As New York faces high unemployment rates as a result of the pandemic, state officials just passed an eviction moratorium to aid residents that will last through the spring, according to NPR. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the law late yesterday and it is set to expire on May 1.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic began, we asked New Yorkers to protect each other by staying at home,” Cuomo said. “As we fight our way through the marathon this pandemic has become, we need to make sure New Yorkers still have homes to provide that protection.”
To qualify, state residents must show proof they faced a “Covid-related hardship,” according to state officials. If they fail to provide any evidence of one, landlords will still be allowed to evict them.
New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh authored the “Covid-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act.” He estimates about 20 or 25 percent of New York’s 4.1 million renters are behind on their monthly payments, according to WPIX-TV.
The law also provides relief for local residents who own their homes. All residential foreclosures will cease until May 1. Homeowners and landlords will also be allowed to submit hardship declarations so their properties can avoid foreclosure.
The CDC implemented a temporary ban earlier this year on evictions nationwide. While it was originally scheduled to expire on New Year’s Eve, it was extended for a month as part of the Covid-19 relief bill that Congress just passed.
