How can courts and legal actors warn a tenant about a possible eviction –so that they take action, connect with services, and avoid a forcible move? This new warning notice from Las Vegas is one example of a strategic, simplified design.
The Civil Law Self-Help Center in Las Vegas, Nevada has redesigned the notice that landlords give to tenants if they have not paid their rent. This ‘simplified’ notice should empower tenants to be more in control & able to use services to resolve the rental problems.
The key advantages of this new design:
Clear Deadline, that is listed explicitly & with priority placement
QR Code to the Answer Pathway, that can let a person easily fill in the online answer form to respond to the case
Clear Statement of Consequences if the person fails to act or engage with the process
Laying out the 3 Options that the tenant can take: answering, paying, or moving — so that the tenant can make an informed, quality choice about which of them is best (and the best way to pursue any of the 3)
Connecting the tenant to financial and legal help, so that the person understands who can help them & how to get this help
These new communication design strategies can help the warning achieve its goal: empowering the person to understand where they are in the legal process and take the best next action for them. Ideally, this notice will make a person feel the importance of the quick deadline, but also feel confident to call for help or take action to avoid a forcible, unwanted move.
Page one of the simplified notice about the possible eviction
The national eviction help and renters’ rights FAQ site coordinates plain-language explanations of emergency COVID-19 protections for renters. It also presents them with local legal and financial assistance they can use.
Can I be evicted? What if I can’t pay my rent because of COVID? Who can help me cover my housing costs? This FAQ site is designed to get these local answers featured more prominently on search engines and elsewhere online.
The city of Portland, Oregon has a rental registry that tracks where rental homes are, that collects $60 fees from landlords, and that maps out strategic data to improve government services and legal protections.
