Las Vegas Landlords Up In Arms Regarding Governor Sisolak Eviction Moratorium Extension

LAS VEGAS, NV – Last week Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issued a last-second extension to the eviction moratorium he enacted in March, giving residential renters unable to meet their financial obligations due to COVID-19-related circumstances an additional 45 days before their landlords are able to begin proceedings to remove them from their residences due to non-payment.

The moratorium was originally scheduled to end on September 1.

Reports since that announcement indicate a vast number of Nevada landlords – many suffering significant financial distress – are up in arms regarding Sisolak’s extension, expressing frustration for their continued inability to evict their tenants who have not been paying rent for nearly six months at this point.

Numerous groups representing landlords in the state have come out strongly against Sisolak’s decree, with Nevada State Apartment Association Executive Director Susy Vasquez stating that non-payment of rent not only hurts landlords, but entire communities.

“It takes a village to maintain and operate these communities,” she said. “Impacts to our industry trickle down to small business owners, service providers, product suppliers and trades.”

Nevada State Apartment Association Executive Director Susy Vasquez

Caleb Green, an attorney for Detroit, Michigan-based law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC, noted that the extension to the eviction moratorium may be of help to renters, but that it will spell extreme financial distress for landlords who are still required by law to provide services out of their own pockets to tenants who are in some cases paying nothing.

“Any moratoriums on evictions puts pressure on landlords because they’re stuck,” he said. “They don’t have any legal means of removing someone who is not paying, and then the landlord still has legal duties to provide. It has to be habitable. They still have a lot of legal responsibilities and obligations they have to meet.”

Caleb Green, Dickinson Wright PLLC

Nevada’s leading real estate association, Nevada REALTORS, decried the lack of any notice from the Governor’s office as to the extension, which resulted in landlords – many small-time and hurting – being caught flat-footed and scrambling to figure out what to do next.

“Many of these property owners are retirees who own one or two homes and rely on this rental income to support themselves and their families,” Nevada REALTORS said in a statement. “Many of them will now have no recourse or way to cover their own expenses [for another 45 days].”

Nevada Association of Realtors

The moratorium covers only those who are unable to meet rent obligations specifically due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it does not absolve them of the responsibility of paying back rent that has accrued, which could leave them with a significant financial hurdle to overcome in the near future. As a result, it’s likely that many local landlords will never see all of the money that they are owed.

There are numerous forms of governmental rent assistance available, at a local, state, and federal level that renters in financial distress can apply for. Rent payments, if an applicant is approved, will be sent directly to landlords. As per Sisolak’s extension, the Nevada eviction moratorium will now last until October 15, 2020.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.