06-29-2021, 06:55 PM
SUPREME COURT
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 24 extended the nationwide ban on evictions from June 30 until July 31, but even with that added time, experts have voiced concern about the estimated 5.7 million to 7 million Americans who owe back rent.
Americans us stimulus checks rent debt pandemic
A banner against renters' eviction reading "No job, no rent" is displayed on a controlled-rent building in Washington, D.C., on August 9, 2020. Millions of Americans could soon face evictions when the federal moratorium ends July 31.
ERIC BARADAT / AFP/GETTY
Federal restrictions on evictions for nonpayment of rent took effect soon after the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020. The first moratorium, which came with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, ran from the end of March 2020 to the end of July 2020.
The CDC put its own evictions ban into place in September 2020. It was set to expire on June 31 before CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced last week that the agency had extended it through July 31.
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A federal appellate court ruled on May 5, before the latest CDC extension, that the agency had overstepped its authority with its moratorium. President Joe Biden's administration appealed the decision the same day, and the appeal proved successful. However, that legal action shows the difficulty the CDC would face should it try to enact another extension.
Along with the need to curb the possibility of a sudden surge in homelessness throughout the nation, there is evidence showing that housing evictions increase the threat of coronavirus infections spreading, including one lengthy study published in the April issue of Nature.
Meanwhile, landlords across the country have argued against continuing the rent ban. On June 3, the Alabama Association of Realtors sent an emergency application to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
A statement in the application read, "Landlords have been losing over $13 billion every month under the moratorium, and the total effect of the CDC's overreach may reach up to $200 billion if it remains in effect for a year."
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READ MORE
California Allocates $5.2 Billion to Pay Off All Owed Rent
CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium One Last Time, Protections Now End July 31
Concerns Mount Over Looming Surge in Bankruptcy as COVID Medical Debt Soars
Various states across the country have taken steps on their own to prevent evictions. California, for one, recently extended its statewide eviction moratorium. Governor Gavin Newsom announced on June 25 the state's plan to extend through September its evictions ban, which would also cover all missed rent payments to date for low-income individuals. In April, New York state extended its moratorium to August 31.
But different interpretations regarding eviction bans have occurred from county to county in some states. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that in Cobb County, Georgia, the magistrate court at first did not schedule proceedings for nonpayment of rent after the CDC announced its moratorium in 2020. But Cobb began hearing cases again earlier this year. Elsewhere in the same state, all eviction cases have proceeded since July in Fulton County.
One reason evictions have been carried out during the pandemic despite the CDC moratorium is that tenants neglected to properly fill out the paperwork necessary to prevent eviction for nonpayment.
Overall, eviction filings have been around 50 percent below average during the pandemic, according to detailed statistics from the Princeton University's Eviction Lab. The same data shows women and racial minorities are disproportionately more likely to face legal proceedings for nonpayment of rent.
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azsky
21 hours ago
Many landlords are not rich. Many depend on the rental income to take care of a parent that might have lived in house previously, or it is part of their retirement plan.
What will happen after July 31? How will the courts handle to volume? Where will those people go?
Reply
10
1
bikenjoe
18 hours ago
I have one tenant with her adult daughter. Both are working. They have bought a new car, new furniture and several expensive dogs during the 12 months that she has not paid a thing on her rent. As soon as we can she will be the first one to be invited to leave.
But if something needs repair she wants it done immediately.
Reply
11
1
3 replies
Steve
19 hours ago
Good luck to all those evicted trying to find another place to live. Landlords will be drastically tightening criteria. Bad credit or bad references is going to equal HOMELESS. With unemployment paying more than many made working there is no excuse for not paying bills.
Reply
11
2
FED UP
18 hours ago
How dare the ultra rich, and our government, give regular hardworking people like us, who rent out one or two small apartments ( NOT "apartment BUILDINGS) for our income source, give us the "choice" (so-called) of either throwing helpless tenants out onto the street during a worldwide plague for no fault of their own (losing their jobs due to virus) , or else ourselves going under financially as we face huge New Jersey Property Taxes (highest in the entire 50 states), plumbers, electricians, carpenters, landscapers, roofers, WATER BILLS and the rest, to maintain our structure? WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT HELPING US THROUGH THIS, the same as they have helped families with children, restaurant employees, and other working people?? WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT HELPING PEOPLE IN THEIR 60s, 70s. 80s AND BEYOND, MANY OF WHOM ARE THESE SMALL LANDLORDS? WE ARE TRAPPED, AND IGNORED. AND I FOR ONE AM FED UP WITH IT.
