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New York governor extends suspension of eviction orders
On October 20, the New York governor issued an executive order extending the state’s moratorium on commercial evictions and foreclosures related to Covid-19 until January 1, 2021. For previous coverage, see here, here and here.
Maryland issues new executive order regarding foreclosures and repossessions
On October 16, 2020, the Maryland governor issued Executive Order 20-10-16-01 to amend and restate an April 3 executive order regarding foreclosures and repossessions (previously covered here). The executive order, among other things: (i) suspends requirements regarding the repossession of any chattel home by self-help until the state of emergency is terminated; (ii) suspends the sale of certain properties unless certain notices are provided, (iii) suspends the operation of the commissioner’s Notice of Intent to Foreclose Electronic System, and discontinues acceptance of Notices of Intent to Foreclose until January 4, 2021, and (iv) suspends any judgment for possession or repossession, or warrant for restitution of possession or repossession of residential, commercial, or industrial real property, if the tenant can demonstrate that he/she suffered a substantial loss of income resulting from Covid-19 or related events. Maryland’s commissioner of financial regulation issued a Foreclosure Update and Repossession Update outlining the executive order.
District court: No SCRA foreclosure protections for servicemember not on the note
On September 23, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that an active duty servicemember could not avail herself of the foreclosure protections provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) even though she was a signatory on the mortgage, because she was not a signatory on the note. According to the opinion, the SCRA foreclosure protections are afforded only to an “obligation on real . . . property” which is “secured by a mortgage” and that it is the note “which evidences the obligations, i.e. the promise to pay the debt.” By signing the mortgage, the servicemember-spouse “merely mortgaged her interest in the property, to secure her husband’s obligation to pay.” Accordingly, the court vacated a prior stay of foreclosure.
Judicial Council of California votes to end temporary eviction and judicial foreclosure rules
On August 13, the Judicial Council of California voted to end two temporary emergency rules governing evictions and judicial foreclosures. The first rule prohibited the issuance of summons or entering of defaults in eviction actions unless the case involved public health and safety issues, and required that trials be set at least 60 days after a request for a trial. The second emergency rule stayed all pending judicial foreclosure actions other than those involving issues of public health and safety, tolled the statute of limitations on filing such actions, and extended the deadlines for election or exercise of rights relating to such actions. Pursuant to the vote, the rules end on September 1, 2020. The Judicial Council previously approved the temporary emergency rules staying eviction and foreclosure proceedings on April 6, 2020.
Kansas extends orders relating to the Covid-19 pandemic
On September 10, the Kansas governor issued another executive order delaying the sunset date of several existing executive orders relating to Covid-19 to January 26, 2021, or until the statewide state of disaster emergency relating to Covid-19 expires, whichever is earlier, with some exceptions (previously covered here). Among others, the executive order delays the sunset date for the order halting certain foreclosures and evictions (previously covered here), the order extending professional and occupational licenses (previously covered here and here), as well as the order temporarily allowing remote notarizations (previously covered here).
California governor signs legislation providing tenant and landlord protections
On August 31, the California governor signed AB 3088, which provides relief from eviction and foreclosure due to the economic impacts of Covid-19. Pursuant to AB 3088, a tenant may not be evicted before February 1, 2021 if a Covid-19-related hardship caused the tenant to miss a rent payment accruing between March 4 and August 31, 2020, if the tenant provides a declaration of hardship that complies with certain timelines set forth in the legislation. For hardships that accrue between September 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, tenants must pay a portion of the rent due to avoid eviction. Among other things, the legislation also extends anti-foreclosure protections in the Homeowners Bill of Rights to small landlords.
VA extends foreclosure and eviction moratorium for borrowers affected by Covid-19
On August 24, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued Circulars 26-20-30 and 26-20-29, which extend foreclosure and eviction relief for borrowers affected by Covid-19, respectively. Specifically, properties secured by VA-guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure through December 31, 2020. The moratorium applies to the initiation of foreclosures and to the completion of foreclosures in process. The foreclosure circular is rescinded January 1, 2021. Similarly, properties secured by VA-guaranteed loans, including those loans currently in VA’s Real Estate Owned portfolio, are subject to a moratorium on evictions through December 31, 2020. The eviction moratorium circular is rescinded April 1, 2021.
Texas Office of Consumer Credit updates guidance for regulated lenders
On August 20, the Texas Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner issued updated guidance, previously covered here, for regulated lenders navigating the Covid-19 crisis. The guidance: (1) encourages lenders to work with consumers, including by working out modifications to assist with payments, waiving fees and charges, suspending charged-off accounts, and suspending repossessions of collateral or foreclosure of real property, among other things; (2) reminds lenders of legal requirements for using electronic signatures; and (3) permits lenders to conduct regulated lending activity from unlicensed locations, subject to certain conditions. The guidance is in effect through September 30, 2020, unless withdrawn or revised.
New York extends commercial foreclosure restrictions
On August 20, the New York governor issued Executive Order 202.57, which extends various earlier executive orders. Among others, the executive order extends through September 19, 2020, the directive in Executive Order 202.48 relating to the initiation of a proceeding or enforcement of an eviction of any commercial tenant for nonpayment of rent or a foreclosure of any commercial mortgage for nonpayment of such mortgage.
D.C. enacts law extending obligations for debt collection, credit reporting, mortgage servicing, and evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic
On August 19, the mayor of D.C. signed the Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2020. The act extends the provisions of D.C.’s prior Covid-19 relief act (previously covered here), which was set to expire after 90 days, until November 16. Among other things, the act includes consumer protection provisions, including provisions regarding debt collection and credit reporting. It also provides housing and tenant protections, including in the areas of mortgage relief, restrictions on evictions, and foreclosures.