With Eviction moratoriums ending some courts can now hear eviction cases and the number of pending cases is already enormous.
When the Covid 19 pandemic first took hold on the country and many so-called non-essential businesses were forced to shut down, governors were quick to implement rent moratorium as an effort to helping millions of renters across the country. As months have passed these temporary efforts are starting to expire. North Carolina’s moratorium on rent expired on June 22, 2020. In North Carolina alone thousands of families face the threat of eviction and the state may be an example for what may and could be happening across the country. And, it should be noted, the threat of eviction may have never really left during the moratorium.
From ABC11.com on June 17, 2020:
A different kind of crisis has been unfolding through the pandemic: local landlords forcing residents out of their homes despite the state’s ban on evictions because of COVID-19. abc11.com/coronavirus-nc-eviction-moratorium-rent-payment-fees-what-are-my-rents-as-a-renter/6251350/
According to the moratorium put in place by the governor of North Carolina, renters should be protected from eviction during the moratorium timeframe. Renters need to work very closely with landlords to ensure they are protected.
Eviction court reopened on June 21, 2020 and faced an immediate flood of court filings.
From New Observer on July 2, 2020:
As legal protections ended last month for renters facing evictions, affordable housing advocates and legal experts predict that North Carolina could see a wave of evictions in the coming months.
Over 10,000 eviction cases are on file in North Carolina courts. Since the state eviction moratorium ended on June 21, hearings are being scheduled this month in Durham and Wake counties… newsobserver.com/news/local/article243913017.html
When one takes into account the amount of eviction cases on file in North Carolina and multiply that across the country the numbers are enormous and the impact significant.
While many state moratoriums have expired some renters are still relatively safe from eviction, but as time goes on those individuals may face challenges.
From USA Today on June 10, 2020:
Twenty-four states are processing evictions again, and that number is likely to climb to at least 30 states by the end of June.
Not all renters in those jurisdictions are vulnerable. Nearly 30% continue to be protected by a federal moratorium under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that will remain in place until July 25. The rest … live in properties that are either not subsidized by the federal government or are owned by landlords with loans that are not federally backed. usatoday.com/story/money/2020/06/10/coronavirus-eviction-worries-mount-moratoriums-lifted/5286368002/
Evictions could be the next big “pandemic” in the rental housing market. As moratoriums expire millions could be exposed to the potential of eviction. Combined with continued challenges in the employment market, the challenges many renters face, as well as landlords, will continue. Ultimately, a best practice for landlords and property managers remains to work with a well-qualified third-party tenant screening agency to stay compliant with existing and potential laws government tenant screening.
To learn more about why the USA may be on the verge of an eviction epidemic and what this means for landlords and renters and society as a whole read recent TenantScreeningUSA.com press release: North Carolina Highlights Potential for Next Pandemic: Evictions; Opines TenantScreeningUSA.com