Reply
12
1
Mongoose
FED UP
6 hours ago
Why the tirade against those who you think are better off than you? It isn't the point, you know. As former landlords, my husband and I can understand your situation, but think there are ways to handle it. The Federal government has put in place rental assistance programs. Tenants should contact their state HUD office to find out if they qualify for aid. As a landlord, remember that your tenants' obligations to you are not erased, even if your tenants think the day of reckoning will never come.
Reply
4
1
hitandrun
1 day ago
Decent tenants would try and work with the landlords by doing things around the property-paint, cut grass, maintain things, Stuff the landlord still has to pay for. I have tenants and we have worked out arrangements that suit both of us. I am not evicting anyone for something beyond their control. Some of my younger tenants are helping the older ones and I really like that. Please be kind to each other during these Chinese plague.
Reply
18
4
Merrkat
hitandrun
16 hours ago
If you are such a landlord, I complement you for your concern, because most landlords couldn't care less, especially with the insane costs of rents, those guarantee very serious obstacles, and some of these landlords just don't care, and resort to economic discrimination based on how their units are treated, and deadbeat tenants, who make such things possible! If you welcome tenants who are willing to work for and with you, and who make an unmistakable effort to honor their business commitments, then that makes you a special kind of landlord, but it still has to depend on the tenants, and it sounds like you have that under control -and decent tenants do exist, which is why i commend your post!
Reply
3
1
1 reply
LOSERGQP
hitandrun
22 hours ago
decent Americas would call out trump and the GOP for letting it get this bad but hey...just post drivel and hope no one notices the racist remark at the end, right?
Reply
9
4
4 replies
Tired
1 day ago
Property owners have bills to pay just like tenants.
Reply
34
1
xyzwriter
5 hours ago
I would feel worse about this if I didn't see virtually every business I enter begging for people to apply for a job. I understand if childcare is still unavailable, but so many are just not wanting to return to work. No, it's not fun to be working 2 jobs where you make $12/hour, but I've worked jobs that many would consider beneath them. I didn't like it, but at the time it was necessary.
Reply
3
1 reply
Fedup
5 hours ago
The government dropped the ball. These people have squatted in someone else's home free, for a year! Enough is enough. Shots are now available, jobs are available. Go get both and pay your rent. As to the rental assistance program, it should allow for the landlords to apply for the assistance, which it does not. It only allows the renter to apply and in the majority of cases, they have not even received any money and if they did, some of them spent it elsewhere. I'm sorry that people maybe going into the street at no fault of their own, but it's also not okay for someone else to have to take care of you thru no fault of their own. We working citizens pay into the government for crisis such as these. Once again, the system has failed.
Reply
3
1 reply
DFK1948
19 hours ago
What did the people who owe rent do with the “free” money they received?
I am on social security, and wash still able to stay current on my mortgage.
Reply
9
3
AngelGirl
DFK1948
17 hours ago
Most likely tried to pay off debt, pay for things their kids/family need or pay/keep current on other bills. That's what most of my friends did.
Reply
2
1 reply
Deb
14 hours ago
I think the CDC and the various governments throughout the country had no right to take income away from property owners. It's in the bill of rights. If the government wants to take someone's property which is basically what they're doing they need to pay them fair market value. So all this time the CDC and whatever government put in your moratorium in affect should have been making the monthly rental payments for the people.
Reply
1
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 24 extended the nationwide ban on evictions from June 30 until July 31, but even with that added time, experts have voiced concern about the estimated 5.7 million to 7 million Americans who owe back rent.
Americans us stimulus checks rent debt pandemic
A banner against renters' eviction reading "No job, no rent" is displayed on a controlled-rent building in Washington, D.C., on August 9, 2020. Millions of Americans could soon face evictions when the federal moratorium ends July 31.
