Tenants rights advocates are now calling for the cancellation of rents and mortgage in New York, California, Chicago, Detroit, and Oakland and some other cities as the COVID-19 pandemic is seemingly seeing no end in sight.
On the other hand, landlords are also asking for understanding. They are suffering as well, arguing that the nature of rental business is unlike others with revolving funds that can keep them afloat in time like this. Landlords only depend on their tenants for money.
Protesters are demanding a rent freeze for both rental and commercial properties. They are calling for relief for those who have now mounting house debts and for those who are threatened by evictions from their landlords. Adding up to the concerns is the fact that even with the current moratoriums in place, as soon as everything goes back to normal, tenants may not be able to pay all the rents that piled up, not at least after six months of going back to work. Also, moratoriums in place all are set to expire in the coming months even without employees fully returning to work.
There are about 30 million Americans who have filed for unemployment since March due to lockdown measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, it is estimated that one third of American tenants have yet to pay their rent.
In Washington state, proponents are pushing to extend the state's rent hike moratorium for at least the next six months. The state's rent hike suspension is due to expire on June 4. Seattle City Council member Tammy Morales is leading a coalition of six municipalities to convince Gov. Jay Inslee to look into the possibility.
In California, a moratorium on suspension of evictions is set to expire on May 31. The only hope for tenants now is for Gov. Gavin Newsom to implement extension for the moratorium. In March, the governor extended the window for renters to respond to an eviction notice to 60 days. However, landlords have continued to issue eviction notices.
In Los Angeles, officials have already given renters 12 months to pay their rent after the pandemic ends.
In Marin County, the Board of supervisors gave renters up to 90 days to pay back rent after the expiration of the moratorium on evictions.
In New York, state lawmakers are thinking about providing COVID-19 rental vouchers to be issued for 90 days. However, this could only proceed if the New York State approved for the $100 billion funding needed for the vouchers program.
An estimated 40% of New York residents were unable to pay rent but tenants are only free from eviction until June.
In Minnesota, renters are not being charged for late fees but such policy will expire by mid-May. There have been no updates in a bill seeking to provide $100 million in rental assistance to families with income less than 300% of the federal poverty level.
On the other hand, landlords argued that they are also victims in this pandemic. While they do understand the current situation, they have their own bills to pay. Many of them have their own mortgage to take care off and employees like utility workers to provide salary for.
After the pandemic, landlords are facing property taxes that have piled up. On top of that, they have to improve their structures due to new hygiene and health requirements having emerged from the pandemic.
Landlords seemed to have no choice because even if the eviction suspensions are lifted and they current renters leave, there seemed to be no new tenants to fill in the vacancy.
