COVID-19 support for renters
If you are a renter struggling to pay your rent due to COVID-19, understand what is available to you.
The moratorium on eviction filings related to non-payment of rent established by the CARES Act expired on July 25, 2020. The moratorium applied to properties with federally-backed loans, including those purchased by Freddie Mac.
Although the moratorium has now expired, landlords for eligible properties are still required to provide 30-days’ notice of any eviction related to non-payment of rent.
Renters may also not be assessed late fees or other charges due to non-payment of rent for the period covered by the moratorium – March 27, 2020 to July 24, 2020.
Similar tenant protections may also apply to properties with 4 or fewer units (for example: a single-family home, duplex, triplex, etc.) financed with a Freddie Mac single family loan.
Separately, Freddie Mac also established a forbearance plan for multifamily borrowers that includes additional protections for renters in properties with a forbearance agreement. To determine if you may be eligible for these protections, first check our lookup tool to determine whether you are in a property with a loan purchased by Freddie Mac. If so, please check with your property management office or landlord to determine whether the additional protections apply to your property.
It is important to remember that rent payments are still due despite any temporary moratorium on eviction filings. This means that if you are unable to pay rent during the moratorium, you will need to work with your landlord to establish a repayment plan for unpaid rent. If you are continuing to experience financial difficulty, reach out to your landlord or property manager to discuss your situation.
If you are struggling to pay your rent, you can also contact the Freddie Mac Renter Helpline at 800-404-3097. HUD-certified housing counselors can provide you free assistance with:
- Budget and Credit Counseling
- Debt Management Programs
- Educational Resources & Tools
Aside from the provisions described above, some state and local governments have implemented eviction moratoriums or other protections that may apply to you, as has the CDC.
CDC Residential Evictions Moratorium
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield has signed a declaration determining that the evictions of tenants could be detrimental to public health control measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. To stop an eviction under the CDC order, you must provide a declaration (available here) to your landlord affirming that you meet several conditions outlined in the order. If you satisfy those conditions, the CDC order prevents you from being evicted or removed from where you are living through December 31, 2020. You are still required to pay rent and follow all the other terms of your lease and rules of the place where you live. You may also still be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent or making a housing payment. This declaration is independent of the CARES Act and has different rules and requirements. It applies to all renters in all fifty states and US territories, regardless of whether you live in a single-family property or a multifamily property.
Tools and Resources
Find out if your apartment is financed by Freddie Mac
Use our rental property lookup tool to find out if you live in a property that has a mortgage loan purchased or securitized by Freddie Mac.