LAJC Asks Northam to Extend Tenant Protections

Today we at Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) and The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) sent a letter to Governor Ralph Northam urging him to extend State of Emergency protections for tenants via executive order. Currently all of Virginia’s State of Emergency tenant protections are set to expire on June 30th, as-is the Center for Disease Contro’sl moratorium on evictions. Our request is for protections to be extended at least until the General Assembly meets, at which point they would be able to re-enact protections. 

When the protections for tenants expire landlords will no longer be required to give tenants notice of available rent relief, to apply for rent relief on behalf of their tenants, or to co-operate with tenant applications for rent relief. There will also no longer be a 45-day waiting period after either tenant or landlord applies for rent relief before landlords can proceed with eviction. 

Many Virginians are still financially struggling due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which could leave thousands at risk of eviction without extended protections. We need Governor Northam to take action to keep Virginians in their homes this summer. 

You can read the letter here.