While many states across the country are ending eviction moratoriums, some states and counties have extended end dates into 2022, further extending potential confusion and challenges for landlords and/or property managers. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “As some states and counties extend Covid related moratoriums confusion will continue for landlords and property managers, and a best practice remains to work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency, such as TenantScreeningUSA.com, in order to remain compliant with existing and potential laws governing tenant screening.”
Covid related eviction moratoriums have ended in many parts of the country but some states and counties have chosen to extend deadlines into 2022. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of TenantScreeningUSA.com states: “By extending the deadlines the potential for ongoing confusion for landlords and property managers continues as well, and a best practice remains to work with a third-party tenant screening agency, such as TenantScreeningUSA.com, to stay ahead of any change in laws governing tenant screening.”
The state of New York was one of the first to extend eviction moratoriums into 2022.
From NY1.com on September 2, 2021 discussing New York’s extension:
New York is now one of only six states and Washington D.C. to have an eviction moratorium still in place.
Lawmakers in support of extending the eviction moratorium say the bill will help protect tens of thousands of renters at risk of being evicted while the state works at speeding up distribution of aid aimed at helping low-income tenants. (1)
Almeida adds: “Extending the moratorium may allow renters to sign up for federal and state relief money, which, ultimately, could greatly assist landlords waiting on back rent.”
New York is no longer alone in extended the deadline.
There is a hodge-podge of moratorium extensions in California. LA County recently enacted an extension into 2022, as well.
From the California Globe on September 30, 2021:
While most counties and cities in California don’t have moratoriums and are generally following the September 30th rent moratorium end as outlined in AB 832, many rent-heavy areas do. In LA County, the Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to extend commercial evictions and all residential non-late rental evictions through the end of January 2022, meaning the only way residential renters can be evicted for several months will be through not paying. In Oakland, the moratorium will remain indefinite as the local eviction moratorium currently has no end date. In Fresno, the moratorium will continue on until the end of the year. Many others, like San Francisco, are hoping to enact last minute legislation. For landlords in those areas, those added months of no rent are only adding to the financial and mental stress of going nearly two years in some cases of not having rent collected from some tenants. (2)
And, finally, Seattle has extended into 2022.
From Capitol Hill Seattle on September 21, 2021:
Seattle is buying time for thousands of renters and landlords as Mayor Jenny Durkan has signed an executive order for the sixth extension of the city’s moratorium on residential and commercial evictions during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The ban on evictions will now stretch into January 2022. By then, the city will have a new mayor and, perhaps, a plan and the relief funding necessary to emerge from the looming tenant and landlord crisis. (3)
Almeida concludes: “Confusion remains regarding eviction moratoriums as statewide bans end and local extensions are enacted. Working with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency remains a best practice.”
TenantScreeningUSA.com provides full-service tenant screening for landlords and property managers of any size and can greatly assist in remaining fully compliant with all existing law governing tenant screening. With a highly trained and experienced staff, TenantScreeningUSA.com can provide help to landlords and property managers with all their tenant screening needs.
Notes:
(1) ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2021/09/02/nys-lawmakers-extend-new-york-s-eviction-moratorium-in-an-extraordinary-session
(2) californiaglobe.com/articles/ca-statewide-eviction-moratorium-ending-on-september-30th-but-not-for-all/
(3) capitolhillseattle.com/2021/09/with-sixth-extension-of-covid-19-eviction-moratorium-seattle-buying-more-time-for-federal-aid-new-programs-to-help-tenants-and-landlords
