Those struggling to pay their rent due to COVID-19 appear to be getting another break. While Indiana’s eviction moratorium expired on August 14, the federal government is planning to implement its own moratorium starting Friday.
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority Executive Director Jacob Sipe gave an update during state officials’ COVID-19 briefing Wednesday. “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an agency-wide order to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent further spread of COVID-19,” Sipe explained. “And under this order, a landlord shall not evict any eligible person or household from any residential property starting on September 4 through December 31.”
But Sipe stressed that it only bans evictions for the nonpayment of rent, and there are five criteria renters must meet. Among other things, renters must have lost income or encountered extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses, and they must not expect to earn more than $99,000 this year. The moratorium is also limited to people who would likely be left homeless by an eviction or be forced to move into close quarters with others.
“Renters, even under a moratorium, are still obligated to pay their rent, and they must comply with all the other rules and obligations that the household has in place under their lease agreement,” Sipe added.
He noted that the new Landlord and Tenant Settlement Conference Program is available to help avoid evictions for other types of lease violations. Meanwhile, the state continues to process applications for the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, and over $14 million has been paid to landlords on behalf of tenants. Sipe said more than 36,000 applications were received by last week’s deadline.
