New law comes into effect in New York to protect tenants from eviction

The new law prohibits courts from evicting tenants for non-payment of rents if they are experiencing financial difficulties due to a pandemic. New Yorkers now have more time to get on their feet and keep housing. This publication writes Daily News.

The law, which will strengthen and extend the protection of tenants experiencing financial difficulties in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, was signed by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 30.

This measure, known as the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, is based on a moratorium on the eviction of Cuomo, which was previously introduced in New York, which became the epicenter of the epidemic. The law ensures that no tenant who tries to make ends meet in a pandemic will face eviction.

"A wave of evictions is looming in New York," said sponsor of the bill, Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan). - No one should be exposed on the street during a pandemic. We have a moral obligation to do whatever we can to help New Yorkers stay in their homes. ”

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In particular, the new law prohibits courts from evicting tenants for non-payment of rent if they have experienced financial difficulties due to the outbreak of the epidemic. Landlords can seek money from tenants, but not evict them. “We're not saying people never have to pay rent,” sponsor Jeff Dinovich (D-Bronx) said during a virtual press conference the day before the bill was signed. - The bill is not about that. We say that people will not be evicted for (debts according to - Ed.) Rent accumulated during the crisis. "

This measure applies to unpaid rental bills accrued between March 7th and the date that is not yet set, when the state removes all restrictions related to COVID and people can return to their work.

The current moratorium on evictions expires on 20 August. And while the new law goes beyond Cuomo's current moratorium, lawyers say it's not enough to protect the most vulnerable tenants. “There should be no rent until the pandemic is over,” said Natiline Adesegun Flowers of VOCAL-NY, an organization that protects low-income New Yorkers. She expressed this opinion during a videoconference, during which community groups called for a national blockade of evictions, "rent abolition" and allowing debtor tenants to stay in their homes.

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“I got evicted and I know how awful it is,” Flowers added. “Landlords lie and the judges believe them. They must stop wasting our wealth just to abuse us. ”

Others welcomed the new law. "The signing of the NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act marks a critical moment for the hundreds of thousands of homeowners across New York who are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis," the Legal Aid Society said in a statement. “Our clients and all low-income New Yorkers who were on the verge of losing their homes and facing homelessness will now have more time to recover and get on their feet from the economic disaster caused by the coronavirus outbreak.”

As previously wrote ForumDaily New York:

• In May, the Governor of New York announced extension of moratorium on eviction debtor tenants until the end of August. This gives an additional 60 days of deferred rental payments for individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19 quarantine. However, the question of what will happen after August 20, Cuomo could not answer.
• It later became clear that moratorium on eviction does not help. After all, tenants experiencing financial difficulties will still have to pay the rent after the moratorium expires.
• 22 June New York Housing Courts Reappear. Tens of thousands were expected to end up on the street, as homeowners can now go to court and demand the eviction of debtors.