What the New Federal Eviction Moratorium Means
Some housing experts are relieved by the four-month CDC ban on evictions — but uneasy about the Trump administration's uncommonly quiet rollout.
A banner against eviction in Washington, DC., in August.
Photographer: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration announced a sweeping federal eviction moratorium on Tuesday, offering protections for struggling renters that go far beyond the previous 120-day moratorium that expired in July. Under the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the administration issued a four-month ban on evictions in order to keep millions of tenants in place in the hopes of preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Under the terms of the new edict, tenants earning no more than $99,000 (or $198,000 jointly) may receive this protection, which takes effect Sept. 4 and lasts through Dec. 31. Qualifying renters will need to present their landlords with a written declaration testifying to their circumstances. Property owners who defy the moratorium are subject to criminal penalties.