Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C,I-Horicon) and the Assembly Minority Conference are joining housing industry organizations across New York state in calling on Majority lawmakers to stop the extension of the eviction moratorium through Aug. 31. The moratorium on evictions was an initial protection for tenants at the onset of the pandemic, but many believe the moratorium is now having a devastating effect on small landlords who are not receiving rental payments.

“Small landlords across our state have been reaching out to my office pleading for the eviction moratorium not to be extended,” said Simpson. “Well over a year into this pandemic, we need to think about the small landlords who rely on rental payments and have fallen behind as Majority members continue to extend the moratorium. As rental payments have slowed, and in some cases completely stopped, landlords have still been responsible for paying their mortgages to the banks, among all other up-keep expenses.

“We are simply kicking the can down the road, and it will have terrible effects on our small landlords, many of whom are on fixed incomes or are just trying to provide for their families. The Legislature has provided millions of dollars for tenants to access if they are experiencing hardships. It is past time that we level the playing field and provide the small landlords with some protections before it is too late,” concluded Simpson.