Can you be evicted during Covid-19 pandemic? Answer is no

Can you be evicted during Covid-19 pandemic? Answer is no

More than 73,000 people filed for unemployment in one week in louisiana.

Many now face the real possibility of not having enough money to pay rent for this month or the next.

News 1's cassie schirm dug into whether you can or cannot be evicted from your home during the covid 19 crisis.

Cassie:well the answer is no.

With many people losing jobs and facing financial hardships across the state its illegal to evict someone at this time.

But those at the louisiana fair housing action center say theyre getting more and more calls from people who are getting eviction letters, unfortunately w've heard of a lot of cases were folks have been threatened or people trying to illegally lock people out or cut off water or electricitymaxwell ciardullo, with louisiana fair housing action center says that is not okay."that is definitely illegal."my first question was why is it illegal."we do have a state wide evection suspension right now ..because w're all supposed to stay at home so you have to have a home to be able to stay there."

"most landlords do the right thing and the situation but there are always bad apples.*for a many who just recently lost their job this has been hard period of unknowns.'ve never had a problem paying my bills 've never had to rely or have anyone help me pay my bills i's just unfortunate i mean we all lost our jobs i's completely out of our controlbriana cortez who lives at the bradford apartment complex says the're willing to work with her if she signs this agreement "do't know what to tell these people are then i can give them a fourth of my rent so far.

And at this point the're telling me i need to sign this contract that says 'm going to pay for these certain dates if i do't they have the right to take legal action and sue me and evict me."in the contract news 15 obtained it shows the complex has reduced the rate and shifted the payment due dates... it also includes that if the tenants does not meet the new payment plan then the tenet is breaching the lease contract and can be sued for eviction all other legal remediesi talked to an employee at the bradford apartments who did't want to a supervisor but says the contract is a good faith agreement and the're working with the tenets.i took this information to south east louisiana staff adams who says in for both parties to only sign contracts if they know they can follow through."in general i would not encourage a tenant to sign a contract which is binding to re-pay past due rent when the tenant does not know or cannot guarantee they will be able to follow through on that agreement.

Because yo're then locking in your self into a contract that yo're bound to default on.

Which is not a good position for you or the landlord to be in."she says the uncertainty is the big factor."right now when we do't know if the employment checks are going to start showing up how long the courts are going to closed we do't know when people are gonna get to do't know when the stimulus checks are gonna show up it seems like a recipe for failure for both parties to lock into agreement that we do't have enough information yet to ensure will be successful.*courts are closed statewide but once they open up ciardullo says he expects a wave tha's because the evection suspension is only a temporary solution renters who have lost jobs income the're not gonna be 1 and potentially may 1.

I'll be a struggle to catch up later.

So we know as soon as court scared of seeing us nami of events ciardullo has housing advice for the tenants and the landlords during this pandemic.."for renters i would say reach out to your landlord mini are working with tenants but you need to initiate it.

I think a lot of people understand everything is tough right now.

If your landlord i think this is really your opportunity to be your partner in the fight against this virus.

By waving late fees potentially forgiving renters making payment plans really stepping up and helping your community.

"cassie:now the group has prepared a template letter that renters can use to reach out to their landlords telling them about there situation.

Asking to waive late fees and help make payment plans after the stay at home order in lifted in lafayette 'm cassie schirm news 15.

If you need the template we will have a copy of that letter online on kadn.com 3