A federal emergency rental assistance program is coming under fire after reports that some tenants have been taking the program’s money, and not paying their back rent.
Clerk of New Orleans 1st City Court Austin Badon told WWL’s Tommy Tucker that the program was aimed at clearing out renters’ pandemic back-rent, but some of those delinquent tenants have been pocketing the cash instead of settling up with their landlords. Badon said criminal charges are not an option in these cases, they can only pursue the money in civil court.
“The landlord has to go through the trouble of filing a civil case against the tenant and the problem comes in, let’s say, the tenant moves out you don’t know where to find them whenever you sue someone you have to serve them so if you don’t know where they are you can’t serve them,” said Badon.
Badon said because of the way the program was designed he is concerned this could become more common.
“My biggest concern is that this catches on like wildfire in the rental community and other tenants decide that this is something that they should do,” said Badon.