ERIC BARADAT / AFP/GETTY
Federal restrictions on evictions for nonpayment of rent took effect soon after the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020. The first moratorium, which came with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, ran from the end of March 2020 to the end of July 2020.
The CDC put its own evictions ban into place in September 2020. It was set to expire on June 31 before CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced last week that the agency had extended it through July 31.
NEWSWEEK NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP >
A federal appellate court ruled on May 5, before the latest CDC extension, that the agency had overstepped its authority with its moratorium. President Joe Biden's administration appealed the decision the same day, and the appeal proved successful. However, that legal action shows the difficulty the CDC would face should it try to enact another extension.
Along with the need to curb the possibility of a sudden surge in homelessness throughout the nation, there is evidence showing that housing evictions increase the threat of coronavirus infections spreading, including one lengthy study published in the April issue of Nature.
Meanwhile, landlords across the country have argued against continuing the rent ban. On June 3, the Alabama Association of Realtors sent an emergency application to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
A statement in the application read, "Landlords have been losing over $13 billion every month under the moratorium, and the total effect of the CDC's overreach may reach up to $200 billion if it remains in effect for a year."
NEWSWEEK SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS >
READ MORE
California Allocates $5.2 Billion to Pay Off All Owed Rent
CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium One Last Time, Protections Now End July 31
Concerns Mount Over Looming Surge in Bankruptcy as COVID Medical Debt Soars
Various states across the country have taken steps on their own to prevent evictions. California, for one, recently extended its statewide eviction moratorium. Governor Gavin Newsom announced on June 25 the state's plan to extend through September its evictions ban, which would also cover all missed rent payments to date for low-income individuals. In April, New York state extended its moratorium to August 31.
But different interpretations regarding eviction bans have occurred from county to county in some states. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that in Cobb County, Georgia, the magistrate court at first did not schedule proceedings for nonpayment of rent after the CDC announced its moratorium in 2020. But Cobb began hearing cases again earlier this year. Elsewhere in the same state, all eviction cases have proceeded since July in Fulton County.
One reason evictions have been carried out during the pandemic despite the CDC moratorium is that tenants neglected to properly fill out the paperwork necessary to prevent eviction for nonpayment.
Overall, eviction filings have been around 50 percent below average during the pandemic, according to detailed statistics from the Princeton University's Eviction Lab. The same data shows women and racial minorities are disproportionately more likely to face legal proceedings for nonpayment of rent.
REQUEST REPRINT & LICENSING, SUBMIT CORRECTION OR VIEW EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
Conversation51 Comments
Start a discussion, not a fire. Post with kindness. Read our guidelines here.
Commenting as Guest
Log In
Sort by
Best
azsky
21 hours ago
Many landlords are not rich. Many depend on the rental income to take care of a parent that might have lived in house previously, or it is part of their retirement plan.
What will happen after July 31? How will the courts handle to volume? Where will those people go?
Reply
10
1
bikenjoe
18 hours ago
I have one tenant with her adult daughter. Both are working. They have bought a new car, new furniture and several expensive dogs during the 12 months that she has not paid a thing on her rent. As soon as we can she will be the first one to be invited to leave.
But if something needs repair she wants it done immediately.
Reply
11
1
3 replies
Steve
19 hours ago
Good luck to all those evicted trying to find another place to live. Landlords will be drastically tightening criteria. Bad credit or bad references is going to equal HOMELESS. With unemployment paying more than many made working there is no excuse for not paying bills.
Reply
11
2
FED UP
18 hours ago
How dare the ultra rich, and our government, give regular hardworking people like us, who rent out one or two small apartments ( NOT "apartment BUILDINGS) for our income source, give us the "choice" (so-called) of either throwing helpless tenants out onto the street during a worldwide plague for no fault of their own (losing their jobs due to virus) , or else ourselves going under financially as we face huge New Jersey Property Taxes (highest in the entire 50 states), plumbers, electricians, carpenters, landscapers, roofers, WATER BILLS and the rest, to maintain our structure? WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT HELPING US THROUGH THIS, the same as they have helped families with children, restaurant employees, and other working people?? WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT HELPING PEOPLE IN THEIR 60s, 70s. 80s AND BEYOND, MANY OF WHOM ARE THESE SMALL LANDLORDS? WE ARE TRAPPED, AND IGNORED. AND I FOR ONE AM FED UP WITH IT.
