Arizona renters and landlords are both struggling to find out what a new executive order to delay evictions due to the coronavirus means for them.
Gov. Doug Ducey issued a 120-day order on Tuesday delaying the enforcement of evictions for renters impacted by COVID-19 because they are sick, can’t work or lost jobs.
Arizona joined more than 50 others states and cities to place a temporary halt on evictions during the public health and economic crisis.
About 2,500 metro Phoenix renters are facing eviction hearings, according to court records. That’s up by 500 from last week.
‘The right thing to do’
Ducey called the order “the right thing to do to support Arizona families during their time of need and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Now, housing advocates and lawyers are working overtime to figure out how the order will work.
“We need to focus on educating tenants concerning this defense to stop the enforcement of the eviction action,” said Pamela Bridge, director of Advocacy and Litigation at Community Legal Services.https://www.usatodaynetworkservice.com/tangstatic/html/pphx/sf-q1a2z3be0d353f.min.html
Who eviction delays help
- A renter required to be quarantined because they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- A tenant ordered by a licensed medical professional to self-quarantine based on symptoms defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- A renter required to be quarantined because someone in their home has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- A renter demonstrating a health condition that puts them at risk for coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- A tenant suffering a substantial loss of income resulting from COVID-19 due to any of the following reasons: job loss, reduction in compensation, closure of place of employment or a need to be absent from work to care for a home-bound school-age child.
Tenants must contact landlords
A tenant eligible for eviction reprieve must contact their landlord in writing and include documentation to support their cause, according to the order.
Community Legal Services has already created tenant COVID-19 notice documents in English and Spanish for renters hurt by the virus to fill out for their landlords.
SOURCE: https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2020/03/27/how-duceys-az-eviction-delay-work-renters-hurt-covid-19/2917164001/
AUTHOR: Catherine Reagor
