A Federal Eviction Moratorium Is Ending: Here's What Renters Should Know
"A federal eviction moratorium is ending. Here’s what renters should know." The end of the four-month moratorium puts 12 million renters at risk of eviction as the pandemic continues to surge. By Renae Merle. Washington Post, 7/24/20.
For millions of America’s renters, there’s a cliff approaching. Enhanced unemployment benefits that have kept many afloat will expire soon. The recession triggered by the pandemic is expected to be deeper and longer than initially forecast as coronavirus cases surge across the country. And this week, a federal moratorium that had protected an estimated 12 million renters from eviction for four months is expiring.
“This is a cliff we don’t have to go over,” said David M. Dworkin, chief executive of the National Housing Conference, which has advocated for billions of dollars in rental assistance. Of the 110 million Americans living in rental households, 20 percent are at risk of eviction by Sept. 30, according to an analysis by the Covid-19 Eviction Defense Project, a Colorado-based community group. African American and Hispanic renters are expected to be hit hardest. Evictions set to skyrocket this summer as jobs remain scarce. Black renters will be hard hit.
Here are some common questions for renters struggling amid the pandemic:
- What should I do if I can’t pay my rent?
Renters unable to pay should immediately alert their landlords. Housing advocates and property owners agree this is the best first step. Landlords are typically more willing to negotiate with tenants who reach out quickly, rather than those who hunker down and stay quiet, they say.
“A lot of landlords are willing to work with people in this situation. They would rather keep a tenant who can pay less than try to get someone new in,” said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. Some property managers are waiving late fees or providing other types of help, said Bob Pinnegar, chief executive of the National Apartment Association, but it depends on their finances. Property managers “are helping when and where they can, but they must take in enough revenue to ensure that the property remains financially viable,” he said.
- Can I be evicted?
It depends...
Read More, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/24/faq-federal-eviction-moratorium/
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