CDC eviction ban protects renters through December
This Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) enacted a moratorium on evictions that prevents qualified renters from being evicted until the end of 2020. The measure also requires qualified renters to declare their status as unable to pay rent in order to be protected from eviction. If you think you may qualify, read on to learn about how you can protect yourself from eviction.
Why is there an eviction moratorium?
The moratorium on evictions orders landlords to delay evictions because it may enable the spread of the #Coronavirus. If a tenant is about to be evicted, they could be facing time in a shelter, a shared living space, or homelessness without shelter.
These environments are closely tied to the spread of COVID-19, which during the current pandemic could be deadly to the evicted tenant or others they come into contact with. The CDC estimates that roughly 30 million people in the United States are close to being evicted. If even a portion of this number are evicted, it could lead to a massive public health disaster in the middle of the current pandemic.
Who qualifies for the CDC eviction protection?
The CDC’s moratorium extends to renters in all 50 states provided they meet the following qualifications. In order to qualify for this protection you must:
- Have an expectation that you will earn less than $99k (as a single person) or $198k (as a married couple) this year.
- Either have made less than the IRS’s requirement to pay taxes in 2019 OR have received a stimulus check.
- Be making your best effort to pay your rent, either partially, using installments, or with help from a state or federal housing benefit available to you. *
- Be unable to consistently pay your rent due to a significant loss of income.
- Be in danger of being homeless or having to move into a shared living space if you are evicted from your home.
_ * To find out which federal or state housing benefits may be available to you, click here to explore renter protection efforts and housing benefits that are already in place._
State level eviction protection
If you don’t qualify for the protections in this federal eviction moratorium but still have a need for protection against eviction, you may still be covered by state-level eviction bans.
It’s important that you stay updated on your state’s policies so you can best protect yourself in the case of eviction, so if you are currently unaware of your state’s current eviction ban policies, check out this helpful chart that includes the status of all eviction protection measures by state.
How can I get protected from eviction?
The CDC has published this Federal Register document that will become legally active on September 4, 2020. The document outlines all qualifications for the eviction moratorium and includes (at the very bottom) a form which renters can fill out. In order to be protected, you must be sure that:
- Everyone listed on the lease prints and signs a copy of this document
- All qualifications listed within the document are met (summarized above)
- All copies of this valid document are delivered to your landlord
What does the Federal Register document do?
In short, this document protects you from eviction until the end of the year. If you qualify for this eviction moratorium and deliver this signed document to your landlord, they will be required to halt any eviction proceedings until 2020 has ended.
If your landlord goes ahead with the eviction in violation of the moratorium, the CDC can fine your landlord up to $500k per eviction they complete (depending on the impact that eviction had on spreading COVID-19). Landlords can also face up to one year in jail per eviction for violating this order. These penalties act as incentives to landlords to comply with the eviction moratorium rather than ignoring these notices.
What are your thoughts on eviction? Share in the comments below.
Comments
What are landlords rights with this? What about lost rent? Our bills? Our mortgage?
Where is all the so called help? My every other month I am behind. I still pay my rent on time
Sounds like people may be sweating it out over Christmas. Hope this moratorium is so governments can work and come up with better solution for all in need.Thanks for keeping us in the know, My prayers are for the many in need,Ford
What about the landlord now not being able to pay the mortgage on the house?
Thanks for this information I have got eviction notice but have been untouched with the office of the landlord to settle the bill thanks for sharing this information
What about consumers who have Mortgage and can't afford to pay monthly, Where is there help in not being in Foreclosure?
What about ppl that didn't stop work been working with the virus risking there health wheres are extra 600$ ?
Yes, I empathize with all tenants who because of job loss during the pandemic have are now unable to pay their rents. But out of curiosity, what is to happen to the mom and pop landlords? Who will pay the mortgage on the building where the tenants are living for free? What about the water and gas? Because although no rent is being paid the tenants are still using the water and cooking? What about the taxes and all the other expenses that comes with maintaining a small rental? Where does a mom and pop landlord with just 3 units go for assistance so they can continue to provide for the tenants? Pls help thanks