Accommodations: Biden administration extends eviction moratorium for consumers, but….

*The original moratorium was granted to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by reducing homelessness among American consumers who suddenly, became unemployed and could not pay rent, but property owners may challenge this extension in court

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Reportedly under pressure from progressives in the United States (US) Congress, President Joe Biden’s administration has extended the moratorium on evictions of consumers from rental homes temporarily.

However, that the moratorium only applies to certain areas of the US, and the move by the White House may face legal challenges by property owners, agency report said.

The original moratorium, report stated, was authorised by the Congress and put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

US President Joe Biden

It covered the entire country, and its purpose was to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by reducing homelessness among American consumers who suddenly, became unemployed and could not pay the rent in the process.

The authorisation for the moratorium expired last Saturday, but the CDC acted Tuesday, August 3, 2021, to extend it because of the rapid spread of cases caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant in the country.

Nonetheless, the extension is not nationwide, according to report.

The moratorium only applies to counties “with a heightened level of community transmission” of the virus.

Currently, just about every county in Mississippi meets that criteria, but not all counties in Vermont do.

The CDC said: “It is intended to target specific areas of the country where cases are rapidly increasing, which would likely be exacerbated by mass evictions.”

On the urgent need to protecting the public health, the health regulatory agency noted the extension is temporary and will last until October 3, 2021, setting up a likely court challenge by property owners.

ConsumerConnect gathered when the CDC extended the moratorium June this year for 30 more days, a landlord organisation challenged the move in court.

In the US Supreme Court in June, the Justices declined to overturn the moratorium, saying that it would expire within the next 30 days anyway.

President Biden originally hesitated to reinstate protection for renters, and said any extension must be authorised by Congress.

So, by applying the moratorium in areas where the virus is spreading, the CDC said it is acting within its authority to take action to protect public health.

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