Ian Patrick, FISM News
The nationwide eviction freeze set in place since September of last year by the CDC is finally set to expire over the weekend. After the freeze expires on July 31, landlords will be able to require rent payments from their tenants who were unable to pay during the pandemic.
When it was first in place, the eviction moratorium was meant to keep “people in their homes and out of crowded or congregate settings — like homeless shelters” according to the CDC. The order has been controversial since it was put in place. An argument exists that says the eviction ban, although it was at the direction of a Trump executive order to consider such a moratorium, is a serious overstep of powers from this government institution.
A statement from the Congressional Research Service states that this move was “unprecedented.”
The action . . . was unprecedented, both in terms of the federal reach into what is traditionally state and local governance of landlord-tenant law and its use of a public health authority.
Regardless of legality, the moratorium has had its effect on landlords and tenants alike. Some landlords have set evictions in place through a sort of loophole – using lease violations or expirations as reasons rather than non-payment of the rent.
The real challenge lies in the amount of back rent for the landlords and the resumption of rent for the tenants. The federal government has supplied multiple rounds of stimulus checks and other financial aid for people unable to pay their bills, as well as specific funding for helping renters. But as the deadline approaches, a steady source of income is needed for those still unable to pay.
The U.S. government estimates that there are about 3.6 million Americans who would likely be evicted from being behind on their rent. However, the most recent number of job openings sits at 9 million meaning there are more than twice as many jobs as there are people unable to pay their backrent.
Yet, the eviction moratorium may still remain in place if President Biden has anything to say about it. After asking Congress on Thursday to extend the moratorium, the House of Representatives responded by looking to take up a measure which would extend the ban until December 31 of this year.