| Eviction Moratorium Expires |
| You still have options. As of this weekend, the federal eviction moratorium was allowed to expire. While we wait and hope for future action, there are still options for people facing eviction. What you need to know: Landlords cannot simply tell you to vacate the premises. The owner must be the person to evict, and they must have an attorney file in court. The landlord must keep the unit habitable during this time. If the landlord tries to evict you anyway, there are requirements. They must terminate the lease first. If you are a month-to-month tenant, they are required to give you 30 days notice. If the lease is long-term, they must provide 7-day notice. If the violation is for rent, the tenant must be given 7 days to pay the rent. Evictions cannot be done without a court order. Landlords and companies cannot turn off the utilities, and if a landlord does, the law says the tenant can sue the landlord for three times the month’s rent or amount of damages. Most importantly: don’t panic just yet. Resources are still available to help you, and you cannot be legally ordered to vacate the premises today. All of the above must apply first. Resources: The best option right now is the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (or the ERA). There are statewide funds for exactly this issue and there is currently funding for tenants. Your best option is always to apply through your locality. The state will take longer to assign a case worker and may refer you to your local county or entity anyway, so it makes the most sense to go through your local area first. It is best to work with your landlord to receive funding, as these requests will be simpler and processed faster. Tenants can still apply on their own, but it is much easier if you can work with your landlord to apply for the program. You can find your satellite agency by clicking this link here, and you can also find more information and frequently asked questions about the ERA through this website. We know that this time is so stressful for tenants, and we want you to know that we are here for you. The most important thing is not to panic, because resources are still available to help you. If you need help applying for the program or you need assistance with the application itself, you can give our center a call at 205.251.2223 and speak with our staff. |