My approach if I do not know the owner is empathic and try to frame it as a win win if you are able to close quickly.

Things are how they are right now do to Covid but the best way to get attention is to be polite, empathize with their situation as they take a lot of heat from people daily, check in regularly and take a box or two of doughnuts when you drop off the application and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work.

While I empathize with how that must feel, I also think it's horrible to make an innocent local family pay the price for this.

Look to understand , empathize and negotiate there out Before you open the wallet or drop the legal hammers

I can empathize.

Empathize with them but remind them this was beyond your control and you're doing the best you can to remedy the situation and prepare the home for them as quickly as possible.2.

Believe me, I empathize with your situation but there are things that you can do.

@Mike Shaw I empathize,  just thinking about dealing with a government agency makes my head hurt! 

I would let them know that while you empathize you are not responsible for the issue and that the terms of their lease will hold if they vacate prior to its termination date.

As for now, our company has taken the approach to be empathic of the current situation and hopes this will pay off and we can renew our leases with the majority of our tenants.