And the email that was sent after the initial request for data:
>I would appreciate a moment of your time to clarify my team’s efforts to make a positive impact amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
Yesterday, I wrote an email asking landlords to provide information on April rent payments. This information was intended to allow Naborly to better support landlords and tenants and promote a mutual understanding of the severe impact the economic shutdown is having on the rental industry. Upon reflection, I recognize that the email was poorly worded and did not provide sufficient context. I am deeply sorry if it suggested that Naborly or myself were trying to do anything other than help.
Our goal at Naborly is to provide a tenant screening tool that is free from bias, and we are firm believers that housing is a human right. For tenants, we aim to remove traditional barriers to housing such as level of income, student or immigration status, or prior evictions. For landlords, we provide a screening tool that captures a tenant’s entire ability to pay rent, beyond factors such as credit history.
As part of that goal, we have always had a reporting tool that allows landlords to provide feedback, both positive and negative, on their tenants. In light of the COVID-19 crisis, this information is more important than ever. We serve over 800,000 rental units and their owners and are in a unique position to compile information on the hardships facing tenants and landlords alike. Having accurate information allows us to adapt our screening tools to ensure tenants are not unfairly viewed as intentionally delinquent on their rent obligations. Last week, we were grateful to have received survey responses from more than 5000 tenants and 700 landlords on the difficulties the COVID-19 pandemic has created for them, and were able to use that information to promote a constructive dialogue between tenants and landlords. You can read the results of our survey here.
Naborly is and will always be committed to unbiased accuracy, fairness, and equality in our risk assessment. The notion that we are trying to hurt tenants in this time of crisis is against everything we believe in as a team. I am deeply sorry that the way I expressed myself did not reflect who we are as a company and what we are trying to accomplish. It was not my intention.
Our support lines are open to all landlords and tenants to assist in navigating the government programs available to them and to answer any other questions they may have.
Sincerely,
Dylan Lenz
Founder & CEO Naborly Inc.