On March 18, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an Order suspending residential evictions for nonpayment of rent or loan payments, and this Order was recently extended through April 30, 2020. Furthermore, some local county courts have elaborated on this Order. For proceedings example, Luzerne County has postponed all Landlord/Tenant and eviction and this Order was similarly extended through April 30, 2020.
Furthermore, although the prohibition of evictions does not suspend the obligation to pay rent/mortgages, landlords/lenders may be willing to defer payments and/or enter into payment plans during the crisis. Additionally, on March 18, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) authorized the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) to put a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for sixty days for single-family homeowners unable to pay their FHA backed mortgages. Similarly, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each announced that they were suspending foreclosures in connection with single family mortgages for at least sixty days for those experience hardship due to COVID-19.
As the current state of affairs is unprecedented, more information and resources may come available. Whether you are a landlord, tenant, business or anyone else looking for guidance on your specific situation during this difficult time, please contact Attorney Tom MacNeely at tmacneely@rjglaw.com, Attorney Zachary Berger at zberger@rjglaw.com or call (570) 826-5600.