Many coronavirus protections are going away at the end of July. We’ll tell you what you need to know about rent payments and evictions.
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The eviction moratorium established by the federal CARES Act ran out Saturday, meaning as many as 23 million US families who are behind on rent could potentially lose their housing. On Sunday, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said that the Senate’s proposal for the next stimulus bill, CARES 2, includes “plans to lengthen the federal eviction moratorium,” according to CNBC.
We expect the final decision to come during the first week in August, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable during the gap. Some landlords reportedly filed for evictions in violation of the law, even before the protection ended. Housing advocates say they expect a “tsunami of evictions.”
Meanwhile, statewide eviction prohibitions have mostly either already expired or will soon, many with no replacement in sight. Michigan, for example, let its eviction moratorium lapse, as have several other states. A handful of states never canceled evictions to begin with.
Where does this all leave you? Is August rent still due on the first day of the month, or can you still get an extension? Can your landlord evict you now if your payment is late? Which laws, if any, can help you keep your home as you weather the coronavirus recession? Will there be another stimulus check and rescue package that might help?
Here’s where things stand now and what analysts are predicting might happen as Senate negotiations continue. Note that this story is updated frequently as the situation develops. It’s intended to provide an overview, not to serve as financial advice.
Worried about making rent? You’re not alone.
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What happens after eviction protections end?
The federal CARES Act that was passed in March temporarily banned evictions and late fees until July 25. It also required a 30-day notice to vacate before you can be evicted.
If you live in a property covered by the CARES Act, landlords can legally ask you to leave and charge late fees, but the soonest they can legally file an eviction to force you to leave is Aug. 24.
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How to tell if the Aug. 24 eviction stay applies to you
The CARES Act only protected about one-third of rental properties in the U.S, specifically, those that received federal funds or were financed under a federal program like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It isn’t clear if Congress will broaden the scope of properties covered under law.
Here’s where things get tricky: If your landlord owns your building outright or financed the property without going through the handful of federal programs that guarantee most mortgages and doesn’t get any government assistance like Section 8 money, the CARES Act didn’t apply to your situation.
For tenants of single-family homes or apartments in buildings with four or fewer units, it’s going to be tough to find out whether this or a similar law applies to you. But if you live in a multifamily property with five or more units, there’s a tool published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition that’s designed to tell you if the property where you live was covered under the CARES Act. Just enter your ZIP code and scroll through the list of properties looking for yours. (Searching within the page didn’t work for us.)
It’s still unclear how much cash Congress plans to put in American’s pockets with a second stimulus bill, only that another round of direct payments is likely to be included.
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There’s one more wrinkle, however. Just because your building isn’t listed doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t not covered — the tool only tracks properties with five or more units, and it might not even cover all of those. So if you rent a single-family house or an apartment in a building with four or fewer units, it may not be listed even if the property fell under the CARES Act.
What’s the status of eviction protection in your state?
To find out the status of eviction protection in your state, legal services site Nolo.com maintains an updated list of state eviction provisions.
If you’re seriously delinquent or know you will be soon, you may want to consult a lawyer to better understand how laws in your area apply to your situation. Legal Aid provides attorneys free of charge to qualified clients who need help with civil matters such as evictions — you can locate the nearest Legal Aid office using this search tool.
Online tools that can help you find resources
DoNotPay offers a variety of legal services, including financial relief relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
Screenshot by Dale Smith/CNET
Nonprofit website 211.org connects those in need of help with essential community services in their area. It’s recently set up a portal for pandemic assistance. If you’re having trouble with your food budget or paying your housing bills, you can use 211.org’s online search tool or dial 211 on your phone to talk to someone who can try to help.
Another nonprofit, JustShelter.org, puts tenants facing eviction in touch with local organizations that can help them remain in their homes or, in worst-case scenarios, find emergency housing.
The online legal services chatbot at DoNotPay recently added a coronavirus financial relief tool that the company says will identify which of the laws, ordinances and measures covering rent and evictions apply to you, based on your location.
DoNotPay is a service that will draft and send a letter to your landlord on your behalf, asking for either deferred payments or to waive late fees. Here’s how to set up an account and use the DoNotPay chatbot.
How to ask your landlord for a reduction or extension
In almost all instances it’s probably best to work out an arrangement with your landlord or leasing agency, if at all possible. Although some landlords have reacted to the pandemic by reportedly putting even more pressure on tenants to pay up, other landlords have risen to the occasion, some going so far as to stop collecting rent payments for a period of time.
If you don’t have enough money to cover rent, first see what protections are available in your area, then consider trying to work out a payment arrangement with your landlord.
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It may be worth approaching your landlord to see if you can pay less rent in the coming months, or spread payments for the next couple of months’ rent out over the next year. As renters across the country organize rent strikes and more community leaders push for rent freezes, your landlord may prefer such an arrangement to not receiving any rent at all.
Just be wary of landlords who make excessive demands. For example, some have asked tenants to turn over their $1,200 stimulus check or any money received from charity as a condition for not filing an eviction order. Don’t agree to unreasonable conditions or terms you won’t be able to meet, especially if your city or state has enacted protections against such arrangements.
If you’re concerned about your financial situation these days, consider these 28 ways to save money during the pandemic and get some free financial advice from these six organizations. And here are some money basics that might be able to help you through a tough time.