The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is extending the federal eviction moratorium, which was set to expire at the end of March, through the month of June, according to NPR’s Chris Arnold. With more than 8 million American households behind on their rent per the Census Bureau, the extended moratorium will help millions of individuals and families remain in their homes, thus reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Landlord trade groups have been opposed to the moratorium. They say landlords need to have control of their properties.
"Though politically popular and well-intentioned, eviction moratoria push renters and their housing providers closer to the brink of financial ruin," said Bob Pinnegar, president and CEO of the National Apartment Association.
Legal aid attorneys working with renters facing eviction argue the CDC order isn't strong enough and has too many loopholes. They complain that it's not automatic. Renters have to know about it and take steps to invoke the protection by getting a form from the CDC website, signing it under penalty of perjury, and giving it to their landlord.
Even if they do that, landlords and their lawyers can often find ways around the order and evict people anyway. For example, if a renter's lease has come to an end, landlords can argue they are evicting the renter because they don't want to renew the lease, not because of nonpayment of rent. And courts and judges are treating the order differently from state to state and even county to county.
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