Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday suggested he will likely extend Florida’s stay-on-evictions while speaking to reporters in Fort Lauderdale.
“I will work on the moratorium,” he said. “I think we probably will continue that as well.”
The current moratorium is scheduled to expire on Sep. 1 at 12:01 a.m. If signed, it will be the fifth consecutive extension.
The Governor’s remarks bring some relief to the thousands of Floridians who remain financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the state received 100,000 additional unemployment claims last week. In total, 1.9 million claims have been paid in Florida for a sum of $14.22 billion since the onset of the pandemic.
The moratorium is intended to suspend evictions or foreclosure for those economically-impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike earlier stays on evictions, however, the current order was signed with a narrower scope of protections for renters and homeowners. It now only limits protections to single-family homeowners and renters who are “adversely affected” by the COVID-19 pandemic. The order 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.
While the distinction potentially puts many Floridians back on the hook for issues such as unpaid bills or property damage, DeSantis has defended the order’s narrower scope and maintained it still accomplishes his intent.
“I think it covers the core group of people that we’re looking to protect,” DeSantis said in August. “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.”
The executive order was first put into effect on April 2 amid the state’s economic shutdown.
9 comments
Joej
August 30, 2020 at 1:44 pm
What about the extra unemployment benefits that Desantis never applied for? So far everyone would be owed $1,200. Haven’t heard anything about it in a couple of weeks. Mean while 40 something states are either receiving the benefits or have applied
Christopher Bluntzer
August 30, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Can someone please write an article about all the landlords who are totally screwed by this ridiculous attempt to buy votes.
So we have to keep paying mortgages, taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, condo and HOA fees and DeSantis lets these people LIVE FOR FREE in our properties.
Total bullshit. I KNOW WHO I WONT BE VOTING FOR NEXT TERM. If Desantis wants all these people who cant or won’t pay their rent to live for free in our properties then HE and THE STATE should pay their rent for them – not make us small landlords eat it and subsidize them. THIS IS ILLEGAL!!!
Janet Stone
August 31, 2020 at 10:13 am
I TOTALLY AGREE. I’ve sent emails to DeSantis regarding this, however of course, no response. Thanks for your efforts.
MimiB
August 31, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Yes !!! Exactly. I know a home owner who has a rental property and the tenant hasn’t paid any rent at all for 6 months. Not one penny !! The landlady relies on the income from the property and must also pay out taxes, insurance, HOA fees, maintenance, etc and yet is getting no income. She’s out almost $10,000 [which she knows she’ll never see from them] while the tenants live in her house for free !! It’s a nice house in a desirable neighborhood and she knows she could rent it out immediately if she could get them out of the house. De Santis should be coming up with a plan to give vouchers or rent subsidies to people so that landlords AND tenants will benefit. Right now, landlords are in a terrible situation.
Theresa Daniel
August 30, 2020 at 5:35 pm
I can Christopher. There are legal ways to enforce a landlords rights and depending on the county the property is in, I may be able to help you immediately.
Jenn
August 31, 2020 at 9:13 am
What about evictions that were started in the court system back in January? They have nothing to do with the pandemic. Can those evictions still happen?
Kelly
August 31, 2020 at 2:28 pm
This is so frustrating! He’s not looking out for the small business owner at all!! I’m a landlord with tenants that are not affected by Covid, and are living in my properties for free.
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Rebecca Musick
September 10, 2020 at 12:36 pm
A friend of mine lost her job to the pandemic. However she is being evicted from her home. She has a 6 year old that is home schooled and has paid her landlord funds from various services. She is behind 3 months now as of September 1 and is still searching for assistance. So it’s not like she’s not trying she did get a job but does not start till the 11th. She will be paid bi weekly so it will take her a little time to pay. She doesn’t want to lose her home. She is trying not like these other freeloaders. Is there anything she can say or do to help her keep her home?
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