March 27th, 2020, now previous President Donald Trump signed and approved the the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act). Under this act 2.2 trillion dollars was utilized to assist the American public that had been hit hard by the consequences of the Covid-19 virus. Part of this bill momentarily halted the process of filing evictions in order to protect tenants financially struggling in the wake of Covid-19. With many aspects of the CARES act having expired December 31, 2020 there may be some concerns of what happens now under the new Biden presidency. So when it comes to evictions and struggling with COVID-19, what happens now? Here is what you need to know about evictions in 2021.
As of January 20th 2021, the CDC has announced that the Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of Covid-19 order will be extended until the last day of March 2021. However, these laws and guidelines may vary from state to state. As of now, in the state of Arizona, this extension will last only until January 31, 2021, a full month leass, as posted on the Arizona Judicial Branch website. There is speculation that this date may be subject to change by order of the CDC. But as of now, this shorter state wide extension covers tenants who:
- have tried to procure government housing
- are unable to fully cover rent from a loss of salary
- are attempting to pay partial rent on time
- would be homeless or displaced to shared living if evicted
It is important to note that to qualify for this order’s protection, tenants must
- expect to earn no more than $99,000 as an individuals in 2020
- expect to earn no more than $198,000 with filing as a joint tax return in 2020
- not have been required to report income to the IRS in 2019
- have received an stimulus check due to the qualifications of the CARES Act
If you are an individual who has lost substantial hours at work, has had wages cut, been laid off, or have had extreme medical bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may qualify for eviction prevention. Please keep yourself updated on these laws, as they are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic continues on.
For more information on qualifying for eviction delay and the current eviction laws in the state of Arizona, please visit the Arizona Judicial Branch website. Or contact us on our website to help answer any legal inquires you may have on evictions in 2021, in the state of Arizona.
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