Cuomo extends moratorium on residential, commercial evictions to Aug. 31

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday signed an extension of the Covid-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 and the Covid-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Businesses Act.

The legislation extends protections prohibiting residential and commercial evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the Covid-19 pandemic until August 31, 2021.

The legislation adds to New York State’s efforts to protect tenants and homeowners from the economic hardship incurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic at a critical time in the pandemic’s trajectory as the State begins to lift restrictions on public gatherings and businesses.

“As we approach the light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, it is critical that we continue to protect both New York’s tenants and business owners who have suffered tremendous hardship throughout this entire pandemic,” Cuomo said. “Extending this legislation will help to ensure that vulnerable New Yorkers and business owners who are facing eviction through no fault of their own are able to keep their homes and businesses as we continue on the road to recovery and begin to build back our economy better than it was before.”

Will Barclay, the Assembly Republican leader, opposed the extension, calling it “short-sighted policy” that will lead to a drastic decline in affordable housing options as landlords face foreclosure or stop renting altogether.

“We are past the initial period of economic hardship that warranted the need for this moratorium,” Barclay said in a  statement last week the State Legislature approved the extension. “At this stage, allowing tenants to simply ignore rent for another four months will do more harm than good to every part of the housing sector. Tenants deserve the benefit of the doubt in cases of emergency, but today’s vote only prolongs the pain for housing providers whose interests and experiences have been completely ignored.”