Struggling Floridians Get Extension On Evictions, Foreclosures
MIAMI, FL — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has extended his earlier order halting all foreclosures and residential evictions.
The governor's previous extension order, which had been in effect until June 2, will now expire at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, according to a new order signed Monday. The order had previously been extended from May.
The change gives struggling Floridians an extra 29 days if they are unable to pay their mortgages or rent before their landlords or lenders can take action. The extension does not relieve their obligation to pay. See FL Governor Suspends Foreclosures, Evictions Over Coronavirus
Despite the governor's order, Miami attorney David Winker said lawyers have continued to file eviction paperwork in Miami-Dade County, which includes the cities of Miami and Miami Beach.
"There are hundreds of illegal eviction actions already filed in Miami-Dade courts, so there is no doubt that a wave of evictions will come as soon as the moratorium is lifted," Winker told Patch. "Keeping these families in their homes is the moral thing to do and the right thing for our economy. The last thing we need is the economic recovery being tripped up by a housing crisis with the courts clogged with evictions and foreclosures."
He said he will ask Miami-Dade Chief Judge Bertila Soto to throw out all of the eviction filings that were submitted during the period covered by the governor's orders.
"Landlords that filed these prohibited evictions have an unfair advantage over those landlords that are following the law and holding off on filing their evictions until the moratorium is lifted," Winker said.
While the governor's order doesn't remove the obligation to pay, it does give Floridians additional time to reach agreement with their landlord or lender, particularly as people start to go back to work.
The governor's executive order assures no further action will take place on any mortgage foreclosures around the state, including those covered by a nationwide moratorium. Don't miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.
In addition to freezing foreclosure actions, the Florida measure also blocks the evictions of Florida renters for nonpayment of rent in the case of residential renters who have been harmed by the new coronavirus outbreak.
Winker said the language in the Florida governor's order offers protections to people who lost their jobs as a result of the outbreak, but not directly to the small business owners who rent their premises.
The governor's initial order noted the coronavirus health emergency has "impacted the ability of many Floridians" to make timely mortgage and rent payments. A number of Floridians found themselves in difficult positions as April and May rent and mortgage obligations came due.
This article originally appeared on the Miami Patch