Reply
12
1
Mongoose
FED UP
6 hours ago
Why the tirade against those who you think are better off than you? It isn't the point, you know. As former landlords, my husband and I can understand your situation, but think there are ways to handle it. The Federal government has put in place rental assistance programs. Tenants should contact their state HUD office to find out if they qualify for aid. As a landlord, remember that your tenants' obligations to you are not erased, even if your tenants think the day of reckoning will never come.
Reply
4
1
hitandrun
1 day ago
Decent tenants would try and work with the landlords by doing things around the property-paint, cut grass, maintain things, Stuff the landlord still has to pay for. I have tenants and we have worked out arrangements that suit both of us. I am not evicting anyone for something beyond their control. Some of my younger tenants are helping the older ones and I really like that. Please be kind to each other during these Chinese plague.
Reply
18
4
Merrkat
hitandrun
16 hours ago
If you are such a landlord, I complement you for your concern, because most landlords couldn't care less, especially with the insane costs of rents, those guarantee very serious obstacles, and some of these landlords just don't care, and resort to economic discrimination based on how their units are treated, and deadbeat tenants, who make such things possible! If you welcome tenants who are willing to work for and with you, and who make an unmistakable effort to honor their business commitments, then that makes you a special kind of landlord, but it still has to depend on the tenants, and it sounds like you have that under control -and decent tenants do exist, which is why i commend your post!
Reply
3
1
1 reply
LOSERGQP
hitandrun
22 hours ago
decent Americas would call out trump and the GOP for letting it get this bad but hey...just post drivel and hope no one notices the racist remark at the end, right?
Reply
9
4
4 replies
Tired
1 day ago
Property owners have bills to pay just like tenants.
Reply
34
1
xyzwriter
5 hours ago
I would feel worse about this if I didn't see virtually every business I enter begging for people to apply for a job. I understand if childcare is still unavailable, but so many are just not wanting to return to work. No, it's not fun to be working 2 jobs where you make $12/hour, but I've worked jobs that many would consider beneath them. I didn't like it, but at the time it was necessary.
Reply
3
1 reply
Fedup
5 hours ago
The government dropped the ball. These people have squatted in someone else's home free, for a year! Enough is enough. Shots are now available, jobs are available. Go get both and pay your rent. As to the rental assistance program, it should allow for the landlords to apply for the assistance, which it does not. It only allows the renter to apply and in the majority of cases, they have not even received any money and if they did, some of them spent it elsewhere. I'm sorry that people maybe going into the street at no fault of their own, but it's also not okay for someone else to have to take care of you thru no fault of their own. We working citizens pay into the government for crisis such as these. Once again, the system has failed.
Reply
3
1 reply
DFK1948
19 hours ago
What did the people who owe rent do with the “free” money they received?
I am on social security, and wash still able to stay current on my mortgage.
Reply
9
3
AngelGirl
DFK1948
17 hours ago
Most likely tried to pay off debt, pay for things their kids/family need or pay/keep current on other bills. That's what most of my friends did.
Reply
2
1 reply
Deb
14 hours ago
I think the CDC and the various governments throughout the country had no right to take income away from property owners. It's in the bill of rights. If the government wants to take someone's property which is basically what they're doing they need to pay them fair market value. So all this time the CDC and whatever government put in your moratorium in affect should have been making the monthly rental payments for the people.
Reply
1
Powered by
TermsPrivacyFeedback
The GOP's New Voting Laws Are Perfectly Reasonable
BY ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
VS
The GOP Is Keeping People From Voting Instead of Giving Them a Reason To
BY ALLAN KATZ
OPINION
Black Democrats Save the Party Once Again
BY FROMA HARROP
I'm a Black Ex-Felon. I Have a Message About Cancel Culture
It is Well with My Soul