Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the narrower scope in his most recent eviction moratorium.
Unlike previous orders, the most recent order limits protections to single-family homeowners and renters who are “adversely affected” by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The distinction potentially puts many Floridians back on the hook for issues such as unpaid bills or property damage.
“I think the order would apply to all folks who lost their jobs in this period and obviously would apply to anyone that has either been ill or had a family member ill,” DeSantis said, speaking to reporters in Jacksonville Thursday. “So I think it covers the core group of people that we’re looking to protect. At the same time, if you had no effects on it and you’re still working and everything, then you got to meet your obligations just like another other Floridian would.”
DeSantis expanded the moratorium on July 30 to Sept. 1. It defines “adversely affected” as a “loss of employment, diminished wages or business income, or other monetary loss realized during the Florida State of Emergency directly impacting the ability of a single-family mortgagor to make mortgage payments.”
The order also mandates that once the renter or homeowner is no longer adversely affected they are no longer protected from eviction or foreclosure.
“Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed as relieving an individual from his or her obligation to make mortgage payments or rent payments,” the order reads. “All payments, including tolled payments, are due when an individual is no longer adversely affected by the COVID- 19 emergency.”
The stay on evictions was put into place April 2 amid the state’s economic shutdown and rising unemployment. The moratorium has since been extended four times.
As of the latest COVID-19 report, state health officials identified 7,650 new COVID-19 cases. In total, 510,389 people, including 5,621 non-Floridians, have tested positive in the state.
The state crossed 500,000 total diagnoses on Wednesday.
7 comments
Sonja Fitch
August 6, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Ok that sounds fair.
Joe Fatala
August 7, 2020 at 4:48 pm
ronnie boy sez “you got to meet your obligations……..but I don’t. Hey I don’t have to close bars and stuff ’cause it’s ok by me if people get Covid. I’m just the governer. I can’t protect people!!!”
fakeatorium
August 7, 2020 at 10:00 pm
What this article doesn’t state is you have to pay your arrears rent in order to plead with the court if you are sick. So, effectively, you are going to flood the courts with covid-19 sick patients begging not to be evicted and only if they have several thousand dollars to pay to the court BEFORE they are heard. Fair….NOPE.
DisplacedCTYankee
August 8, 2020 at 4:17 am
Are we supposed to think that landlords that have deep-pocketed people lined up to rent when the current tenant is thrown out?
Deloris Coaker
August 8, 2020 at 7:26 am
Why should landlords be the one supporting tenants anyways. The State and Federal government should of did more to help people not landlords. People had to eventually look for another job. The Senate should have months ago passed the 2nd stimulus then it wouldn’t have gotten this bad. Unemployment should have been handed out at the stadiums instead of millions of people not even getting it yet. The Gov has failed the people. And who’s to say the bars are at fault for the COVO19 still raising. The bars have been closed and it’s still raising. It’s a personal choice. Wear a mask to protect yourself if your worried about it. Unless the Gov pays back the business to close, stay open, you got mouths to feed
DisplacedCTYankee
August 9, 2020 at 12:24 am
Gov DeMAGA: “… then you got to meet your obligations just like another other Floridian would.”
Should be “have,” not “got.” Should be “any other,” not “another.”
So much for Yale/Harvard. I thought they had remedial courses; guess not.
sad-oldie.
August 9, 2020 at 11:48 am
Lots of people are taking advantage I am an elderly person who never misses a payment even if not much for other stuff but yet on the apt. above me one on bedroom 6 people been living there making so much noise kids running and jumping all the way to 4 am every day they don’t work so they sleep all day they are in their 30’s and the kids ages from 5 to 13 now they brought more people to stay there total 8 in a single bedroom, no matter how much i complain to the office this people never quiet or at least civil so yes people take advantage of so much help around we had depressions on my time i don’t remember anyone helping us to pay rent we work on anything and kept ourselves alive when you give too much people become useless just words from someone who lived trough all.
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