $1,275(365% more) to cover all other expenses until he receives his next paycheck. By splitting his rent payment he smoothens out his cashflow and better aligns his cash with the timing of his household expenses.
Those with 30% ‘rent to income’ coverage ratio are assumed to be in core housing need or rent burdened: as a general rule, a healthy household budget should remain below that ratio. Unfortunately more households are now spending more than 30% of their income on rent and struggling with affordability. The risks due to rent affordability impact the rest of the household finances leaving very little room to manage other bills or any unexpected expense.
Flexible rent payments creates such room in the household budget and automates budgeting which all residents can benefit from regardless of their income level. Jordyn has been a Zenbase member for the past 6 months:
“It’s super helpful being able to split payments up, especially with everything going up in cost lately! Zenbase is easy to use, friendly. It’s a quick help, would recommend to anyone!”
Jordyn – Zenbase Member
Trent is one of the property managers responsible for more than 2,000 units:
“Being able to offer residents flexible, low/no-cost options that will make it easier for them to stay on top of their most critical living expense is valuable at any time; but in a era of inflation, and the consequent rising costs of living, it becomes ever more valuable.”
Trent – Property Manager
Flexible rent payments is the designed to free up cash between paychecks and avoid reliance on credit card and other debt products. It gives the control of their household finances to the residents and helps them do the right thing financially.
Times are changing, and the ways we pay are no exception. Consumers are demanding — and being offered — flexible payment options across the board and the property management business, an industry that’s been historically slow to embrace technology, is being left behind. Coupled with our current economic climate, this presents an opportunity.
The world today is not the same place it was even two years ago. The pandemic has changed consumer preferences and for many of us, our fortunes as well. In May 2022, the inflation rate in Canada reached a 33-year high, at 7.7 per cent while wages have only grown by roughly three percent in the past year. Coupled with a rise in interest rates, consumers are paying more for everything. With day-to-day essentials, like food, gas, and rent becoming more costly it’s no surprise people are looking for ways to make their money last the whole month.
The current environment has resulted in solutions like “buy now, pay later” or BNPL payment plans that offer greater financial flexibility for consumers. And BNPL is being applied to the housing industry to manage rents, too — a Motley Fool survey suggests over half of renters would “probably” or “definitely” pay more for flexible payment options in a rental property. This move towards flexible payments, which allows consumers to split their rent up into smaller installments throughout the month, is part of a growing demand for enhanced services, including digital rent payments, according to a report from insurance company Entrata.
Flexible Payments to Support Improved Financial Health
Flexible payment options benefit both property owners and renters. Renters have the ability to break up their rent payment into smaller installments, while property owners can maintain more reliable collections and better renter retention. The financial wellbeing index from LifeWorks, released in October 2021, suggests that almost 30 per cent of Canadians live paycheck to paycheck, and roughly 26 per cent say they can’t come up with $2,000 in an emergency if they needed to. Giving renters a flexible solution to pay their rent, even if faced with a sudden financial emergency, can help them avoid late payment fees, which can add up to $150 a month on a $1,200 rent. It also helps renters avoid the financial stress of falling behind.
Avenue Living Communities + Zenbase: A Benefit for All Residents
For Avenue Living Communities (ALC), a partnership with Zenbase is just another way to enhance the resident experience and provide exceptional customer service. ALC is focused on providing top-quality management to its residents across the Prairies, and offering a flexible payment service has been a key differentiator. For a small fee, Avenue Living Communities residents can use Zenbase to split their rent into two payments, dividing their rent to match their pay schedule. Zenbase covers the monthly rent up-front, and residents have an extended window to pay it back in full and avoid the service fee. Zenbase also offers a $100 cash advance, to provide support with groceries or other expenses on months when budgets are tight. “Splitting your rent into two payments is awesome,” writes Diane in a Zenbase Google review. “You don’t feel stranded at the end of the month.”
A Win-Win
“Rent is due on the first” is one of the last, albeit stubborn, remnants of the past, and we may be seeing the beginning of its extinction. Avenue Living Communities, in partnering with Zenbase, is offering their residents flexibility, freedom of choice, and another way to take control of their finances. We all deserve options, whether we rent or own our homes, and flexible rent payment services like Zenbase provide property managers with the technology to make those options a reality.
Learn more about Zenbase, and how we can help property managers offer exceptional customer service.
Calgary, AB – Zenbase, a leader in flexible split rent payments, today announced a partnership with Avenue Living Communities Ltd. (“ALC”) to deliver its rent payment service to Avenue Living’s 14,000+ apartments and townhomes across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. This service, which allows residents to pay their rent on a schedule that better suits their income cycle, can offer some relief at a time when inflation is pushing household budgets to their limits.
“We’re always looking for ways to address what’s most important to our residents,” says Anthony Giuffre, Founder and CEO of Avenue Living Group. “We know how important the social aspect of our Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance commitments are, and we’re continuing to support our residents with compassionate options to help address their day-to-day challenges.”
