Photo: Chris Barbalis | Unsplash
On Monday, December 28, New York State passed "one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws" in the United States. After Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill, it immediately went into effect. Many eviction bans that have kept people in their homes as they fell behind on rent during the pandemic will expire on Dec. 31. The bill is a sign of relief for renters like Vincia Barber, 40, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who lost two relatives to Covid-19 as well as her job as a nanny and hasn't been able to pay rent in months. Now, under the new measures, in most cases, landlords will be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days. Not only does the bill protect tenants from eviction, it also provides small landlords with protection from foreclosure, and it automatically renews tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Data from Stout consulting firm estimates that 1.2 million New York households are at risk of being removed from their homes. It also estimates 7-14 million U.S. households are at risk of eviction, for a total shortfall of $11-20 billion in rent. Other U.S. states such as Connecticut and Washington have taken steps to extend eviction moratoriums as well.
|
|
More:
