Renzo Downey
Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Friday he has not decided whether to extend the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, expiring Tuesday.
With many Floridians facing economic hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic freefall, the Governor suspended evictions and foreclosures last month, later extending the protections to Tuesday. He expects a decision to be made “pretty soon.”
“We’ve got a bunch of different things that are expiring,” DeSantis said. “We obviously are also going to look at Florida’s overall posture on some of the restrictions, and so we’ll probably be having a lot of announcements over the next few days.”
The Governor’s punt on the question drew immediate outcry from Democrats, who have repeatedly called for an extension.
“YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED YET? It expires on June 2! Landlords (are) lining up to evict ppl & unemployment is broken, and you haven’t decided yet?” tweeted Orlando Rep. Anna Eskamani.
Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson reshared a letter her office sent to the Governor Wednesday calling for the moratorium to be extended until July 1.
For many, the struggle has been compounded by the state’s unemployment system, which was unable to keep pace with the number of claims flowing in earlier in the pandemic. And for those who still haven’t been fully paid what they’re owed, getting on the phone with a customer service representative has been a continuing problem.
That’s left many Floridians unable to pay the bills. But as landlords lose income, they too must figure out how to pay the bills.
The Florida Supreme Court had previously ordered a pause on evictions and foreclosures through April 17.
Most monthly obligations have leniency. Major Florida utility companies and telecommunications providers have pledged not to cut off service due to nonpayment during the pandemic.
But that hasn’t stopped all landlords from threatening to give tenants the boot.
6 comments
Jose
May 31, 2020 at 12:48 pm
Why wait until the last minute. He has zero cares, so he doesn’t feel the heat that thousands of Floridians are feeling. Always taking small bite sized desicions so that people are always going from crisis to crisis.he should have put a moratorium that last until the end of this covid emergency. It’s Ridiculous.
Sonya Powell
May 31, 2020 at 4:44 pm
If the moratorium gets extended again, there should be standards set as to who can evict and who cannot. Some people have been evicted for reasons other than money issues and they are taking advantage of this pandemic causing grief for landlords that just want them out. In regard to the money losses on both ends, it’s not just the tenants who struggle, but landlords as well. For some reason, all that keeps being highlighted is the renters, but not the landlords. People have been evicted for violating their leases and other things that are non CoVid 19 related, that should be something to be determined individually. It shouldn’t be everyone under the same protections, if the same reasons don’t apply.
Keith Chadwick
May 31, 2020 at 8:47 pm
Well said.
Frankie M.
May 31, 2020 at 8:38 pm
If you’re not worried about getting evicted and/or shot then I guess that means you ain’t black? It means that you ain’t black. #dbt #joestrong
Guillermo Espinosa
June 1, 2020 at 11:34 am
retired military that just bought a home on an auction to rent out or resell. it just so happen that previous owner made a handshake agreement with someone and gave them the keys to live in what is now my house. person living there does not lease with previous owner and does not want one from me, offered him the place at a below market price and says he does not have any money and does not want to move. he has been there for almost three months rent free and on top of that hi have to pay fines from the association for him living the trash out and not wanting to keep the place up as per association rules. Basically he does not care even though i tried reasoning with him. i filed for an unlawful detainment which the judge already signed about two weeks ago, but under FL law we are not suppose to evict anyone until the moratorium is lifted, hopefully today. Then we have to see if the sheriff will accept the paper work. I guess i don’t have any rights as a one property owner. i do feel for those who aren’t really unable to pay the rent specially those that are trying to work a deal with property owners. But those that don’t care a bit, i say they are just taking advantage of the system and i feel the person living in my property is one of them. i guess i just have to continue waiting until the governor decides, hopefully today
Julie
June 2, 2020 at 6:05 am
So landlords lose again. My tenant not paid for 3 months, lease expired last month, but still continues to stay rent free whilst posting on FB all is nights out.
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