How Trump’s New Eviction Ban Could Affect You
The Trump administration yesterday ordered a temporary ban on evictions in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The order , which came through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aims to stop the spread of the virus by keeping tenants away from shelters or other crowded living spaces. The order will affect most tenants, particularly those earning $ 99,000 or less ($ 198,000 for joint applicants), by the end of 2020.
According to The New York Times , this new order has more far-reaching implications than an eviction moratorium from the Relief, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which applies to millions of publicly owned apartment or private home tenants: secured mortgages. The CARES Act moratorium expired on July 24, 2020.
How to Apply for Eviction Denial Protection
To apply for protection, you must file an application with the landlord. The return must state that you have tried to qualify for all available government rental or housing assistance – and you must be earning or expecting to be earning below the income threshold.
The return must also state that you cannot pay your full rent due to lost income, fewer hours, layoffs, or “emergency” out-of-pocket medical expenses. To be eligible, you must make an effort to pay part of the rent — and you must show that an eviction can lead to homelessness or force you to resort to overcrowded housing.
While there is currently a draft of the order in the Federal Register, you can expect to see the final version published on September 4th. Once this happens, you will be able to access the required forms on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website .
Exceptions to the prohibition on eviction
The new order does not apply to any state or area with “the same or better level of public health protection” than the requirements in the new order. This also does not apply to people living in American Samoa, a place where no cases of COVID-19 have been reported.
The ban will not stop other types of evictions – for example, for criminal activity, endangering other tenants, violation of building codes and other contractual obligations.
An eviction ban won’t forgive your rent
While you can prevent eviction by the end of the year, you will still be responsible for the unpaid portion of your rent. CNBC reports that tenant advocates have called for additional concessions, including forgiveness of unpaid rent. Otherwise, both tenants and homeowners can sink deeper into debt, which could lead to evictions or foreclosures. You can read more about how to prevent eviction here .