With eviction proceedings suspended due to the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, landlords are unable to evict residents from their homes for the time being.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro issued a reminder to landlords and mortgage lenders and urged them to give their customers some breathing room once the eviction suspension period ends.
“With millions of Pennsylvanians following Governor Wolf’s direction to stay at home, it is critical to public health that rental evictions cease for the duration of this emergency. Without stable housing, Pennsylvanians may be forced to find temporary alternatives, moving from place to place and adding to the public health threat. We must not increase the risk of exposure by helping COVID-19 spread through our communities,” Shapiro wrote to organizations representing landlords and mortgage lenders.
Shapiro’s letter was written with the intent to build on the court’s order to suspend evictions for a period of time after the COVID-19 mitigation period has ended.
In addition to the state court’s order, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has ordered all evictions and foreclosures on properties insured by the Federal Housing Administration halted.
“Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have lost wages and jobs during this crisis and we will need time for businesses to reopen and for our economy to come back when the emergency is lifted. Stable housing is part of the foundation we need as a Commonwealth to fully recover,” Shapiro said.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said they will accept complaints from residents who have been wrongfully evicted or wrongfully had your property foreclosed online.
