> many struggling renters were hoping to receive emergency rental assistance from the government
Why would this money even need to go to the renters?
Affected landlords should make the claims, and get the money directly after tenants sign off on the notice of arrears.
Renters refusing to sign off on the notice of arrears should be grounds for immediate eviction.
Alternatively, if renters received assistance and did not deposit the exact amount of assistance in the landlord's account, that should be grounds for immediate eviction as well.
This all looks like a government run scam to get regular Joes out of the real estate market, run as a tag team with the scam to close down middle class run businesses.