Evictions Landlord-Tenant Disputes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took unprecedented action by issuing a temporary national moratorium on most evictions for nonpayment of rent to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Federal Eviction Moratorium

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on August 3 a limited eviction moratorium for renters living in communities experiencing substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, covering an estimated 80% of all U.S. counties and 90% of all renters. The new moratorium protects renters for up to two months, through October 3.

The new eviction moratorium provides immediate relief for the 6.5 million renter households who are currently behind on their rent and who were at an increased risk of eviction when the previous federal eviction moratorium expired on July 31. The new moratorium will help keep renters safely and stably housed, and it will provide state and local governments more time to distribute emergency rental assistance (ERA) to households in need.

The new moratorium:

Prevents renters in communities experiencing a substantial or high level of community transmission of COVID-19 from being evicted for nonpayment of rent. Find out whether your county is experiencing a substantial or high rate of transmission: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

Protects renters for up to two months, from August 3 to October 3. Renters lose protections under the moratorium once their community is no longer experiencing a substantial or high level of community transmission;

Requires renters to provide their landlord with a signed declaration form to be covered. Renters who previously submitted declaration forms are not required to do so again; and

Does not relieve renters from their obligation to pay rent. 

Because the moratorium is not retroactive and will not protect those renters who have already been evicted from their homes, it is critical that state and local governments quickly prioritize ERA to rehouse these individuals and families to prevent homelessness. Most states and communities need to do much more to quickly distribute ERA to struggling renters and to ensure programs are visible, accessible, and preventive of evictions.

Additional renter protections, such as the right to counsel, expungement of eviction records, and just-cause eviction standards, are needed to help protect renters now and in the long term. The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) developed model state legislation for a “Safe at Home Act” that implements many of the policies described in Safe at Home: Non-Monetary Relief for Tenants During the COVID Emergency. Advocates can use these resources to push for state and local protections for tenants.

Learn more about the Zariah Alondra Legal Protection plan that will allow you to speak to an attorney and assist you through the eviction process. 

https://zariahalondratax.wearelegalshield.com/