Eviction Ban Extended

The eviction ban has been extended though Jan 31st, what can investors do?

On January 4th, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was passed and signed into law extending the eviction moratorium through January 31st 2021. This sparks many questions directly related to the continued presence of the Coronavirus. How long will the ban continue to be extended for? What can landlords do in these situations? 

(Disclaimer: This isn’t legal advice but my views on the situation.) 

According to the eviction moratorium, a non-paying tenant needs to provide a written declaration under penalty of perjury that includes: their statement that they’ve attempted all means of acquiring assistance, that they have no housing alternatives, that they are attempting to make partial payments, and more. Short story - if these things aren’t happening and a non-paying tenant hasn’t delivered this information to the landlord, evictions can likely proceed. Check with your legal counsel for their advice on any specific situation.

These regulatory risks to real estate investing underscore some of the fundamental aspects of managing a rental property - namely, the initial tenant screening. A robust tenant screening continues to be one of the most critical parts of the leasing process here at Bigfoot Management Group, as it should be with even the smallest investor. A multi point screening  considering  credit, financial strength, personal & professional references and a criminal background check have become all the more important when an eviction may be impossible on the other side of signing a lease agreement. 

Thoughts?: dustin@bigfootmg.com