Companies try to make cars, apartments layoff-proof
NEW YORK -- The nation's largest automotive retailer hopes the offer will help ease the minds of potential car shoppers who may have been putting off a purchase because of unemployment fears.
The program is being rolled out Thursday at 33 Florida dealerships.
Under the program, the company will reimburse customers for loan or lease payments of up to $500 a month for up to six months.
In order to be eligible, customers must own the vehicle for at least 90 days before losing their job and be unemployed for at least 30 days.
The offer is only good for the first year a customer owns their car.
Meanwhile, a landlord is promising two months free apartment rent if its tenants in Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Texas lose their jobs.
Goldberg Cos. says layoffs have become the No. 1 concern for prospective renters. In response, the company's "Layoff Proof Lease" program, as it's called, will begin Saturday.
Tenants will qualify after they've signed a 12-month lease and have made three rent payments. Goldberg says when they provide a termination letter or other proof of job loss, they will receive 60 days rent-free, and after that time they may back out of the lease.
Senior Vice President Jordan Goldberg says his family's company hopes its offer will attract new tenants to its properties and help retain current ones.
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