For the next 45 days, Florida residents cannot be foreclosed on or evicted. That’s according to a new executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday afternoon.
The moves came after more than two dozen advocacy groups, former Gov. Rick Scott and several lawmakers including Democratic Rep. Anna V. Eskaman pushed for DeSantis to act in the face of the coronavirus pandemic that has virtually put the economy on hold.
Governor’s EO on evictions & foreclosures is below!
Section 3– folks still have to pay, but this should give us more time to pay & stop threats of evictions/foreclosures. In that time (ideally) relief programs will become available so that you can pay your bills then vs now. https://t.co/7znFmOnWG2
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) April 2, 2020
Sections 1 and 2 of the order officially suspend mortgage foreclosures and evictions related to non-payment of rent. Section 3 adds, however, that “nothing in this executive order shall be construed as relieving an individual from their obligation to make mortgage payments or rent payments.”
So you technically still have to pay rent, but you can’t get kicked out if you don’t… at least for 45 days.
So at least there’s that. DeSantis does tend to change his mind about things though.
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This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2020.
