Realtor group speaks out against eviction moratorium

But, an eviction moratorium put in during the pandemic is set to expire at the end of June.

One group of realtors is urging Gov. Roy Cooper to let that happen.

Cynthia Gause considers herself fortunate because she is getting help making rent at her Raleigh apartment.

She said others are not as lucky, and ending the moratorium on evictions would only make it worse.

"That is going to have a bad effect on a lot of people," she said.

The NC Association of Realtors sent a letter to Cooper, asking that he let the eviction moratorium expire. They wrote that, as the state is beginning to emerge from the pandemic, landlords unable to collect rent are hurting.

"These are mom and pop folks. We are not a big commercial management firm," said property manager Cathy Robertson.

As a property manager, Robertson works with landlords daily.

“It has been quite difficult for some of our owners," said Robertson. "They are small business housing providers."

Robertson recalled a tough conversation with the owner of two rentals, unable to collect rent.

“She was going to have difficulty purchasing her prescriptions for that month," said Robertson. "There are hard conversations on both sides."

Robertson said now, landlords are selling to bigger investors.

"They will come in and turn those properties in such a manner [that] they go back on the market, but they will no longer be affordable," she added.

Robertson said federal dollars are available for people who need help making payments.

"There are already safety nets," she said. "Nobody wants to evict anybody. That is not what this is about."

WRAL News previously reported on issues with people receiving assistance from the HOPE program. State leaders announced they have expanded the number of people who qualify for help.

Community advocate Terrance Ruth said a lot of people are still hurting.

"It's going to really put some pressure and some strain on families that have some many other levels and emergencies going on -- financially and in terms of health," said Ruth.

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A spokesperson for Cooper said the governor is currently analyzing the impact of the moratorium.

"We are still facing the same restrictions - tough restrictions - that we were from day one that this was enacted," said Robertson. "The eviction moratorium was to stop the spread of the virus, to slow the spread of the virus. Now, it seems to have morphed into something else."