For landlords and tenants alike, 2020 has been a year characterized by uncertainty. If you're unsure of what to expect from your property moving into 2021, you're not alone. Today, we're covering updates to eviction laws in New York, and what you may be able to expect moving forward.
To schedule a consultation with one of our property attorneys for your case, contact us online or via phone at (845) 203-0997.
When Is COVID-Related Eviction Prevention Over in NY?
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has progressively updated the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 in an effort to progressively help New Yorkers continue to maintain their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Cuomo recently extended the Act yet again, enabling it to prohibit residential and commercial evictions for rental tenants and small business owners until August 31, 2021. Notably, this means that New York renters and small business owners will be protected from evictions for even longer than residents of most other states, where evictions will pick up again at the end of July, following a Supreme Court decision to extend eviction moratoriums that were initially supposed to end in June.
What Will Happen When Evictions Start Again?
Currently, more than 11 million American renters are significantly behind on rent payments and could lose their housing when eviction moratoriums across the country end.
Some states, such as California, are implementing plans to help low-income individuals who could not feasibly pay their rent during the pandemic avoid eviction by paying the backlogged rent using state funding. In other states, however, such measures are not an option.
Many housing advocates argue that individuals who were already below the poverty line when the pandemic started, or others such as the elderly, will be disproportionately punished by eviction moratoriums lifting before the federal and state governments have finished distributing rental assistance.
Conversely, many landlords argue that they have been without a source of income from residential and small commercial properties for over a year now, and need compensation from tenants or the government to continue affording the costs of maintaining housing.
At Letterio & Haug, LLP, we help clients navigate complex real estate law cases. To schedule a consultation with our team and learn more about how we can help with your rental law case, contact us online or via phone at (845) 203-0997.