 |
City of New Orleans Reminds Residents of Evictions Ban, Tenants' Rights
Source:
nola.gov
- Apr 23, 2020
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the City of New Orleans reminds residents of the protocols currently in place with regard to eviction actions taken against tenants during the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Evictions are governed by First City Court and Second City Court. Evictions are generally executed by Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff, Constable's Office and Special Process Agents.
"Protecting tenants' rights during a time of a pandemic isn't just the legal thing to do; it's the RIGHT thing to do. We must get through this together and recognize the importance of protecting our most vulnerable residents and identifying our most critical needs. Housing is a top priority, and I want to remind everyone to adhere to the letter and spirit of the ban on evictions," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
The Mayor’s Office reminds all landlords and business owners to adhere to the orders put in place by the Governor and the Courts, and that is NOT to evict anyone during this pandemic. Residents who are being illegally evicted by their landlords should report them to 3-1-1. If the eviction is in progress, the Orleans Parish Communication District will dispatch the Orleans Parish Constable, which has jurisdiction over that part of the city. If the eviction is planned for a future date, a 3-1-1 service request will be created and routed to the Constable’s Office. The Constable has the primary responsibility to enforce the eviction laws and the current stay order.
As part of the City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Mayor's Office of Community Development partnered with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Total Community Action and New Orleans Family Justice Alliance to provide immediate financial and legal assistance for homelessness prevention which includes rental assistance and foreclosure mitigation. Inquiries should be made to the Office of Community Development at (504) 658-4200. Renters should understand that they legally owe rent based on their lease agreements. Landlords may be willing to re-negotiate the amount under the circumstances, however they are under no legal obligation to do so.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services provides free, civil legal aid to low-income people. A toll-free civil legal help hotline is now available to low-income residents of southeast Louisiana impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call the hotline at 1-844-244-7871.
Similarly, lenders cannot start or proceed with a foreclosure for holders of FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA direct or guaranteed loan, or VA direct or guaranteed mortgages until at least May 18, 2020.
click source to read article
Category: General Business
|
