CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After more than a year, Gov. JB Pritzker is lifting the state’s moratorium on evictions starting Aug. 1.
“It’s welcome news,” Paul Arena, director of legislative affairs for the Illinois Property Renters Association, said Thursday. “It's long overdue for us to get that level of control back in the hands of landlords.”
Arena said many small-scale property owners have gone without any form of payment for the last 16 months and the biggest part of property management is being able to enforce the lease.
“Your assumption is both sides are going to honor their responsibilities, and when a tenant refuses to do so, the only definitive action a landlord can take is utilizing the courts, and that has been shut off to the industry during this period of time,” Arena said.
Enforcement of eviction orders against tenants who qualified for the moratorium will not occur until after Aug. 31.
Housing agencies like Open Communities in Evanston said now is the time for renters to apply for assistance.
“There are resources for the first time ever,” CEO Mary Ellen Ball said. “We should not let this slide by. We need to jump on it.”
Open Communities’ Director of Housing Jasemen Hatcher tells WBBM Newsradio there are many rental-assistance programs between the state and local municipalities.
Tenants also have until the end of this week to apply for the Illinois Rental Payment Program, which provides up to $25,000 to pay past and future rent.
Related
