+ Rent

National

The federal CARES Act prohibits evictions or late fees for non-payment of rent in Section 8 housing.

Washington, D.C.

Emergency DC legislation ensures that landlords cannot charge late fees for failure to pay rent during a month in which a state of emergency has been delcared.

New legislation requires landlords with 5+ units to offer payment plans to tenants missing rent during the crisis. This will allow renters to pay back missed rent in monthly installations. Landlords are not permitted to charge fees to tenants entering into this kind of plan or to report it to credit bureaus.

DC has also prohibited rent increases through the end of the public health crisis and for 30 days after.

All eviction proceedings have been suspended until 60 days after the end of the public health emergency. All in-person appointments and meetings related to ongoing eviction proceedings have been canceled and will be rescheduled.

Maryland

No tenants can be evicted for failure to pay rent during the state of emergency, as long as the tenant can demonstrate their income was impacted by COVID-19.

Montgomery County: Landlords of residential properties will not be allowed to increase rents by more than 2.6% until 180 days after the end of the state of emergency.

Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia has issued an emergency order freezing all non emergency court cases until May 17th. This means you cannot legally be evicted before May 17th for not paying rent. This order could be extended.

If a landlord tried to evict a tenant after the emergency ends, tenants will be able to ask for 60 days continuance if they can prove that their income was affected by COVID-19.

If a tenant is already in eviction proceedings, court deadlines are suspended until May 17.

These deadlines may continue to be moved back.

+ utilities

Washington, D.C.

Under DC law, electric, gas, water, cable television, internet, and phone services cannot be cut-off until 15 days after the end of public health state of emergency (currently May 30th). Some utilities companies, like PEPCO, are also waiving late fees.

Maryland

No utilities, including electric, gas, sewage disposal, telephone, water, cable, and internet can be cut off until June 1st. No late fees can be applied for failure to pay utilities bills during this time period.

Virginia

No service disconnections for electric, gas, sewer, or water for 60 days, until June 14th. No fees can be applied to retain service or prevent disconnection during this time.

+ Mortgage

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has halted all evictions and foreclosures for single-family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days (until May 17th). If you have an FHA, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae-backed loan you cannot be evicted from your home or put into foreclosure proceedings for missing a monthly mortgage payment through at least May 17th.

Homeowners with FHA, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae-backed loans are also eligible to be enrolled in forbearance programs which will allow you to reduce or suspend monthly payments on your mortgage for up to a year. (These payments are typically then added to the end of your loan).

Currently this HUD order only applies to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or FHA-backed loans. For homeowners with conventional loans (non-government backed loans), many mortgage lenders are offering relief to help homeowners who cannot make payments due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact your mortgage provider to ask about temporary relief and request enrollment in a forbearance program.

If you have questions or would like to receive a legal referral, contact 202-737-2225.

Maryland: The state of Maryland has banned evictions for homeowners as well as renters for the duration of the state of emergency. This applies to FHA-backed loans as well as conventional (private) mortgage-holders.

DC: As of early May, DC has also stopped foreclosures for homeowners unable to pay their mortgages during the crisis. This prohibition will last until 60 days after the public health emergency ends.

+ Auto Loans

Below is a list of popular auto loan providers and their public response to the pandemic as well as an article outlining options for borrowers facing difficulty paying off their car loan.

Coronavirus Pandemic: What Should I Do if I Can't Make My Car Payment?

• Ally Bank: Offering online sign-up for a 120 day deferment

• Ford: Encourages customers to reach out to discuss delaying payments.

• Toyota: Encourages customers to reach out to discuss delaying payments, 800) 874-8822 Monday – Friday from 8am to 5pm.

• Nissan: Encourages customers to reach out to discuss delaying payments, 1-800-456-6622 Monday-Friday 8am-8pm EST and Saturday 10am-3pm EST.

• GM: Automatically waiving late fees for payments less than 30 days late through April 30.

• Honda: Offered late fee waivers, deferrals, and extensions, must contact customer service.

• Wells Fargo: Halting auto repossessions, offering fee waivers, deferrals and other aid.

• Chase: Offered late fee waivers, deferrals, and extensions, must contact customer service.

• Capital One: Encourages customers to reach out to discuss financial challenges.

• Santander: Offered late fee waivers, deferrals, and lease extensions, must contact customer service.

• Bank of America: Encourages customers to reach out to discuss financial challenges.

+ Student loans

Federal student loans will automatically be placed in forbearance (not collected) from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020. Borrowers can opt into paying them if they wish.

As of March 13, 2020, the Department of Education will not “withhold the wages, tax refunds, and Social Security benefits of borrowers who are in default on their federal student loans.” This will last at least until September 30th. The federal government has also paused interest accrual on federal student loans.

Some student loan companies are offering deferral plans similar to those for other kinds of loans. Borrowers should reach out to their lender to discuss their options.