I have owed my landlord large sum of rent since May 2020.
By the way, the amount you owe to the landlord continues to INCREASE, along with any fees and late charges that APPLY.
Because your state has a "moratorium" on evictions, you can't be PHYSICALLY removed from the premises today.
However, one day down the road, that moratorium will be lifted and landlords can go to court and seek an order of eviction to LEGALLY remove (or have you removed) from the unit you are occupying.
A hearing will be held, and eventually a judge will issue an eviction order directing you to leave the unit or be forcibly removed by a law enforcement official. You'll also be held responsible for all back rent, fees, and late charges due to the landlord.
If you can, you might start looking for your escape route and where you can seek a safer, more permanent living environment.
One day, sooner or later, the band has played the music, you have danced, and the band wants to be paid.
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The Tenant Safe Harbor Act (S.8192B (Hoylman)/A.10290B (Dinowitz)) provides protection from eviction for renters who have experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The legislation prohibits courts from ever evicting residential tenants who experienced financial hardship for non-payment of rent that accrues or becomes due during the COVID-19 period. It would apply to any unpaid rent accrued between March 7 and the yet-to-be-determined date on which all COVID-related restrictions on non-essential gatherings and businesses are lifted.
This legislation builds upon the protections of the current eviction moratorium. Prior to the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, a tenant who was unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 crisis could be evicted for non-payment as soon as the moratorium ended. Now, because of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, a court can never use unpaid rent that accrued during the COVID-19 period as the basis for a non-payment eviction of a financially burdened tenant; however, a court could impose a money judgment.
According to the NYU Furman Center, an estimated 1,156,800 renter households in New York State have at least one worker who lost a job due to COVID-19. Of those households, an estimated 327,000 workers have lost their jobs but are not claiming unemployment insurance benefits; many are ineligible due to their immigration status.
The Tenant Safe Harbor Act passed the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly on May 27, 2020.
"Tenant Safe Harbor Act" Sponsored By Senator Brad Hoylman Signed Into Law
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Governor Cuomo first announced a State moratorium on residential and commercial evictions on March 20 for a period of 90 days to ensure no tenant was evicted during the height of the public health emergency. The commercial eviction and foreclosure moratorium was extended through August 20, September 20 and October 20 by Executive Order. The Governor signed the Tenant Safe Harbor Act on June 30 which became effective immediately and extended the eviction moratorium for tenants until the Emergency expires. Additionally Governor Cuomo signed legislation to provide financial assistance to residential renters to provide relief during the public health emergency. Governor Cuomo also has provided additional protections for residential renters from charges for late payment of rent, and allowed tenants to use security deposits to pay rent for residential tenants by Executive Order.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed an Executive Order extending the state's moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures through January 1. This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants. The extension of this protection gives commercial tenants and mortgagors additional time to get back on their feet and catch up on rent or their mortgage, or to renegotiate their lease terms to avoid foreclosure moving forward.
Governor Cuomo Signs Executive Order Extending Moratorium On COVID-Related Commercial Evictions Through January 1
