Illinois Legislature Meeting to ext moratorium to SEPT 2021

[Deisy P.]

certain politicians in Springfield are pushing legislation to pass the Illinois legislature THIS WEEKEND. 

I am requesting all landlords and their employees/agents/other stake holders to click the link below (to contact your legislature) to fight this "last second" legislation. Why they would try to push something like this at this time is beyond my comprehension. It's up to us now to fight it. 

Disturbing provisions of the bill are the following:

• This package of legislation will expand and extend the eviction moratorium through September 2021.
• The draft legislation does not allow us to proceed with pre-COVID cases.
• It will seal all eviction records from March 2020 until September 2022. It is being drafted by housing activists, and further changes are possible in the legislation.

https://www.elections.il.gov/e...

To date the government has done nothing to help. There have been no banking holidays allowing mortgages payments to be delayed, real estate taxes are still being collected as are water, utilities, insurance and all the other costs required to maintain the buildings that are peoples' homes. The government must come up with a positive plan that assists residents and those that provide their housing:

• Those not paying their rent or assessments must provide proof of losing their jobs or collections process can proceed.
• Bank relief for property owners: delayed mortgage payments with no penalties, fees, or credit issues.
• Governmental relief on real estate taxes, water bills, City and other fees.
• Insurance and other protections for Covid related claims.
• Require banks to provide the capital needed now to keep properties viable.

In order for us to have an impact, we must act today!

[Joe Splitrock]

Originally posted by @Adam Martin:

I’ve said in other posts but I am all for eviction moratoriums and don’t think the gov should allow people to be kicked out in the streets during a pandemic when businesses are forced to close.  I agree that the tenants still owe the money and should be subject to collections and forced to pay back all due funds.  Where the gov and I tend to disagree is who bears that risk and upfront financial cost.  There should be a fund set up by local state or the fed gov where we can receive rent payments so our bills are paid since sue process is being denied.  There is 0 chance the tenant is going to be able to pay these funds back but that is the problem of the gov who can collect better than I can and should not be stuck with the cost.  

 Every state received COVID relief funds as part of the CARES Act and chose how to spend that money. My state set up a rent assistance fund and after money was still left over, opened it up to mortgage assistance. My state also reimbursed businesses who kept people employed. Even before the CARES money arrived, local businesses in my city had setup a rent assistance fund. To get the assistance it requires two things:

1. Proof of hardship. They call your employer and make sure you were laid off due to COVID, not fired or still employed.

2. You have to apply. I had a tenant out of work who told me he applied. I called and they had no record of him applying. He liked to me. Unfortunately some people refuse to help themselves, either due to mental issues, laziness or whatever. 

I can't comment how Illinois spent their money, but they could have setup a fund just like my state. Clearly their solution is not helping tenants pay the money, but rather helping them stiff landlords. That is not right or legal. The federal government just approved $25 billion dollars for rent assistance. I believe landlords can apply directly for that money, but it may still be state administered. So what happens if a landlord applies and is denied the money? They still can't evict? How is it legal for states to block evictions, yet require payment of property taxes? 

Sorry to disagree but these eviction moratoriums are covering up a problem, not helping people. When I say covering up a problem, I am talking mismanagement of funds by politicians or tenants who do not legitimately have hardship. Bottom line, a landlord deserves their day in court. If the tenant can prove hardship and show that they applied for assistance, I am fine blocking the eviction. That seems reasonable to me. Nobody wants to hurt people suffering, but landlords are suffering too.