Koray Can Oztekin, CEO and Founder of Zenbase agrees. “Our company partners with like-minded property management organizations who want to improve the financial health of their residents while at the same time increase on-time rent collections and eliminate operational overhead. ALC has fully leveraged the benefit of our solution, delivering financial relief and flexibility to thousands of Canadian renters.”
As inflation and interest rates both rise, Canadians are being challenged with various costs, such as food, gas, and rent. Amidst these struggles, Canadians are actively seeking financial flexibility from different service providers. Single-payment plans, locked-in schedules, and late fees continue to be a significant stressor for many renters. Zenbase offers an automated solution that aims to put an end to the key challenges around rent payment. The company’s core financial product enables flexible rent payments, allowing residents to split their monthly rent into smaller installments within a month.
Zenbase has benefits for property owners, as well, helping ensure guaranteed rent payments and reducing the time spent on rent collection. This partnership with ALC, the fastest growing multi-family housing owner-operator in Western Canada, has the potential to reduce late rent payments by over 27 per cent while driving a positive resident experience and supporting them during difficult times.
“Zenbase is a fantastic technology solution that allows us to be more efficient on the back-end while at the same time, empowering our residents to be in control of their financial situation,” says Giuffre. “Zenbase has become an integral part of our operations and the platform delivers on our commitment to create a superior customer experience for our residents — one that provides flexible options and peace of mind.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Zenbase’s solutions improve the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the first of the month but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase addresses that misalignment and provides other financial tools to help level the playing field. Learn more: https://myzenbase.com/
About Avenue Living
Founded on the principle of investing in the everyday, Avenue Living focuses on opportunities that are often overlooked by others, having grown to over $3.7 billion in aggregate assets under management across four private real estate investment mandates. The Avenue Living team includes over 750 professionals with expertise in real estate operations, property management, and asset management to support Avenue Living’s growing portfolio. In addition to over 14,400 multi-family units located in Canada and the United States, Avenue Living and its related entities own over 496,500 square feet of commercial space, 82,827 acres of productive farmland, and more than three (3) million square feet of self-storage space. Learn more: avenuelivingam.com/
Calgary, AB – Zenbase, a leader in flexible rent payments, today announced that it has secured $4.1 million in seed funding led by Global Founders Capital. With this seed round, Zenbase will expand beyond Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, into Ontario, British Columbia and the Maritimes.
Zenbase enables the most flexible rent payments ever and delivers rent day bliss on the first of the month by allowing residents to split their monthly rent payments. They can pay on a personalized rent payment schedule reducing their financial stress and improving resident satisfaction. Zenbase partners with property management companies to increase on-time rent collections and eliminate operational overhead.
Global Founders Capital (GFC) led the funding with other investors contributing, including Garage Capital and N49P.
Since Zenbase launched, it has saved more than $700 at an annualized rate per resident by having them avoid overdraft and late fees. In addition to the rent product, more than 40% of Zenbase members have also used its fee-free cash advance service to cover utilities, groceries and gas.
Koray Can Oztekin, CEO and Founder of Zenbase, said: “It’s expensive to be poor with late rent payments costing a resident as high as $150 each time. We are leveling the playing field by giving Canadians the flexibility that they need without getting penalized. We pay a resident’s rent in full on the first of the month, eliminating late rent payments for property managers. The resident then has 30 days to complete their rent payments with us and can align them with their paydays if they like. It’s a win:win for the residents and property managers.”
Alexander Mcisaac, Partner, Global Founders Capital, said: “More than 50% of Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck and housing stability is crucial for them to achieve financial health. Zenbase delivers financial solutions to these communities helping tenants save money and increase financial security. Following a nationwide increase in the cost of living and rent hikes, their platform is more needed than ever.”
About Zenbase
Zenbase, a leader in flexible rent payments, is committed to economic inclusion that fosters financial empowerment for renters. Our solutions improve the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Rent is usually due on the 1st of the month but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. We’ve fixed that misalignment and provide other financial tools to help level the playing field.
Q: Koray what’s the 20 second booth pitch and how are you different from other rent payment platforms?
A: We’re a flexible rent payment platform that eliminates late payments. Residents can pay as much as $150 for late payments and landlords can lose a good chunk of their margins because of the operational cost of managing late payments. We are fixing this by covering the residents on the first of the month and receiving their rent in smaller payments when they get paid.
Q: Ok, well, talk to us about the financial health of residents and why that’s important?
A: 25% of the renting families are in core housing need and more than 50% of the renting households are living paycheck to paycheck. These folks are vulnerable to life events: loss of employment, reduced hours, unexpected health issues. So they don’t always get to make their biggest expense, rent, during that time.
When this happens they don’t have good options to turn to:
1) predatory lenders or
2) deal with overdrafts, late fees in case of rent.
This further worsens their financial health leading to repeat late rent payments and potentially to eviction. Good people shouldn’t have to leave and we are partnering with landlords to improve the financial health of their residents.
