By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Boston, MA) Today Governor Charlie Baker extended the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in Massachusetts until October 17, 2020. Homeowners and renters are encouraged to continue to pay rent and pay mortgages through the pandemic, but this moratorium is meant to allow residents to remain in their homes during the state of emergency caused by the pandemic, according to a recent press release put out by the Baker-Polito administration. An emergency $20 million fund, called the Emergency Rental and Mortgage and Assistance program, is available for rent and mortgage payments. An $18 million fund, called the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition, which was meant to be a homeless prevention program, is also available.
The Baker-Polito administration will also consult with courts and businesses to learn how to avoid foreclosures and evictions when the moratorium is lifted. Renters and home owners are still expected to fill their obligation to pay their banks and their landlords, but under the current law landlords are not permitted to send notifications to residential tenants that threaten eviction. Non essential evictions, late fees, and alternative payment agreements between lenders and borrowers regarding forbearance payments are permitted under the moratorium. Additionally, landlords are permitted to use the last month’s rent to pay for certain expenses other than replacement of rent, and lenders may grant homeowners a forbearance for 180 days upon written request from a homeowner due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19.