Federal Eviction Moratorium Expires This Week

The day that renters relying on public support to pay the bills have been dreading since March arrives tomorrow.

2 minute read

July 23, 2020, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Coronavirus

Allen J.M. Smith / Shutterstock

"A federal moratorium that has protected millions of renters from eviction since late March expires Friday [July 24], leaving millions of people at risk even as the coronavirus continues to spread across the country," reports Renae Merle.

"The moratorium covers renters who live in homes with federally backed mortgages, which the Urban Institute estimates to be 12.3 million households, or about 30 percent of all renters nationwide," according to Merle. "Once the moratorium lapses, landlords can give their delinquent tenants 30 days’ notice and then begin filing eviction paperwork in late August."

The article includes expert insight about the potential for the end of the moratorium to cause a wave of evictions and economic struggles in the country, adding to the evictions and housing insecurity already facing renters and property owners all over the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced a housing toolkit to offer support for renters and property owners covered by the federal eviction moratorium, in anticipation of Friday's expiration date.

As noted by Merle, the U.S. House of Representatives approved $100 billion in renter relief as part of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which the Senate has yet to consider. "Last week, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) unveiled a sweeping housing plan that would ban evictions and foreclosures for a year while giving tenants up to 18 months to pay back missed payments," according to Merle. Information about the legislation proposed by Senate Harris is available in an article by Katy O'Donnell.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

45 minutes ago - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

1 hour ago - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

3 hours ago - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.