Virginia Supreme Court Halts Eviction Proceedings Statewide Until September 7
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Virginia residents who are struggling to pay rent because of lost wages during the COVID-19 pandemic can breathe a sigh of relief. On August 7, Governor Ralph S. Northam (D-VA) announced that starting Monday, August 10, a statewide moratorium on eviction proceedings will go into effect.
The moratorium, which passed by a 4-to-3 vote, runs through September 7.
“As the ongoing Congressional stalemate leaves hundreds of thousands of Virginians without federal housing protection or unemployment relief, this is a critical step towards keeping families safely in their homes,” Northam said during his announcement. “I am grateful to the Virginia Supreme Court for granting this order, and I look forward to working with the General Assembly this month to develop more permanent legislative protections for Virginia homeowners and tenants.”
Northam sent a letter to Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons on July 24 requesting the action.
On June 29, he launched the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP), which provides an initial $50 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for Virginia households facing eviction and foreclosure due to COVID-19. Eligibility and application information for the RMRP is available HERE.
Click HERE for additional information and resources on tenant rights.
Northam’s letter to Chief Justice Lemons can be found HERE. The order from the Virginia Supreme Court can be found HERE.
