US Bill H.R.6800 should concern landlords!

[Joseph Buer]

Bill H.R. 6800 (The Heroes Act) is in the US Senate and they will vote on it. Landlords, we do not want our right to evict taken away. Sounds like you cannot even evict squatters. Contact your US Senators and oppose this bill and specifically the section below. 

SEC. 4024. TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON EVICTION FILINGS.

“(a) Congressional Findings.—The Congress finds that—

“(1) according to the 2018 American Community Survey, 36 percent of households in the United States—more than 43 million households—are renters;

“(2) in 2019 alone, renters in the United States paid $512 billion in rent;

“(3) according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 20.8 million renters in the United States spent more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing in 2018 and 10.9 million renters spent more than 50 percent of their incomes on housing in the same year;

“(4) according to data from the Department of Labor, more than 30 million people have filed for unemployment since the COVID-19 pandemic began;

“(5) the impacts of the spread of COVID-19, which is now considered a global pandemic, are expected to negatively impact the incomes of potentially millions of renter households, making it difficult for them to pay their rent on time; and

“(6) evictions in the current environment would increase homelessness and housing instability which would be counterproductive towards the public health goals of keeping individuals in their homes to the greatest extent possible.

“(b) Moratorium.—During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending 12 months after such date of enactment, the lessor of a covered dwelling located in such State may not make, or cause to be made, any filing with the court of jurisdiction to initiate a legal action to recover possession of the covered dwelling from the tenant for nonpayment of rent or other fees or charges.

“(c) Definitions.—For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

“(1) COVERED DWELLING.—The term ‘covered dwelling’ means a dwelling that is occupied by a tenant—

“(A) pursuant to a residential lease; or

“(B) without a lease or with a lease terminable at will under State law.

“(2) DWELLING.—The term ‘dwelling’ has the meaning given such term in section 802 of the Fair Housing Act () and includes houses and dwellings described in section 803(b) of such Act ().

“(d) Notice To Vacate After Moratorium Expiration Date.—After the expiration of the period described in subsection (b), the lessor of a covered dwelling may not require the tenant to vacate the covered dwelling by reason of nonpayment of rent or other fees or charges before the expiration of the 30-day period that begins upon the provision by the lessor to the tenant, after the expiration of the period described in subsection (b), of a notice to vacate the covered dwelling.”.