For 10 months, the eviction moratorium has been very much alive. Across Illinois, tenants increasingly know, “Why should I pay my rent if someone else will pay it for me?!” And so they don't. The Illinois legislature’s progressive caucus is pushing its amendment through the lame duck session. SB3066-HFA4 maintains the status quo by extending the eviction moratorium another 9 months.
This amendment protects tenants from consequences for failure to pay rent, including preventing eviction, concealing the default from creditors, and paying off the tenant debt, but only delays the foreclosure of the owner’s property. This continued moratorium removes affordable rental housing stock to abandonment and eventual foreclosure.
Smaller landlords heavily rely on rent payments to pay mortgages, utilities, and property taxes. No other business have been asked to provide its goods and services for free. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been working to ensure that individuals affected by COVID-19 are given every opportunity to remain in their home. We have been waiving late fees, offering payment plans, and directing tenants to resources for rental assistance.
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The eviction process is costly, a judgment rarely is collectable. It is not a trivial pursuit for us. The executive orders issued by the Governor clearly state that rent is a debt that is owed regardless of the eviction moratorium. How is that enforceable if the eviction process cannot even be started? Landlords need access to the courts for those tenants who have been unresponsive or are violating leases in ways unrelated to COVID-19. The legislature should insure funds to assist both tenants and landlord alike are readily available and efficiently distributed rather than putting another small business out of business.