is not effective without a deeper reform of the eviction system and investing in holistic services that serve economically struggling households . We look to making housing justice happen for renters , homeowners and housing providers – to make it a top priority as Maryland builds back better .”
That position has been reflected in the fivebill Housing Justice Package introduced in the Maryland state legislature this session . One of those bills is The COVID-19 Eviction and Housing Relief Act . While it provides financial relief for housing providers through a statewide program that matches state and county funds , it would implement a series of adverse emergency renter protections , including a rent freeze , just cause eviction protections and an expansion of Governor Hogan ’ s eviction moratorium prohibiting all eviction filings except those in response to imminent threats through April of 2022 . The just cause protections in the bill would prevent evictions for reasons not explicitly deemed as legitimate , as well as non-renewals of leases , something many renter advocacy groups claim is a loophole used to get around eviction moratoria . The remaining bills would establish an eviction diversion program and specific
associated requirements for housing providers prior to filing evictions for nonpayment of rent , increase filing fees , create a right to counsel for renters in eviction cases and create emergency homeowner protections .
Depending on how they are structured , eviction diversion programs may be beneficial in facilitating alternative resolutions and access to rental assistance . However , placing additional restrictions and requirements on housing providers ’ access to the eviction process , which represents the legal avenue of last resort for retaking possession of an apartment upon a resident ’ s violation of the lease agreement , will not solve the underlying financial instability of lowincome renters that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic .
Implementing expanded eviction moratoria and increased regulation of rental housing would have adverse impacts on the supply of affordable housing . According to an October 2020 report by NDP Analytics and the National Leased Housing Association , low and moderate-income housing providers have experienced 11.8 % decline in revenue and a 14.8 % increase in operating expenses
on average due to the pandemic , resulting in significant financial strain . If housing providers are unable to cover the property expenses and operational costs due to a lack of rental income , they may not be able to maintain their supply of rental housing and risk foreclosure . The buyers of these distressed properties may not keep them affordable , or even as rentals .
The proposed legislation will also negatively impact renter mobility and subsequently labor mobility . According to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development : “ Overly restrictive regulation of landlord-tenant contractual relationships is linked with lower residential mobility . To the extent that residential mobility is linked with labor mobility , this can be particularly undesirable during the post-COVID-19 recovery , which will require reallocation of labor and capital towards activities with more promising economic prospects .” Pandemic-induced job and income losses have placed many renters , particularly black and Latino
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