The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agency order that halts certain types of residential evictions is set to expire on Saturday, July 31st, 2021. The Order has been extended several times since it went into effect in September 2020, but the CDC has indicated that they will not extend it again.

Tenants who have been protected from eviction by the CDC Order should be aware that their landlord may file for eviction against them after this protection expires at the end of the month. Read on for more information on the CDC Order's expiration, the eviction process, and where to find help.

Background

Beginning in September 2020, the CDC issued an order that temporarily suspended many residential evictions due to nonpayment of rent in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. This Order was extended several times before it was announced that it would not be extended past the cutoff date of July 31st, 2021.

In order to qualify under the CDC Order, a residential tenant behind on rent had to meet certain income requirements and other criteria. Tenants who qualified provided their landlord with a signed declaration stating that the CDC Order applied to them. This halted eviction proceedings, including filing for eviction, continuing an existing eviction case, and enforcing an eviction that had already been ordered by the court.

We have more information about the specifics of the CDC Order on the Eviction page of our COVID-19 and Texas Law guide.

Can my landlord file for eviction for nonpayment after the CDC Order expires?

Yes, if a tenant still owes rent and late fees after July 31st, 2021, the landlord can file for eviction due to nonpayment of rent.

Will I still owe rent and late fees after the CDC Order expires?

The CDC Order only temporarily stopped eviction proceedings against a tenant who was unable to pay rent because of COVID-19. It did not waive rent or late fees or provide any financial assistance, so a tenant who is behind on rent and late fees is still obligated to pay after the Order expires.

How does the eviction process work?

You can find a detailed overview of the eviction process in the Eviction section of our Landlord/Tenant Law guide. This section includes an explanation of important terms, timeframes and steps in the eviction process, and links to articles, sample forms, and relevant sections of Texas law that govern eviction. If you're worried you may be evicted, you may want to review this guide to familiarize yourself with the process. 

I'm worried I might be evicted when the Order expires. Are there any options for assistance?

One option for tenants is the Texas Rent Relief program, which was created by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to help Texas tenants find financial assistance for rent and utility bills (including past due rent and utilities). The program pays for up to 15 months of past-due rent and utility bills, and tenants must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for assistance. We have more information about this program on the Rent and Legal Assistance page of our COVID-19 and Texas Law guide. 

Tenants may be eligible for other rental assistance through local programs in their area, like Austin's Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) program. If you need help finding assistance programs or legal services that will help with your eviction, you may want to use the Stop TX Eviction Toolkit to locate help in your area.

We also have more information on finding legal assistance, including legal clinics, hotlines, and assistance organizations on the Legal Help & Information section of our website. 

If you still have questions, feel free to contact us through our Ask a Librarian program.