A new survey shows 32 percent of renters had pandemic-rent debt from previous months still due in the first week of September, but that number had dropped to 10 percent by the second week of the month, according to Apartment List.

“Renters continue to struggle to make housing payments. This month, we found 10 percent of renters failed to make their full August payment by the end of the month, and one in six started September owing about $1,000 in missed rent,” the survey said.

“While our first-week non-payment rate came in at 32 percent, most of these are made up with late payments throughout the remainder of the month,” said Chris Salviati, Housing Economist for Apartment List. He said non-payment of rent is less prevalent in large multifamily buildings.

Many still struggling to catch up on pandemic rent debt from prior months

“Despite the slight improvement in September payments, many renters are still worried about unpaid rent obligations from prior months.

“One-in-three renters started September with outstanding back rent owed, nearly unchanged from August. Among those with unpaid rent bills, close to half owe their landlords less than $1,000, while just five percent of all renters owe more than $2,000.

“These results indicate that another round of stimulus payments of a scale similar to those that went out earlier this year could help a significant share of renters catch up on their rent,” the report said.