Fla.’s Ban on Evictions Extended To July 1, 2020

Hours before the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures was set to expire, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a new executive order that extends the current ban to July 1.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Hours before a ban on Florida evictions and foreclosures was to go into effect, Gov. Ron DeSantis extended the current moratorium a second time. On Monday night around 8 p.m., the governor issued a new order that extends the ban until 12:01 a.m. on July 1.

DeSantis announced the extension without comment via an email, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“I hereby extend Executive Order 20-94, as extended by Executive Order 20-121, until 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2020,’’ the executive order reads (Executive Order 20-137).

The extension puts Florida’s foreclosure moratorium on track with a federal moratorium for loans held by entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced earlier that the eviction moratorium on single-family home foreclosures was extended to June 30.

While the order impacts evictions and foreclosures until July 1, it does not change Florida law, nor does it relieve tenants or parties to a transaction from their obligations under existing contracts.

The original order itself makes that clear, saying, “Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed as relieving an individual from their obligation to make mortgage payments or rent payments.”