Q: So, coming out from all the government mandates and now into high inflation our industry is being negatively affected – Koray, what late payment trends are you seeing these days?
A: As the number of families in core housing need increases, we are seeing an increase in late payments as well. Given a more risk averse credit environment, we are seeing a reduced number of options for the residents to catch up on their rent payments. Because of this we are seeing a greater operational overhead to manage late payments while straining the relationship with the residents.
Q: Alright – how much can a late payment cost a tenant?
A: Insanely high, things can really add up. With pandemic pre-authorized debit became the most common payment method. This means greater risk of bank overdraft fees that can be as high as $48. On top of that landlords can charge between $50-$100 overdrafts fees. When you add late fees on top of that one can pay as high $150 for an average of $1,200 rent.
Q: Well, now that rents are finally increasing – are you seeing any groups disproportionately affected – and how can property managers maintain on time rent payments during these transitioning times?
A: Visible minority groups are almost twice as likely to be in core housing need. To help their communities it is now more important than ever to offer flexible payment solutions that match the cashflow timing of their residents.
Q: Before we go is there anything else you’d like to mention?
A: Financially healthier residents create happier and healthier communities. So housing affordability issue is a healthcare issue as well: low-income unstable household is 2X more likely to be in fair or poor health than those in stable housing, and almost 3X more likely to report depressive symptoms. I think we are all responsible for taking care of our communities.
We’re looking forward to meeting our partners in Toronto at the annual CFAA Rental Housing Conference and discussing how Zenbase’s flexible rent payments can help your communities stay current on their rent and eliminate late payments.
Rents are increasing across the nation led by Vancouver (23%) and Toronto (11%). Inflationary pressure is making it harder for landlords to keep the rents at the same level. In 2021 more than 40% of residents had at least one delinquent rent payment in a 6 month period. With rents increasing and wages not keeping up, things will only get worse.
Visible minorities in Canada are almost twice as likely to be in a core housing need (spending more than 30% of income on rent) compared to non-visible minority groups. The housing crisis is also a health crisis: a low-income, unstable household is 2X more likely to be in fair or poor health than those in stable housing, and almost 3X more likely to report depressive symptoms.
We started Zenbase to bring peace of mind on rent day for our members and partners. Our platform saves residents more than $700 a year by avoiding late fees and overdrafts while increasing on time payments by 29% thus reducing the operational overhead of our partners.
Let’s connect at the the CFAA Rental Housing Conference and help your communities take control of their mission critical household expenses and get one step closer to financial health. You can also learn more about flexible rent payments here.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Lenders Association (CLA) is pleased to welcome Zenbase as a new member. Zenbase is a company committed to economic inclusion in order to foster financial empowerment for renters. Its solutions improve the financial wellness of renters while improving operational efficiency for property managers. Zenbase was founded with the vision of becoming a trusted partner in managing household finances while eliminating late fees and predatory financing.
“We are thrilled to welcome Zenbase into the Canadian Lenders Association and look forward to integrating them into the CLA’s Roundtables and webinars.” says Gary Schwartz, President of the CLA. “Zenbase offers a vital service for Canadians, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.”
In a time in which more Canadians are struggling to meet rent payments and there’s a housing crunch in major cities, socially responsible finance has never mattered more. Currently operating across Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, soon, Zenbase plans to expand into Ontario and British Columbia.
“Zenbase and the CLA share similar objectives. We are both committed to growing financial literacy and promoting financial empowerment through responsible lending. We look forward to working with industry leaders to develop unique partnership opportunities and provide hard working Canadians a better solution to manage their largest monthly expense: rent.” says Philipp Postrehovsky, COO at Zenbase.
Rent is usually due on the 1st of the month, but that doesn’t align with most people’s bi-monthly pay cycle. Zenbase has fixed that misalignment and provides other financial tools to help level the playing field. Since Zenbase launched, it has saved more than $700 at an annualized rate per resident by avoiding late fees and overdraft fees, and growing its active renters by more than 50% MoM. In addition to the rent product, more than 40% of our members are also using its fee-free cash advance service to cover their utilities, groceries and gas.
Zenbase’s mission is to ensure that no one is ever behind on their rent payments or gets evicted. Zenbase also offers other financial solutions that empower users to better navigate financial challenges that life may throw at them.
About Zenbase
Our mission is to ensure that no one is ever behind on their rent payments or gets evicted. Our solution enables the affordability of the primary need of every person, housing, which is why we built a solution that offers the most flexible rent payments ever. We also offer other financial solutions that empower users to better navigate financial challenges that life may throw at them.
About Canadian Lenders Association
The Canadian Lenders Association supports the growth of companies that are in the business of lending, or providing other means of credit, to small businesses and individuals by non-conventional or innovative means to exchange ideas and explore ways of improving the sector; encourage principled and professional practices by Innovative Lenders; educate the public at large about Innovative Lending; encourage individual potential borrowers to be informed about the appropriateness of Innovative Lending to the borrowers’ circumstance; and to advocate on behalf of, and represent the interests of Innovative Lenders.