The Eviction Moratorium Extension in Massachusetts: What it Means for Landlords

Many landlords in Massachusetts were cautiously hoping for an end to the eviction moratorium, however, the moratorium was not allowed to expire, and the Biden administration has extended it for another two months. At this point, it seems unclear whether or not the eviction moratorium will actually end in the foreseeable future. We all thought that the end of July would mark its end, and by that point, it had already been extended multiple times. Who knows whether or not the Biden administration will simply extend the moratorium once again in another two months?

Landlords can no longer rely on precarious deadlines that are continuously pushed back. Once you accept that the federal government has no interest in protecting the financial interests of landlords, you can start to react in your own best interests. One of the most obvious options is to take legal action. You can do this by getting in touch with a qualified attorney who has experience in tenant/landlord law.

The Mainstream Media is Ignoring the Plight of Landlords
Time after time, the conversation around the pandemic eviction crisis centers around tenants. On the other hand, landlords are essentially ignored by the mainstream media. It is worth pointing out that many landlords are not wealthy people. A landlord could be a single mother who is renting out a spare room or a basement suite. She could be relying on rental income to feed her children and pay her mortgage payments. These are hardworking individuals who are trying to make ends meet.

For some reason, these are the people who the federal government believes should pay for the COVID-19 economic crisis. Note that it is not the banks that are being ordered to halt mortgage collection. They get a free pass. Once again, it is the middle class that is being crushed by a crisis they had no role in creating. Some critics are even saying that the eviction moratorium is not going far enough, and that rent should be canceled permanently.

What This Means for You as a Landlord
You can still evict people under certain circumstances, but the overall process is quite difficult because of the restrictions put forth by the CDC. When you serve your tenants with a notice of eviction, the notice must inform them of the various types of financial assistance they can pursue to help pay their rent. You also need to inform them of various protections they have in court.

Most of Massachusetts is covered by the eviction moratorium, but certain areas are considered to have low rates of community transmission. This means that the eviction moratorium may not apply in these areas.

Sometimes, taking legal action is the only option. With the help of an attorney, you can show the court that the tenant is not making a reasonable effort to pay their rent, despite having access to financial relief from the government. You can also show the court that eviction would not make the tenant homeless by proving that they could stay with relatives. You could also show that the tenant is earning more than enough money to pay their rent, but they choose not to. All of these factors can help you successfully evict your tenant after taking legal action.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you are facing economic hardship as a landlord, you may benefit from legal assistance. Reach out to the Law Offices of Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty, and learn more about your options during this period of financial pressure. Landlords should not be saddled with the cost of a crisis they did not even create. Reach out today, and we can develop an effective action plan together. 413-732-8356