Should New York Extend Its Foreclosure and Eviction Freeze?

At the end of last year, the New York State Legislature and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed to a new law that extended legal protections for renters and homeowners. That law, the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act, banned evictions and foreclosures for people who had been negatively impacted by COVID-19 until May 1, 2021.

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As the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic has dragged on, many New Yorkers are not stable enough for things to return to normal in reference to evictions and foreclosures. Because of this, the New York Senate and Assembly are currently deciding if the Eviction and Foreclosure ban should continue after May 1st.

What Happens Next

The New York State Legislature is currently debating whether it should extend the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 and the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act of 2021 through August 31, 2021.

If these changes become law, renters, homeowners, and business owners would be given an additional four (4) months of time where they could not be evicted or foreclosed against if they are experiencing a COVID-19 related hardship. In addition to rental evictions and mortgage foreclosures, these protections would also extend to property tax foreclosures and tax sales in local communities.

Our comprehensive eviction & foreclosure moratorium protects countless renters, homeowners & small landlords facing hardship during COVID-19.
-Brian Kavanagh (D), New York State Senator, 26th New York Senate District

Tenants and homeowners who remain impacted by coronavirus still need to file a COVID-19 Hardship Declaration Form and deliver that to their landlord or mortgage company.

Not Everyone Supports Extending These Protections

While many renters and homeowners are still suffering the impacts of COVID-19, many landlords and mortgage companies are suffering the financial impacts of their tenants and customers not paying rent. It was just a few months ago when a group of local landlords were planning to sue New York State to end the eviction ban.