Landlord Group Files Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over Eviction Moratorium

A consortium of landlords has filed a lawsuit against the federal government due to their reported losses of income over the past year amid Washington’s long-lasting eviction moratorium.

The National Apartment Association filed the complaint in the court of federal claims this week. The group claimed that the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium has cost landlords “tens of billions of dollars” throughout the country.

“As a result of the CDC Order and their consequent inability to exercise their constitutional property rights and contractual rights, property owners in the United States have suffered enormous economic consequences,” the suit argues.

“Without limitation, while continuing to incur all costs of ownership, they have been unable to evict non-rent-paying tenants from rental units and to generate income by leasing those units to rent-paying tenants.”

The suit argues that the complainants are “entitled to recovery against the Government in an amount to be proven at trial.”

The CDC’s eviction is set to expire at the end of this month. Advocates have warned that its expiration could herald an immediate housing crisis as millions of tenets unable to make rent are forced out of their homes.