We're anticipating a crisis actually within our community," said Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada CEO Marie Baxter. Governor Sisolak's eviction moratorium is soon coming to an end and it has non-profits concerned about the welfare of people and the community as a whole.
The moratorium runs out at midnight on Monday. some non-profits anticipate the eviction process will begin for many renters on Tuesday. But the end to the moratorium could go farther than just disputes between renters and landlords.
"Programs are also starting to reach capacity," said Baxter. Non-profit organizations trying to help renters near the end of Nevada's eviction moratorium are finding their rental assistance programs budgets stretched. With time running out on the moratorium a flood of applicants are expected.
"Rental assistance may not be as readily available. There might be food assistance, transportation assistance, or work development assistance. If they have all of those pieces in place, then they can use the funds they have to be able to pay their rent," said Baxter.
Once the moratorium ends, renters will have to pay back all the rent that was skipped during the moratorium. "At Reno rent prices,that could easily be $6,000-$10,000. It could be hard to come up with all of that in one go," said Nevada Legal Services attorney Daniel Hansen.
Landlords can evict tenants in different ways, including a 30 day No-Cause Notice for monthly renters or a 3 day Notice for Nuisance or Lease Violations. Those are usually followed by a 5 day Unlawful Retainer Notice. There is also a 7 day Pay Rent Or Quit Notice. In all cases it's important to file a Tenant Affidavit. "If the landlord asks for a lockout order and there's a Tenant Affidavit then the court has to set a hearing," said Hansen.
Nevada legal services says working a deal out between landlord and renter or getting financial help are better options. But people should work quickly, time is running out before the moratorium ends. "You're going to see an increase in homelessness. You're going to see an increase in people being displaced. When you lose your housing it becomes much more difficult to do things like follow-up on unemployment claims or search for a job," said Hansen.
Nevada Legal Services has some rental assistance options for renters. There is a link to those options on our website and 2 News App.
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The gradual lifting of the state's eviction moratorium begins this Wednesday, as directed by Governor Sisolak.
Nevada Legal Services held a virtual conference to update the public on what's to come.
"The best thing about the moratorium is that non-payment of rent evictions, well most of non-payment of rent evictions, and evictions where the landlord doesn't have to allege cause; so for no reason at all. Our state stayed until September 1st," says Rhea Gertken, Directing Attorney at the Reno Office for Nevada Legal Services.
Starting this Wednesday however, commercial landlords and lenders can charge late fees, initiate lockouts, or start eviction actions for non-payment of rent or foreclosure proceedings.
Residential evictions can begin for violations that do not include non-payment of rent. The same goes for tenants who live in mobile parks or motels.
"If you've intended to stay long-term in a motel or have been there already for thirty days, then you're a tenant and can not be locked out. Any action to do so would be unlawful," says Gertken.
Gertken says during this moratorium period, it's important for tenants to know their rights. As well as who to go to if unlawful action is being taken against them.
"Contact the Attorney General's Office, the Attorney General's Office is taking complaints -- and the directive does further give guidance to what we consider our unfair deceptive trade practice here in Nevada," says Gertken.
Gertken says the state is also offering guidance on how to address unpaid rent payments with your landlord, to avoid confrontation.
"The directive also came out with an attached promissory note and lease addendum and that was designed to really say a starting point to encourage landlords and tenants to work together," says Gertken.
The promissory note is not mandatory, but it is highly suggested.
If you enter into this agreement, the landlord agrees to not evict the tenant for past due rent. Eviction would be allowed if the tenant violates the agreement. Any rental assistance the tenant receives would go directly to the landlord, to pay for current and passed rent payments.
Gertken says having some sort of written agreement is very much advised.
For more information and resources, visit the link below:
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