Can I Be Evicted During COVID-19?
The COVID-19 health pandemic has caused economic hardship for countless Texans. Government bodies at all levels have responded with efforts to support their communities during these unprecedented circumstances. The Supreme Court of Texas halted most eviction hearings in Texas through May 19th. Locally, Denton County established early eviction halts; however, those bans expired in late April. Nevertheless, if you are facing an eviction, the federal eviction prohibition may still protect you.
Under the CARES Act, landlords who received federal money in response to COVID-19 or are backed by federal loans may not evict you or charge you late fees until July 25th. Landlords are prohibited from filing evictions against tenants for nonpayment of rent for 120 days after the Act became effective. Therefore, landlords of covered properties cannot file nonpayment evictions between March 27th and July 25th. After July 25th, landlords may issue notices to vacate but must provide at least 30 days’ notice. As a result, a landlord may give the notice to vacate for nonpayment on July 26th, and August 25th is the earliest the notice could require you to leave. You can access a complete list of apartment complexes that received federal funds here.
However, even though your landlord can't evict you for nonpayment of rent, those payments continue to accumulate. The protections under the CARES Act simply provide extra time to resolve nonpayment issues. Tenants facing eviction are encouraged to reach out to their landlord to try to resolve the issue.
If you need assistance paying rent or utilities due to income loss during COVID-19, United Way of Denton County and other local organizations may be able to provide financial assistance. Click here for information from United Way about eligibility and how to apply. Also, click here for information about a Texas deferred payment program for electricity if you're unemployed.
For additional information about your COVID-19 eviction protections, visit Texas Law Help.
