The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm leaving many people unemployed, fearing for their health and wondering how they’re going to pay rent. Then, entered the CDC eviction moratorium, which prohibited landlords from evicting residents based on their inability to pay rent. A large number of evictions can cause serious health and economic issues, worsening the harms of the pandemic. As people try to enter the workforce again, homelessness and relocations provide a huge barrier. The eviction moratorium allowed residents to stay safe in their homes, financially prepare, and break down workforce barriers. 

Now, with the lift of the moratorium, we are working to do what’s in the best interest of our residents and owners. 

What we did to Help our Residents and Owners During the Moratorium

During the moratorium period, our team worked with non-paying residents to find rental assistance. We discussed payment plans and even helped residents apply for these government and community-funded assistance programs. These programs work similarly to a grant and do not require a payment in return. Most people that applied for assistance received it and were able to pay their rent every month. Our goal in doing this was to leave residents and owners in a good financial position for when the moratorium was lifted. 

Any resident that was behind sixty days in rent and nonresponsive to our messages was visited by a team member. We would try to convince them to apply for rental assistance and make a payment plan. This also allowed us to see if there was any property damage or lease violations the owner needed to be aware of. If there was, we would work with residents to fulfill their lease in a timely manner so they were no longer violating their lease obligations.

Unfortunately, the moratorium period was not without a handful of evictions. There were a few residents in violation of their lease that left us and the owner with no choice but to take the necessary and legal steps to evict the tenant. We went through the courts’ procedures and received a Judge’s approval before following through with displacement.

It’s important to note that evictions are the last thing we as property managers want to do. It’s costly, time-consuming, and dismal for the team and owners.

What the Moratorium Ending Means for Owners

With the recent end of the eviction moratorium, landlords, property owners, etc. can now legally evict tenants that are not paying rent. They are able to take quicker action than during the moratorium but, of course, the same legal processes that were set before the pandemic do apply.

How the Moratorium Ending Affects Residents

As long as residents have been paying their rent, the moratorium will not affect them. However, the residents that owe rent can now be subject to eviction. Our team continues to work tirelessly with those residents to find rental assistance and create payment plans. Since the moratorium lifted, we haven’t had to file any evictions due to unpaid rent and hope to keep it that way. 

If you are interested in learning more about rental assistance, you can visit the links below. These are some of the programs our residents have had the most success with.

Featured Photo: Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-cardboard-box-on-white-bed-4569338/