Groups sue CDC over eviction moratorium

The National Apartment Association and the New Civil Liberties Alliance filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national eviction moratorium that was enacted as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CDC ordered the moratorium, which expires at the end of 2020, earlier this month. The suit argues that federal agencies do not have powers to waive state laws and that the CDC has encroached on private property rights with no legal authority.

The organizations seek a stay to the CDC’s order as part of the initial filing. The apartment industry is already hurting from the crisis, according to a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

Small landlords have reported lower rent collections this year, with 25% of them borrowing money to cover operating costs, the attorney pointed out, citing a recent survey. The organizations hope to get a hearing as soon as October.