CORONAVIRUS

Groups Call For Extension Of Utah’s Moratorium On Evictions

May 13, 2020, 11:15 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Several groups have called for an extension of Governor Gary Herbert’s executive order that put a moratorium on certain evictions related to not paying rent because of COVID-19, which was set to expire on Friday.

It’s the middle of the month and for struggling tenants relying on the governor’s moratorium, it’s about time to pay up.

“People were already struggling to pay rent before this crisis began,” said Bill Tibbitts, associate director at Crossroads Urban Center, which is one of more than 20 groups that signed a letter asking the governor to extend his moratorium order on evictions two more months until July 15.

“We don’t want to see kids living in cars with their parents while their parents try to figure out how to try and get into a new place,” said Tibbitts, pointing out that two homeless shelters aren’t taking any new people because of the virus. “From a state budget perspective, it makes a lot more sense to help people stay in an apartment than to put them up in a motel.”

The executive order that began April 1 and ends May 15 is not rent forgiveness but gave extra time to those who needed it most. Tenants who qualified are those who were up to date on rent payments as of March 31 and who have either:

  • Lost wages or their job because of the coronavirus
  • Received an order from the health department to self-isolate or quarantine
  • Or tested positive for the virus

“I don’t think it’s going to be a tidal wave of (eviction) cases coming up,” said Jeremy Shorts, an attorney at Utah Eviction Law. He also works with the Utah Apartment Association, which voluntarily created a deferral program for tenants during the pandemic.

“There was a gap there that was a problem,” Shorts said, noting that the 45-day executive order was sufficient to bridge the gap between the immediate effects of the pandemic and the CARES Act passed by congress to offer financial relief. In addition to federal funds to those who qualify, the federal CARES Act provides a 120-day moratorium for tenants living in certain types of housing.

“I think the governor’s order served its purpose,” he said. “It caused everybody to kind of take a deep breath, not take a knee jerk reaction, and give time for these federal funds to come in.”

Shorts also stressed the vast majority of rent money doesn’t go into the landlord’s pocket.

“This isn’t just a tenant problem. It’s also a landlord problem,” he said. “They don’t want a vacancy. They lose rent when that happens.”

Shorts also pointed to the National Multifamily Housing Council which found 80.2% of apartment households made a full or partial rent payment by May 6, based on a survey of 11.4 million units of professionally managed apartment units across the country. NMHC said it was a 1.5-percentage point decrease compared to this time last year and an increase from the 78% that said they had paid by April 6 of this year.

“We know that there are a lot of good landlords that are working with tenants in good faith,” Tibbitts said.

He was also happy to see the state’s announcement this week of a new rental assistance program for those people hurt by the coronavirus who do not qualify for unemployment insurance. But Tibbitts said the state needs to give more time to allow this new program to take effect and help those it’s intended to help.

“If this new state program to help people stay in place is going to work we need a few weeks to get it up and running because if we don’t, the default is people are out in days,” he said. “It would be a shame if the program didn’t work the way they wanted it to because they didn’t have enough time.”


Coronavirus Resources

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

  • Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
  • Avoid touching your face
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.

KSL 5 TV Live

Coronavirus

FILE: Former Utah Jazz John Stockton reacts during a 76-70 Wichita State win over the Gonzaga Bulld...

Michael Houck

Former Utah Jazz star John Stockton sues Washington medical director about COVID misinformation policy

Former Utah Jazz superstar John Stockton has filed a federal lawsuit against Washington officials on First Amendment violations, arguing the state's policy of COVID-19 misinformation is unconstitutional.

16 days ago

Deer Creek Reservoir...

Alex Cabrero

State parks expecting another record visitation year, hiring more workers

It didn't matter how cold or snowy it was at Deer Creek State Park Friday afternoon. Nothing was going to stop Leonard Sawyer from taking his boat out to do a little fishing.

1 month ago

FILE —  Respiratory virus illness activity continues to increase across the US.
(Joe Burbank/Orl...

Emma Benson

‘Not viruses to mess around with’: Experts urge caution during ongoing ‘tripledemic’

Experts say though not as severe as last year, this winter we're seeing another "tripledemic" – rising cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV in Utah.

3 months ago

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS...

Emma Benson

‘The ICUs are full:’ Keep yourself and others healthy this holiday

It's time for holiday gatherings, but with more people around us comes a greater risk of getting sick.

3 months ago

Julianna Preece goes through the mountain of medical documents she's acquired for her health condit...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Herriman couple is suing CVS, says 5x Covid vaccine dose mistake caused health problems

A couple is suing a Utah CVS vaccination clinic, saying a nurse’s mistake led to the wife receiving five times the normal COVID-19 vaccine dose and caused serious health issues she’s still dealing with today.

4 months ago

FILE - COVID-19 antigen home tests. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS...

Associated Press

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Groups Call For Extension Of Utah’s Moratorium On Evictions