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ALBANY – New York State’s moratorium on COVID-19-related commercial evictions will now continue for another month.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the extension on Monday, which goes through October 20.
He says tenants can use the extra time to catch up on rent or their mortgage, or to renegotiate their lease terms to avoid foreclosure.
“The pandemic remains far from over, and we need to continue protecting the business owners supporting their families amid restrictions necessary to protect the public health,” Cuomo said. “That’s why it’s the right decision to extend the eviction ban for commercial tenants another 30 days.”
The moratorium has been in place since March, when the pandemic was starting to reach its height in New York.
The state’s court system has protected all residential tenants from evictions through Oct. 1, under an Aug. 12 memorandum by New York State Chief Administrative Judge.
And certain residential renters and owners are protected from eviction until New York’s ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency expires — but only if a court believes they have a financial hardship. Renters also had a chance to apply for help from a $100 million rent relief fund.
However, attorneys for the Legal Aid Society, which helps represent low-income New Yorkers, say that the state is ignoring thousands of renters and home owners who faced evictions before the pandemic struck and won’t be protected under a federal moratorium.
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