COLUMBUS , Ohio, July 23, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It provided 120 days of eviction relief for tenants in federally backed housing. In other words, tenants could not be served with an eviction notice until July 25, 2020. In addition, the notice must give you 30 days to leave the property. After that date, we may very well see a huge spike in evictions. The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project estimates that between 19 million and 23 million Americans living in rental housing are at risk of eviction by the end of September.
If you are potentially facing eviction, you should know the following:
- The eviction process takes weeks at a minimum. And, at many points along the way, it is often possible to halt it.
- Local rules may impact eviction and in some cases there are some stopgap federal efforts. It's good to know what they all are.
After being in this business for decades, I also strongly suggest you take these steps:
- Communicate with your landlord
Reach out to your landlord as soon as possible and honestly explain your situation. If you've lost your job, let them know. They can't help if they don't know the problem. Being upfront can pay off.
- Don't just leave.
In most areas, you don't have to move out until there is a legal finding against you. That gives you time to potentially figure out a solution that doesn't result in having to move out.
- Get Legal Help
Local legal aid offices are a good place to turn for assistance. If they can't help, they can likely direct you to someone who can.
- Negotiate
Under the present circumstances, your landlord doesn't likely want to look for a new tenant. Talk to him/her. You won't know what they are willing to entertain if you don't even talk to them. Ways to reduce your cost include waiving rent, reducing rent or perhaps using a security deposit for rent.
- Know the rules
Some states and local municipalities have put their own eviction restrictions into place. Find out. They might pertain to your situation.
- Pay attention
There is still talk in Washington about another relief package and many are advocating to extend eviction protection.
About REIProperties Columbus
Since 2005, REIProperties Columbus, founded by Jeff Ihlenfield, has been committed to providing housing for low income individuals and families. We specialize in Section 8 housing and have a broad portfolio of single-family properties that are safe, modern and comfortable. Our goal is to provide our tenants with the best property that they have ever rented.
SOURCE REIProperties Columbus
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